June 19th 2024
A survey of health system specialty pharmacy employees found that hybrid work significantly improved quality of life and workplace productivity.
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.
New 3-drug regimen improves outcomes for myeloma patients
January 13th 2011The addition of bortezomib to the standard induction therapy before double autologous stem-cell transplantation for patients with multiple myeloma appears to improve nearly threefold the rates of complete or near-complete response, according to research published online in The Lancet, HealthDay News reported.
Increased reduction in LDL cholesterol lessens vascular events
January 11th 2011Further reductions in LDL cholesterol through more intensive statin regimens safely produce definite further reductions in vascular events, even down to very low LDL levels, lower than current targets, according to the results of 2 meta-analyses, The Lancet reported. There was no evidence of any lower threshold where the benefit is not seen.
CMS launches Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program
January 11th 2011A key provision of the Affordable Care Act kicked in January 1 when Medicare beneficiaries who have Part D but don?t get the low-income subsidy ?Extra Help? began receiving a 50% discount under the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program on applicable drugs at point of sale. The following article explains how pharmacies should prepare.
Many new cancer drugs require updated safety labels
January 11th 2011Many serious or potentially fatal adverse reactions associated with new, targeted anti-cancer agents are not reported in the original published research on the drug, and they are not known to oncologists until years later when drug labels are updated, including boxed warnings, according to research published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, HealthDay News reported.
Combining statins and fibrates increases rhabdomyolysis risk
January 6th 2011Patients who are newly treated with statin-fibrate concurrent therapy are slightly more likely to be hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis than those who take just one of the medications, according to research published in the American Journal of Cardiology, HealthDay News reported.
Many new cancer drugs require updated safety labels
January 6th 2011Many serious or potentially fatal adverse reactions associated with new, targeted anti-cancer agents are not reported in the original published research on the drug, and they are not known to oncologists until years later when drug labels are updated, including boxed warnings, according to research published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, HealthDay News reported.
Study finds dosing and directions for pediatric liquid OTC medications inconsistent
January 6th 2011The directions and devices provided with OTC liquid medicines for kids are often inconsistent and confusing for parents to follow, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Drop FFS, Save $30 billion on Medicaid
January 6th 2011State Medicaid programs could save $30 billion over the next decade by replacing fee for service pharmacy programs with managed care programs like those used in Medicare Part D, according to a new report on Medicaid pharmacy spending sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.
ARB-based therapy does not reduce mortality in setting of diabetes and hypertension
December 30th 2010Antihypertensive therapy with an ARB is not associated with reductions in cardiovascular or all-cause mortality compared to non-ARB-based regimens in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Rural teens more likely to abuse prescription drugs than their urban, suburban counterparts
December 28th 2010Adolescents living in rural areas are significantly more likely to abuse prescription drugs than their counterparts in urban areas, according to a study published online November 1 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, HealthDay News reported.
Paricalcitol found to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes
December 28th 2010In a multi-national, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, the selective vitamin D receptor activator paricalcitol (Zemplar, Abbott Laboratories), at doses of 1 µg or 2 µg daily, can reduce albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes, who were already being treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors.
Metformin may lower mortality in heart failure patients
December 28th 2010In research published in the October 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, HealthDay News reported, metformin, either alone or in combination with sulfonylurea, appears to increase 1-year and long-term survival in patients with T2DM and CHF.