Community Practice

Ophthalmologists have noted an increase in an eye infection, called Acanthamoeba keratitis, caused by a parasite, among contact lens wearers. The infection has been linked to a lens cleaner called Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Solution.

RESTAT, a PBM, will now make its data available on RxHub's national patient health information network to provide access to patient prescription information nationwide.

Rite Aid Pharmacies have teamed up with the Skin Cancer Foundation to offer consumers information on skin care protection this June and July.

Manufacturers of timed-release guaifenesin products that have not been FDA approved have 90 days to stop making the products and 180 days to cease shipping them.

According to PhRMA, there are currently 277 medications either in clinical trials or under review by the FDA for treating heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the U.S.

CMS is now soliciting bids for the first round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics & Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

AstraZeneca is promoting its AZ&Me Rx savings program. The program helps people with imited incomes who are enrolled in a Medicare drug plan but are having difficulty affording their medicines.

More than a week after the initial deadline for registering for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number passed, CMS released a dissemination notice that reveals that a key NPI database will be available soon.

CMS has offered detailed guidelines on how it will handle pharmacy reimbursement for vaccines under Medicare Part D.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) applauded recent actions taken by many major retailers to prevent children under age 18 from purchasing OTC cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan.

The FDA said it will wait to further evaluate data submitted by manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline regarding the safety of its diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia).

Low molecular weight heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox, Sanofi-Aventis), has a new indication, the treatment of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

You'll be seeing a lot of the term downstream entity. That's the handle CMS proposes to use to signify pharmacies or pharmacists who contract with PBMs, dubbed first-tier entities, that, in turn, contract with Part D plan sponsors.

New immunosuppressive regimens that combine Certican and low-dose Neoral to preverse renal function following heart transplants and Viagra to lower pulmonary arterial heypertension are coming soon to hospitals.

The author serves as a missionary/pharmacist in Nigeria.

RFID progress still slow; ezScriptWriter for legible Rxs; reducing drug diversion through ImageWare Forensic Medicine Technology; Know Your Number health-risk addessment tool; e-prescriptions grow

The FDA is weighing whether to allow a system for electronic insert information for most prescription drugs, replacing paper Rx inserts.

New over the counter items with unique formulations

Apothecary Rx, LLC formed by Lew Zeidner and Jim Cox in Minnesota acquires independent pharmacies lcoated in or near health clinic or health system

As the largest community specialty network in the country, Community Specialty Pharmacy Network is designed to provide a distrbution channel for specialty medications.

Some state legislatures move to increase Medicaid dispensing fees in preparation for the implementation of the new Medicaid AMP rule

Updated studies show that the greater use of life-enhancing highly active antiretroviral therapy, the more reports proliferate of unusal side effects, including lipodystrophy, lactic acidosis, insulin resistance, and recently, male osteoporosis.

New products comprising prescription drugs, OTCs, healthcare items, beauty care.

Patient care must come first as the pharmacy community works toward implementation of NPI numbers.

Thomas Blischok, IRI tellls FMI Supermarket pharmacy conference attendees that there are many growth opportunities ahead if they reposition the store and tie pharmacy to the entire store.