Community Practice

Roche Diagnostics has announced a resolution to a problem with its CoaguChek PT test strips, which were the subject of an Urgent Medical Device Correction issued last October after the strips showed random falsely high INR test results.

he union is demanding that pharmacy chains provide protection for pharmacists, particularly those working at night in dangerous neighborhoods.

Mylan Laboratories will become the third-largest generic drug company in the world (behind Teva and Novartis) after signing a definitive agreement under which it will acquire Merck's generic business in a deal worth $6.7 billion.

CVS has suspended pharmacy technician Katie Dudash from its Euclid, Ohio, store after learning that she was involved in administering a lethal dose of medication to a child while she worked as a technician at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland.

A recent survey by Medimix International of 400 physicians and pharmacists in the U.S. and Europe asked respondents what print publications and Web sites they read and/or visit on a regular basis, either for personal or professional reasons.

According to a study from Wolters Kluwer Health, 4.2 million seniors-nearly one-third of the standard eligible Medicare Part D recipients-fell into the donut hole coverage gap in 2006.

NABP has awarded DMEPOS (durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies) accreditation to Advanced Diabetes Supply, a division of North Coast Medical Supply, Carlsbad, Calif.

Biotech and unbranded generics growth outpaced nonbiotech brands and total market in 2006, with generics continuing to gain traction, according to an IMS Health report.

The APhA Foundation has partnered with the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) to help patients better manage chronic health conditions.

Not only have CMS' procedures created problems for dual-eligibles attempting to find a prescription drug plan, but the report notes that pharmacies may be affected adversely when "key information about a beneficiary's dual eligibility is not yet processed and available."

he union is demanding that pharmacy chains provide protection for pharmacists, particularly those working at night in dangerous neighborhoods.

A five-month-old baby was poisoned after ingesting a psychotropic drug prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults, according to the lawsuit.

Gary Wirth, R.Ph., has been named NACDS VP of state government affairs.

umana Inc. announced that it will allow its commercial and Medicare members in Pratt, Kiowa, and Ottawa counties in Kansas to obtain early refills of their prescriptions in the wake of the devastating tornado that struck the region on May 4.

The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) claimed that the home care industry has stepped up efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud and looks forward to continuing work with federal agencies and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity.

CMS recently published its 2008 Call Letter, which will serve as a guidance and establish changes for Medicare Part C and D benefits in the next calendar year. The Call Letter includes several changes related to formularies, including one that AMCP has been advocating since the development of the Part D benefit.

The Iowa General Assembly unanimously passed legislation that would regulate PBMs, while the Texas Senate unanimously passed the first in a series of bills calling for transparency in contracts between the state of Texas and PBMs.

CMS proposes paying for darbepoetin (Aranesp, Amgen) and epoetin alfa (Epogen, Amgen; Procrit, Ortho Biotech) only to treat anemia in certain cancer patients. Still to be considered is the use of the antianemia drugs among patients with kidney failure.

While more than 100 House and Senate members have sent letters to CMS expressing their concern about the new rule, the bipartisan group at the news conference called for new legislation addressing the issue.

The number of deaths from medical errors is higher than that from motor vehicle crashes, breast cancer, or AIDS.

The benefits OneOncology brings to community oncology practices include: lowering costs by letting the open market set drug prices through a completely transparent negotiation that ensures the lowest possible price on a product line-item basis; freeing up staff time spent on drug shopping, drug ordering, and administrative tasks; and eliminating market basket and bundled contracts to give physicians greater freedom of choice in making treatment decisions and optimizing therapies.

Formoterol fumarate (Perforomist Inhalation Solution, Dey L.P.), a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA), has been approved by the FDA as a twice-daily maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction for chronic bronchitis and emphysema, or COPD.

Merck's four-in-one vaccine ProQuad will not be available from July until at least 2008 because of a limited supply of the varicella component, according to the manufacturer.

SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, has recognized the use of naltrexone extended-release injectable suspension (Vivitrol, Cephalon/Alkermes) for the treatment of alcohol dependence as part of its Spring 2007 Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory.

The FDA and NBTY of Bohemia, N.Y., have informed consumers and healthcare professionals of a nationwide recall of three lots of shark cartilage capsules the company manufactured in 2004 and distributed to consumers through mail and Internet orders and through retail stores in the U.S. The product was recalled because of possible contamination with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The life of a small-town pharmacy is anything but ordinary. The days of soda fountains and bicycle delivery boys are long gone and have been replaced with bulky neon Coke machines and UPS. For one small-town pharmacy in Hazlehurst, Miss., the old way of life is exactly what this family wants to keep in place.

ISMP has reported that New Jersey's Department of Health & Senior Services recently received a report of a premature infant in a neonatal ICU receiving a bag of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) that contained insulin instead of heparin.

President Bush has nominated Kerry Weems, the current deputy chief of staff for Mike Leavitt, HHS secretary, to be the new CMS administrator.

Prodrug stimulant lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse, Shire) will be considered a Schedule II substance, according to recent word from DEA.

NCPA CEO Bruce Roberts voiced his support of the recently announced acquisition of MemberHealth by insurer Universal American group.