Health System

American Pharmacists Association and the NACDS Foundation launch MTM Version 2.0, an improved model for medication therapy management programs.

CVS Caremark has reached a settlement agrement with Department of Jutice to resolve an investigation into the practice of dispensing the generic ranitidine in capsule rather than tablet form

Bendamustine has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of CLL

The feds have released the pricing for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies for the first round of competitive bidding

CMS will require Medicare Advantage annd prescription drug plan sponsors in the Medicare Part D program, cover more HIV retrovirals, include more MTM data, and specify prior authorization requirements.

Walgreens is launching health and wellness division to expand into worksite health clinics and has acquired two companies, I-trax and Whole Health Management of Cleveland.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a new definition of multi-source drugs

Results of a 16-week trial of insulin aspart

An effective control program includes active monitoring of antibiotic use, prescribing shorter durations, avoiding broad-spectrum drug use, using automatic stop orders, and employing antibiotic pharmacists.

Endeavor provides a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart byass surgery for patients undergoing angioplasty.

Hospital outsource for a variety of reasons.

Communication problems, formulary structures, and compliance are some or the issues pharmacists face in medication reconciliation.

The federal government is creating independnet reporting agencies to collect data about medical errors. AHRQ is seekng public comment on proposed rules.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will start reporting pharmacy performace as early as this fall and drug plans my start publishing reports in the near futugs.

Nanotechnology is in its infancy, but will revolutionize how we develop and deliver drugs in the near future.

News briefs for hospital pharmacists

Aside from workflow and technology issues, pharmacists and physicians participating in pilot projects onder the Medicare Modernization Act generally supported e-prescribing.

Until problems with Baxter heparin are resolved, APP Pharmaceuticals has been working hard to ensure that there are no gaps in supply to hospial and dialysis units.

Brief descriptions of over-the-counter, home health, brand, and generic drug

Google is testing its new open electronic health records systems, Google Health at the Cleveland Clinic.

This article is contributed by the Hamacher Resource Group (www.hamacher.com). Based in Milwaukee and with offices in the United Kingdom, HRG's comprehensive services combine the art of communicating with the science of data analysis to improve the profitability of every link in the retail healthcare supply chain. Manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and others count on HRG for strategic solutions to their business goals.

Here are highlights of important safety information regarding Fentora

The National Governors Association will recommend that a cross-state cooperative pharmacist licensure system be created so that pharmacists can practice across state/territorial lines.

Drug Topics profiles Schnucks Pharmacy, chain of the year for 2008

Pharmacies fight back after pressure from the Drug Enforcement Administration has forced Cardinal Healthcare and other wholesaler drug distributors to implement systems to stop drug diversion

States issue guidelines for the April 1st implementation of Medicare's tamper-resistant prescription pad rule

Because of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks, NSAIDS are no longer recommended for long-term use. No single drug or therapy is regarded as the ideal long-term treatment for osteoarthritis.

Wyeth will begin marketing its new serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

Thirteen percent of all eligible prescriptions are transmitted electronically in Massachusetts.

Here is a listing of brand pharmaceuticals that will lose their patents through 2009.