Who's for and against negotiated prices?
April 2nd 2007The shift from Republican to Democratic control of Congress ensures ongoing debates about requiring Medicare officials to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical firms for lower drug prices. The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) expressly forbids interference from the HHS secretary in negotiations between manufacturers and pharmacies or PDP sponsors, and prohibits the establishment of a formulary or price structure for reimbursement under Part D.
New bill on pharmacy compounding stirs concern
April 2nd 2007Pharmacy industry critics are "gravely concerned" that the Safe Drug Compounding Act of 2007, a draft Senate bill, would sharply curtail the practice of compounding by giving the Food & Drug Administration authority to regulate compounding. A coalition of nine pharmacy organizations drafted a letter to the bill's expected sponsors-Senators Edward Kennedy (D, Mass.), Pat Roberts (R, Kan.), and Richard Burr (R, N.C.)-insisting that the bill "would negatively impact patient access to necessary compounded prescription medications and create onerous, new requirements for prescribers and pharmacists."
American Heart Association revision stresses stepped care for pain
April 2nd 2007The new guide recommends that physicians start with nonpharmacologic treatments such as exercise, physical therapy, weight loss, and heat or cold therapy. If there is no relief of pain, physicians should consider acetaminophen, aspirin, and even short-term use of narcotic analgesics as a first step, taking the patient's medical history into account.
Less abuse potential for new ADHD drug
April 2nd 2007For the 4.4 million American children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there will soon be another option for treatment. The Food & Drug Administration recently approved the first prodrug to treat the condition: lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse).
Manufacturers extraordinaire: The top 10 drug firms of 2006
April 2nd 2007When measured by retail dollars, nine out of the top 10 companies were brand-name firms, with Teva Pharmaceuticals being the only generic representative that made the list. When measured by number of prescriptions, three out of the top 10 companies were generic drugmakers, including Teva, Mylan, and Watson Pharma.
Medicaid generics reimbursement outlook deemed bleak
April 2nd 2007The Deficit Reduction Act is the federal government's attempt to slow the pace of spending growth in Medicare and Medicaid. Under the act's provisions, the basis for state Medicaid programs' prescription reimbursement to pharmacists changes from average wholesale price (AWP) to average manufacturer price (AMP).
Biogeneric substitution: Time for an approval pathway from Congress
April 2nd 2007The terms being used to describe these generics-biogenerics, generic biologics, biological follow-on products, biosimilar drugs, generic biopharmaceuticals-are interchangeable, but the question of how to determine whether these generics are safely interchangeable with the branded products is only now starting to be answered.
Community R.Ph.s seek legislation against PBMs
March 26th 2007A panel representing community pharmacy addressed members of the Maryland General Assembly recently, emphasizing the need for pending legislation that would force PBMs to end what they call "deceptive business practices" and provide better safeguards for patients.
Kerr Drug partners with Together Rx Access
March 26th 2007Kerr Drug, a retail pharmacy chain, and Together Rx Access, a free prescription savings program, have partnered to help the eligible people in North and South Carolina without health insurance gain access to Rx medicines. With the Together Rx Access Card, most cardholders save 25% to 40% on brand-name prescription products, including medicines to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, and many other conditions.
Antifungal noted in National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines
March 26th 2007Posaconazole oral suspension (Noxafil, Schering-Plough) has been added to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network?s (NCCN) recommendations for the prevention of invasive fungal infections that can occur in high-risk cancer patients.