Pharmacy faces Medicaid cuts in billions of dollars
March 6th 2006Pharmacies already reeling from the botched implementation of Medicare Part D took another body blow Feb. 1, when Congress narrowly approved federal Medicaid reimbursement cuts of $3.6 billion over the next five years. Just five days later, the Bush Administration's new budget proposed lopping an additional $1.3 billion from Medicaid reimbursement.
Latebreakers: Bush says cutting Medicaid fees is moral
March 6th 2006In remarks about his proposed 2007 budget and deficit reduction, President Bush said, "People talked about how the decision to reform Medicaid was immoral. Well, it's not immoral to make sure that prescription drug pharmacists don't overcharge the system.... It turns out that there was inflated markups for people who had government help to buy drugs. That doesn't make sense, so we reformed that. The people are still going to get their drugs, but the taxpayers aren't going to pay inflated prices." Bush's accusation about pharmacy overcharging came the same day HHS secretary Michael Leavitt repeated his praise of R.Ph.s for their "heroic" efforts to help patients get their Medicare Part D drugs.
HealthWell helps patients afford Rxs
February 27th 2006The HealthWell Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists indigent patients in meeting their cost-sharing obligations for Rx medications, has launched four new programs to help patients afford the medical treatments they need. The new programs will assist patients with colorectal cancer, moderate to severe asthma, non-small cell lung cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
NCPA urges end to co-branded Part D cards
February 27th 2006NCPA has urged CMS to not allow drug plans and drugstore chains to co-brand Part D identification cards. Independent pharmacists contend that the co-branded Rx cards confuse beneficiaries into mistakenly thinking they can get their medications only at the drugstores shown on their ID cards.
Lawsuit filed against Walgreens for Rx error
February 27th 2006Charfoos & Christensen has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens on behalf of Michael Wells in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Attorney Douglas Peters of Charfoos & Chistensen told Drug Topics that Wells' surgeon prescribed the antibiotic Duricef (cefadroxil/cefadroxil hemihydrate, Warner Chilcott) to prevent the development of postsurgical wound infection.
CPOE-ready Rx database aims to be M.D.-friendly
February 27th 2006First DataBank has introduced the OrderView Med Knowledge Base CPOE-ready drug database designed to be physician-friendly by reducing mouse clicks and drug pick lists, according to the San Diego technology firm. One component of the system is Orderable Meds, which focus only on data necessary for ordering, not for dispensing, administration, research, or billing.
New group serves hospice R.Ph.s
February 27th 2006The American College of Apothecaries (ACA) has created the American College of Hospice Pharmacists for R.Ph.s interested in strengthening their knowledge and skills in hospice care and pain management. Programs being developed for the specialty college include separate newsletters for pharmacists, prescribers, and patients/caregivers, as well as a 20-hour didactic certificate program to be offered during ACA's annual meeting and a lab-based 16-hour certificate program to be offered at ACA's Research & Education Center.
SureScripts to offer docs medication histories
February 27th 2006Physicians will be able to securely access patient medication histories through pharmacies that belong to the SureScripts electronic prescribing network. Physicians will be able to see a patient's medication records and pharmacy data, such as allergies and when drugs were dispensed, across all prescribers.
New ointment approved for diaper dermatitis
February 27th 2006Parents of infants suffering with fungal-infected diaper rash will now have a new form of treatment available. Vusion ointment containing 0.25% miconazole nitrate, 15% zinc oxide, and 81.35% white petrolatum has been approved by the FDA and is the first product for diaper dermatitis complicated by candidiasis.
States to get Part D funding relief
February 27th 2006Forty-four states will participate in a CMS program to reimburse them for drugs and administrative costs associated with dual eligibles in the Part D benefit. CMS will reconcile each state's drug payments with Part D plans and pay the difference between the plan reimbursement and the state's Medicaid costs, as well as the administrative tab.
Small Maine chain offers scholarship
February 27th 2006Since its home state has no pharmacy school, Community Pharmacies is offering a one-year scholarship to a Maine resident attending the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. The scholarship covering the winner's final year of tuition is currently worth about $25,000.
Geriatric certification exam goes paperless
February 27th 2006The Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (CCGP) will switch to computer-based testing beginning March 15. Candidates will be able to take the certification test at the nearest H&R Block Premium Center and receive immediate exam results.
GPhA outlines priorities for 2006 at annual show
February 27th 2006The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) outlined its priorities for 2006 at its annual meeting, held recently in Boca Raton, Fla. Priorities include the codification of a flexible and definitive abbreviated approval process for generic biopharmaceuticals, a halt to the practice of authorized generics, the creation of a biodefense pharmaceutical sector, and reform of the Medicaid program.
Par launches advanced formulation of Megace ES
February 27th 2006Par Pharmaceutical has launched an advanced formulation of megestrol acetate, Megace ES 625 mg/5 ml (megestrol acetate) oral suspension. Megace ES is indicated for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, or a significant, unexplained weight loss in patients with a diagnosis of AIDS.
DrugMax to acquire specialty pharmacy
February 27th 2006DrugMax announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire the stock of Carmichael Cashway Pharmacy, operator of three pharmacies known as Carmichael Pharmacy Infusion Therapy & Medical Equipment, (The Carmichael Pharmacy Group). The Carmichael Pharmacy Group provides specialty pharmacy; institutional pharmacy services; and respiratory and related medical equipment, including products and therapies requiring infusion compounding, to patients and physicians.
Walgreens to acquire CV Medical Solutions
February 27th 2006Walgreens Home Care has agreed to acquire Canadian Valley Medical Solutions. Based in Oklahoma City, CV Medical Solutions is an accredited provider of home infusion therapy, respiratory services including home oxygen, customized mobility and seating products, and home medical equipment.
Part D seniors fill 11% more Rxs
February 27th 2006Seniors enrolled in the Medicare drug benefit filled 11% more scripts in January than seniors without Part D coverage, according to Verispan, a healthcare informatics firm based in Yardley, Pa. The average Part D beneficiary aged 65 and older filled 3.38 scripts, compared with 3.05 scripts for nonbeneficiaries of the same age cohort.
Compounding pharmacy enhances bar codes
February 27th 2006PharMEDium Services, a provider of outsourced hospital pharmacy compounding solutions, announced that syringe admixtures will now ship with enhanced bar-coding. The new composite bar codes include a lot number and expiration date along with the drug's NDC number, which can all be read with one scan.
Canadian mail order losing scripts to Part D
February 27th 2006The Medicare Part D drug benefit has hurt cross-border drug sales by as much as 30%, according to the Canadian International Pharmacy Association. The group also contends that U.S. authorities have stepped up enforcement of laws against drug importation in recent weeks.
P&G takes action against alleged copycatters
February 27th 2006Procter & Gamble has filed a lawsuit against Vi-Jon Industries. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Vi-Jon infringed and diluted the unique trade dress of P&G's Crest Pro-Health, "a highly effective antiplaque/antigingivitis oral rinse, and also engaged in false advertising of its mouthwash product."
New rotavirus vaccine gets endorsed by ACIP
February 27th 2006Merck's new vaccine against rotavirus infection, RotaTeq, has been added to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) list of routinely recommended childhood immunizations. Rotavirus usually manifests itself as gastroenteritis and affects about 2.7 million children under the age of five in the United States, resulting in an estimated 70,000 hospitalizations.
New birth control pill with iron approved
February 27th 2006Loestrin 24 Fe, containing norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, and ferrous fumarate, has been approved by the FDA for Warner Chilcott. The new oral contraceptive tablet contains 24 days of active hormonal therapy and four days of placebo pills that contain the iron supplement.