As of January 1, 2010, low-income seniors who use Medicare part D coverage are now eligible for additional help purchasing prescription drugs. The changes impact low income seniors by adjusting the way assets are evaluated to determine low-income eligibility. Previous calculations required seniors to include the value of life insurance policies in order to determine […]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is examining evidence to issue recommendations that health care workers that are trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding be relocated to areas that limit contact with potentially hazardous drugs. The organization has completed the collection of information and suggestions from industry workers and employers and is […]
In 1938 federal law began requiring that new drugs be approved for safety prior to marketing. In 1962 the laws required that drug makers also prove the effectiveness of new drugs before they could be introduced to the market. The FDA reported in 2006 that several thousand drugs are available that preceded these laws and […]
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has teamed up with the RxPatrol to offer a free training video to help ensure pharmacy safety. The video is an extension of the RxPatrol program that tracks and seeks to reduce the risk of pharmacy crime. The video examines some of the most common pharmacy crimes across America. […]
Reports this week show that doses of the H1N1 are in high supply as pharmacy chains across the country have received increased stock. Although recent reports are that the flu strain is decreasing, officials are still urging everyone to get the vaccine and suggesting that pharmacists continue to discuss it with patients to avoid future […]
Two Senate Democrats introduced an amendment Thursday that would ban the practice of pharmaceutical data mining. Pharmaceutical companies currently purchase pharmacy sales records from third party companies in order to identify doctors who prescribe their drugs and competitor alternatives. The amendment to the Senate health care bill would ban the sale of pharmacy records for […]
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) will bring an amendment to vote this week to allow importing of prescription drugs from Canada to lower the cost of healthcare reform. The amendment would override an agreement between the White House and pharmaceutical companies in which the industry agreed to payback billions of dollars in rebates to the government […]
A large scale investigation of Medicare fraud by pharmaceutical companies has led to a settlement with Omnicare and ongoing investigations of Johnson & Johnson and other major drug makers. The focus of the investigation is on alleged kickbacks to companies that dispense drugs in exchange for preferential treatment in the writing and filling prescriptions. The […]
