Legal News

The primary ethical obligation of a pharmacist is to avoid harm by filling each prescription correctly. For this reason, pharmacies, pharmacy organizations, and boards of pharmacy have adopted and espoused the principles of continuous quality improvement.

In June 2013, the Department of Justice under the Obama administration announced an end to its lawsuits regarding age restrictions on “Plan B One-Step” (levonorgestrel), the morning-after pill. The DOJ decided not to appeal the ruling by Judge Edward Korman of the District Court of Eastern New York.

Nearly all prescription drug websites geared toward Americans are operating out of compliance with U.S. pharmacy laws, according to a study by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

As part of a worldwide effort including law enforcement and international regulatory officials, FDA this week confiscated more than $41 million worth of illegal medicines and shut down more than 9,600 websites.

FDA has approved the use of Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) as a nonprescription product for all women of child-bearing potential. This action complies with the April 5, 2013 order of the United States District Court in New York to make levonorgestrel-containing emergency contraceptives available as an over-the-counter (OTC) product without age or point-of-sale restrictions.

The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that pay-for-delay agreements between brand name drug companies and generic manufacturers are subject to antitrust scrutiny.

Even with inadequate help and pressure from above, the pharmacist must always put the patient first

"Compounders" and "compounding manufacturers" defined

The Obama administration on Monday abandoned its attempt to restrict access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B One-Step (Teva Women’s Health Inc.) as an over-the-counter medication-a decision that’s being celebrated by some groups.

A federal court in New Jersey has entered a consent judgment regarding the patent infringement litigation between Hanmi Pharmaceuticals (Seoul, Korea) and AstraZeneca (London).

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings has introduced a bill to stop price gouging for drugs that are in short supply. H.R. 1958 is called The Gray Market Drug Reform and Transparency Act of 2013.

NCPA is working with healthcare leaders in Congress to ensure development of appropriate measures

When the U.S. Congress buries game-changing laws deep in the bowels of complicated acts named for other things altogether, you wonder why they can't just call things like they see 'em. For starters.

Hoping to further curtail diversion of controlled substances, DEA has expanded the options for their collection

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice on May 1 to appeal New York Judge Edward R. Korman’s decision last month to make levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives available without a prescription and without point-of-sale or age restrictions.

Last month's judicial ruling that all women of any age have non-Rx access to the drug remains an issue

Legislation would create a new class of drug makers and strengthen FDA oversight

Repercussions of PBM consolidation

The new organization begins by defining its terms

Effective communication is the keystone of pharmacy ethics in daily practice

Will FDA classify hydrocodone as Schedule III, Schedule II, or somewhere in between?

Ruling clears obstacles judge said were politically influenced

The IMS report tracked impact of care on Managed Medicaid beneficiaries in Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio since 2011 in three therapeutic areas: antipsychotics, diabetes agents, and respiratory medications

NCPA responds to CMS' final call letter for 2014 PDPs

The U.S. Supreme Court will have to decide whether reverse payments, also known as “pay-for-delay settlements,” between branded and generic drug companies are anticompetitive and violate U.S. antitrust law.

Politicians worried about patient medication shipments challenge the U.S. Postal Service over its recent decision to eliminate Saturday letter deliveries

How to drive up medication costs 10% to 20%

OCR issues its final HITECH rule before compliance date of September 23, 2013

FDA is receiving insufficient information and has limited authority to enforce REMS, says OIG report