Viewpoints

Massachusetts' Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has instituted a policy shift excluding coverage of prescription drugs compounded for adults. Plaintiffs call this "a callous decision" and "a major blow" to the state's many patients who depend on compounded medications.

The War on Drugs began a century ago. It's still going strong -- and so is the traffic in illegal drugs. What's up with that?

When it comes to employee drug utilization reviews, one pharmacist is beating PBMs at their own game. If businesses and healthcare systems followed her lead, more would change than just the DURs.

Insulin resistance can be described as a decrease in sensitivity or a decreased biological response to insulin. No single etiological explanation has been described for insulin resistance because of the unique associations with cardiovascular risk, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Research has shown that the pathogenesis of insulin resistance results from either lipid accumulation, the contribution of systemic inflammation, or through genetic mutations involving autoantibodies to the insulin receptor.

The primary ethical obligation of a pharmacist is to avoid harm by filling each prescription correctly. For this reason, pharmacies, pharmacy organizations, and boards of pharmacy have adopted and espoused the principles of continuous quality improvement.

In June 2013, the Department of Justice under the Obama administration announced an end to its lawsuits regarding age restrictions on “Plan B One-Step” (levonorgestrel), the morning-after pill. The DOJ decided not to appeal the ruling by Judge Edward Korman of the District Court of Eastern New York.

Some conclusions about pharmacy practice then and now, from an RPh who has weathered it all

Take 15 minutes and make a difference

Impressions from a working visit to McLaughlin, S.D.

Some thoughts about the things that count

What's it like to own your own pharmacy? Glad you asked

Pharmcognosy is no longer a required course in pharmacy education, although some schools offer it as an elective. The newer schools do not offer it at all. Do new student pharmacists even know the definition of the word?

Even with inadequate help and pressure from above, the pharmacist must always put the patient first

Remember that Nike ad? Just do it!

Advocacy and education will change attitudes

Patient-centered outcomes research makes pharmacists even more important members of the healthcare team

As you fill the Rx for that "little blue pill," use the opportunity to tell patients that ED can be a precursor of heart disease

Six steps compounding pharmacies can take to create and maintain a culture of quality assurance

"Compounders" and "compounding manufacturers" defined

NCPA is working with healthcare leaders in Congress to ensure development of appropriate measures

When the U.S. Congress buries game-changing laws deep in the bowels of complicated acts named for other things altogether, you wonder why they can't just call things like they see 'em. For starters.

It's time to get tobacco products out of pharmacies

Letters, e-mails, and posts from Drug Topics Readers

The new organization begins by defining its terms

Regardless of its status as an herbal dietary supplement, St. John's Wort is a drug

Remember that Norman Rockwell image of the friendly local pharmacist, running his shop his way? Now blink. Hey! It's still there

It took the sustained efforts of a few dedicated individuals to persuade the U.S. Postal Service to create a postage stamp honoring pharmacists. To commemorate some of those men and their work, reader John W. Owen, Sr., RPh, speaks up

While not too many bench pharmacists get a lunch hour, creative solutions are still possible. In theory, anyway

Effective communication is the keystone of pharmacy ethics in daily practice