Hot off the press for December 5, 2005

December 5, 2005

• There are many ways to reduce Medicaid costs
• Studiocom announces new Medicare site at CVS.com
• PharmaCare No. 1 in PBMI customer satisfaction report
• FDA announces meeting, seeks comments and data
• Pharmacist guild, Kaiser reach tentative wage agreement
• Genelex offering senior discount on lifesaving genetic tests
• Duane Reade replaces CEO with Longs Drug exec

There are many ways to reduce Medicaid costs
With Congress now wrestling with the issue of how to reduce Medicaid costs, Drug Topics posed a question about this subject in its November Instant Poll. The on-line poll asked, Which measure is most effective in cutting Medicaid costs? More than four out of 10 respondents selected generic substitution and the use of prior authorization for brand drugs as their No. 1 choice. This is followed by implementing a preferred drug list (17%), passing price control legislation (also 17%), joining a multi-state drug purchasing pool (11%), and other measures (also 11%). The poll drew 288 responses. Back to top

Studiocom announces new Medicare site at CVS.com
Studiocom announced the launch of the CVS.com Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Information Center, an on-line resource created for seniors who are eligible for the 2006 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. The site can be accessed via www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Back to top

Pharmacist guild, Kaiser reach tentative wage agreement
As of Oct. 1, R.Ph.s working for the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region were earning $53.70 per hour, a 4.5% raise, under a tentative agreement reached with the Guild for Professional Pharmacists. Beginning Oct. 1, 2006, the hourly rate will go to a minimum of $55.85 per hour. Kaiser R.Ph.s working a 40-hour week will go from currently earning $111,704 annually to $116,174. The entire agreement will be renegotiated in 2007. Back to top

Genelex offering senior discount on lifesaving genetic tests
Genelex Corp. announced it is offering a 10% discount on DNA Drug Reaction Testing for senior citizens 55 and older. A new Internet site at