Health System

A new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends that 8 preventive health services for women be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost to patients under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

On August 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule that will update Medicare payment policies and rates for hospitals in fiscal year 2012.

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is accepting nominations for its annual profession-wide awards and honors. The awards will be presented at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, March 9-12, 2012. The awards represent the pharmacy profession?s most comprehensive recognition program.

The National Community Pharmacists Association is launching a new educational program on medication adherence geared toward pharmacists.

Pharmacies can play a valuable role in helping patients prepare for the upcoming flu season. That includes administering influenza vaccinations, according to results of a public-private partnership campaign in Palm Beach, Fla. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores highlighted the results of the partnership in a report it co-authored that was published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

A new campaign and white paper from the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association that blasts the ?drugstore lobby? is riddled with mistakes and misleading statements, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association.

FDA issued a warning last week that chronic high doses (400 mg/day to 800 mg/day) of fluconazole (Diflucan) during the first trimester of pregnancy may be associated with specific birth defects in infants. However, according to the Safety Alert released August 3, the risk does not appear to be associated with the single low dose of fluconazole (150 mg) that is used to treat vaginal yeast infection (candidiasis).

As pharmacy groups protest the massive pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, a new survey demonstrates the impact of PBMs on pharmacy businesses.

More doctors who are not psychiatrists are prescribing antidepressants, making these drugs the third most commonly prescribed group of medications in the United States, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

Programs designed to support the care of older patients as they make the transition from the hospital to outside clinicians and healthcare settings are associated with reduced rates of hospital readmissions, according to 2 reports in the July 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

FDA has approved a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of abatacept (Orencia, Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is the first biologic available in both SC and intravenous formulations for the treatment of RA.

FDA has issued a 90-day extension of the action date for Pfizer?s Prevnar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]) in adults 50 years of age and older.

While Medicare and Medicaid were exempted from budget cuts in the initial debt agreement reached by the U.S. House and Senate this week, they could be up for cuts later this year.

The Independent Specialty Pharmacy Coalition, a group of community-based specialty pharmacies, called on the Federal Trade Commission to block Express Scripts? proposed acquisition of Medco.

A new white paper examines the costs of medication nonadherence and suggests solutions.

Johnson and Johnson has announced plans for new dosing instructions that lower the maximum daily dose for single-ingredient Extra Strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) products sold in the United States from 8 pills per day (4,000 mg) to 6 pills per day (3,000 mg).

Federal regulators should take the lead in creating a national system to keep tabs on chronic diseases and provide guidance for stakeholders across the country, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced.

The significant decrease in the death rate from the varicella virus, or chickenpox, can be attributed to the effectiveness of the chickenpox vaccine, according to a new study in a recent issue of Pediatrics.

As a result of combined investigations by FDA, the IRS Criminal Division, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Elisane Garcia was sentenced on July 25 for disguising controlled substances as "Brazilian diet pills" and smuggling them into the United States with intent to distribute. She was also convicted of 1 count of money-laundering.

If the U.S. Congress fails to reach a consensus on the deficit issue by August 2, there could be significant impact on Medicare and other federal programs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced today.

Opponents of a controversial Change Request initiated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aired their views to CMS officials earlier this week.

FDA has received reports of serious central nervous system reactions when methylene blue is given to patients taking serotonergic psychiatric medications.

A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that 8 preventive health services for women be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost to patients under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

Patients treated with belatacept (Nulojix, Bristol-Myers-Squibb) are at increased risk of developing 2 potentially fatal complications: post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), which predominantly involves the central nervous system, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, according to a recent FDA Safety Alert. The risk of PTLD is higher for transplant patients who have never been exposed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and therefore is indicated for use only in transplant patients who are EBV seropositive.

Improved glycemic control may help prevent heart failure, according to a study recently published in The Lancet.

CVS Caremark, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and several healthcare groups are supporting a new bill that would allow patients to purchase OTC medications through flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs).

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Cardinal Health are encouraging female pharmacy students to consider community pharmacy ownership.

FDA has approved the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II] and Actiq (oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate) [C-II]. Both products, manufactured by Cephalon, are indicated for management of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant patients with cancer.

On June 15, 2011, FDA published an online safety communication informing prescribers and patients that pioglitazone (Actos, Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc) use may be associated with a 20% to 40% increased hazard of new bladder cancer.

FDA has approved ticagrelor (Brilinta, AstraZeneca) tablets to reduce the rate of heart attack and cardiovascular death in adult patients with acute coronary syndrome.