November 21st 2024
James Rider, PharmD, shared reflections on his experiences as a pharmacy manager at CVS.
New pharmacy school offers unique 3-year PharmD program
February 15th 2011This fall Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy will open its new 35,000-square-foot facility in the heart of downtown Hartford, Conn., to its first class of students. Its curriculum will be organized in blocks, allowing students to concentrate on one course at a time through a variety of learning activities.
New report advocates replacing Medicaid FFS with managed pharmacy benefit
February 15th 2011A new report urges states to replace Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy programs with the kind of managed drug benefits used in Medicare Part D plans, Medicaid managed care organizations, and some commercial health plans.
ACIP updates antiviral guidelines for flu treatment
February 3rd 2011The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has issued updated guidelines regarding the use of antiviral agents for the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza, according to a report in the January 21 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The new recommendations, which include a summary of the effectiveness and safety of antiviral treatment medications, update those issued by the committee in 2008.
USP wants new Rx label standards
February 1st 2011New draft standards from the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention could bring dramatic changes to Rx labels as early as 2012. Changes to USP Chapter 17, Prescription Container Labeling, include larger font, placement of the most important information at the top, more understandable language, and more white space.
Oncology buy-and-bill evolving
January 15th 2011Oncology treatment and benefits are changing. Buy-and-bill, the traditional methodology that had physicians buying chemotherapeutic products, treating in the office, and billing the payer, is going the way of surgery by barbers. But no one is quite sure what will replace the one-time standard of payment.
E-tracking is the right prescription for U.S. meth problems
January 15th 2011The states that are looking for ways to stop illegal sales of pseudoephedrine should be commended. But a prescription requirement for cold and allergy medications that customers rely on every day is bad public policy that will have an unnecessary impact on many patients.
OTC drugs require prescriptions for account reimbursement
January 15th 2011Starting this month, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employees with tax-advantaged health accounts to have a prescription for an OTC drug to qualify for account reimbursement and preferred tax treatment. Insulin and OTC medical devices and supplies are exempt.
Medical marijuana and patient counseling
January 15th 2011Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is classified as Schedule I, a definition that gives it a high potential for abuse, with no current safe or medical use. Meanwhile, in 14 states, patients have access to medical marijuana upon physican recommendation.
For the wheezing, and the sneezing, and the sinus that's really a pip
January 15th 2011January is prime time for colds and other respiratory illnesses. Because people tend to equate January sniffles with colds and flu, they may go straight to the cough/cold area and bypass the allergy/sinus aisle, which is also of concern this time of year.
Drug Topics' 2011 business outlook survey: Steady sailing for now
December 15th 2010Drug Topics' annual business outlook survey, conducted online in October, drew more than 400 responses from community, hospital, and long-term-care pharmacists. Their conclusions about the coming year may surprise you.