How pharmacists can make best use of health-care and billing codes
Here's a primer on healthcare and billing codes, from NDC to CPT.
Mandatory generic substitution continues to be questioned
More bills are being proposed that bar pharmacists from substituting antiepileptic drugs and immunosuppressants.
JP at large: My heroes over the years
Jim Plagakis names the people he admires.
Pharmacy edges toward medication returns
Kaiser Permanente, Elephant Pharmacy, and other groups in California work together to dispose of unused drugs in an environmentally friendly way.
Pharmacy technician numbers are on the rise nationwide
State boards of pharmacy tackle technician certification, pedigree, and other difficult policy issues.
Cancer vaccines: The hope is real
Vaccines are not just a preventative any more. Many vaccines are now in development to treat cancer.
IDSA updates aspergillosis treatment guide
New recommendations on how to treat aspergillosis from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Intelence: New HIV drug is smart choice for some
The new molecular entity Intelence helps treat HIV.
Letters: March 10, 2008
Pharmacists comment on security, behind-the-counter drugs, and other issues.
GPhA sets sights on increasing access to generic medicines in 2008
The GPhA annual meeting featured speakers dicussing the challenges and opportunities in the generic industry in 2008.
Latebreakers: Improved insulin pen for Humalog debuts
Eli Lilly launches Kwikpen insulin delivery pen for Humalog.
Latebreakers: Antihistamine Xyzal now in oral solution
Levocetirizine approved as oral solution.
Latebreakers: Michigan Political Action Committee pushes back against Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Michigan pharmacists push ballot initiative prohibiting insurance companies from requiring state residents to use mail-order pharmacies.
Latebreakers: Dual anti-cholesterol niacin/statin combo granted approval
NiaSpan and simvastatin combination approved for cholesterol lowering.
Latebreakers: Avastin gets nod for new breast cancer indication
Accelerated approval for bevacizumab new indication.
Latebreakers: TNF-blocker Humira gets OK for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Adalimumab approved for polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Latebreakers: USA Today puts focus on medication errors
USA Today series draws attention to the role of technicians and corporate policies in contributing to medication errors at chain pharmacies.
Pharmacy school offers natural products degree online
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers online degree in natural products, herbals, and dietary supplements.
CMS finds discrepancy between NPI and IRS records
Many business names and identification numbers used in NPI database do not match IRS records, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Joint Commission gives update on its standards, sentinel events
Many hospitals are still not complying with Joint Commission standards related to medications.
GPO helps hospitals manage use of stents with new toolkit
Premier Inc. offers Rational Choice Rx toolkit to help hospitals manage their patients who are underoing stent placement.
Mental health parity bill passes in the House
The House of Representatives has followed the Senate in passing long-awaited mental health parity legislation.
Medicaid prescription reimbursement information by state - quarter ending December 2007
This table, prepared by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, lists the reimbursement rates for prescription drugs and dispensing fees by state.
Commonly confused drug pairs
The U.S. Pharmacopeia has developed a new listing of look-alike, soundalike drug names that are often confused, leading to drug errors.
Reports of neuropsychiatric events lead Roche to update Tamiflu warning
Roche updates oseltamivir prescribing information.
Poll finds doctors should still be allowed to prescribe manually
Pharmacists divided over whether Medicare should require e-prescribing.
PhRMA reports lists 547 neurological drugs in development
PhRMA releases report on neurological drugs in development and Hispanics would benefit most from these products.
State and federal agencies scrutinize DeSoto Pharmacy
Louisiana hospital pharmacy under investigation
MinuteClinic hits 500th clinic mark
CVS opens its 500th MinuteClinic location and plans continued expansion
