Legal News

Lawmakers are using financial carrots and sticks to induce doctors to begin electronic prescribing.

As reimbursements are curtailed, hospitals must change the way they order, dispense, and charge for drugs.

While the new MIPPA law implements several pro-pharmacy measures, other provisions ultimately could hurt a pharmacist's bottom line.

On October 1, 2008, San Francisco becomes the first city in the United States to ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in pharmacies.

Cuts in state Medicaid payments for product reimbursements and dispensing fees are forcing pharmacists to cut services and turn away Medicaid patients.

The phthalate ban is a provision in the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act.

Group contends CMS is promoting a less expensive generic substitute.

More than 600 bouquets were sent to the site.

A pending Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report, expected later this year, may settle the decade-old dispute as to whether authorized generics are legal. With billions of dollars at stake, the loser will undoubtedly challenge the government's decision.

Congress continues to work to create a regulatory pathway for approval of generics for biopharmaceuticals (or biologics), but passage of such legislation seems unlikely this year with the presidential election rapidly approaching.

MIPPA law delays implementation of Medicaid's average manufacturers price for generic drugs until Oct. 1, 2009.

Reimbursement for radiopharmaceuticals will be maintained at the 2007 rate through Jan. 1, 2010, thanks to the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.

The battle by pharmacy benefit management companies to limit fiduciary disclosure laws continues, with its trade group, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, scoring a victory in the District of Columbia.

NACDS backs legislation to adopt health information technology.

Medication management and safety errors were prominent topics at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists summer meeting in June.

Even as hospital pharmacists are struggling to meet previous mandates, the Joint Commission has released 2009 National Patient Safety Goals, including revisions to medication reconciliation.

A new year is coming, and with it a new administration in Washington, a new Congress, and a new, skeptical look at Medicare Part D.

Legitimate interests globally are facing a battle with pharmaceutical counterfeiters.

Securing prior authorization is a time-consuming and costly process. It burdens the dispensing practice, irritates patients, and could be simplified, according to a consensus of pharmacists.

FDA has imposed a change in drug labeling that once advised flushing unused drugs down the toilet. Now the agency is encouraging consumers and pharmacists to take advantage of drug take-back programs.

The merger of e-prescribing networks RxHub and SureScripts may go a long way toward accelerating e-prescribing adoption, which could lower pharmacists' transaction fees, according to one expert.

Physicians would have the choice of doling out electronic prescriptions for controlled substances with a proposed regulation from the DEA.

FDA warns about AIDS drug, abacavir, due to increased risk of potentially fatal side effects for some patients.

The FDA issued an updated alert about the dangers of using micro-bubble contrast agents for diagnosis in certain patients.

Renal care community is pleased with the passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, because the law contains provisions related to kidney dialysis.

Six vaccines, reflecting three new strains of the influenza virus, will do battle with the flu during the 2008-2009 season.

It will be out of commission for system maintenance on Aug. 10.

The Food and Drug Administration announced stricter limits on conflicts of interests for members of its advisory committees.

An exclusive Drug Topics survey asked, "With the presidential election coming up, whom do you plan to vote for?"

Move comes as part of a broader effort to encourage the adoption of health information technology.