As we celebrate our nation’s independence next week, don’t forget to “Celebrate Independents!” NCPA has declared July as “Celebrate Independents” Month, and to celebrate, we have put together marketing materials for you to use on your own website and social…
Month: June 2017
FDA Unveils Plan to Eliminate Orphan Designation Backlog
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled a strategic plan to eliminate the agency’s existing orphan designation request backlog and ensure continued timely response to all new requests for designation with firm deadlines. The agency’s Orphan Drug Modernization Plan…
Walgreens Scraps Rite Aid Deal, to Buy Stores Instead
Drugstore chain Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday called off its deal to buy Rite Aid after struggling to win antitrust approval. Instead, Walgreens will acquire nearly half of the smaller rival’s U.S. stores for $5.18 billion in cash. Read more about this acquisition here.
Price-hike king Valeant could be hit hardest by FDA generics push: analyst
The FDA issued a hit list Tuesday of off-patent meds with no competition, hoping to spur generic challengers. While the move could take a toll on a number of drugmakers—including Pfizer and J&J—it may hit Valeant particularly hard. A host…
Ask Your State Representative to Vote “Yes” on HB 1595
Tomorrow the Pennsylvania House Health Committee plans to vote on House Bill 1595, which is a vital piece of legislation in our efforts to fight the Department of Human Services proposal to cut pharmacy Medicaid reimbursement. With your state representative…
FDA Tackles Drug Competition to Improve Patient Access
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking two new, important steps to increase competition in the market for prescription drugs and facilitate entry of lower-cost alternatives. The agency published a list of off-patent, off-exclusivity branded drugs without approved…
Six Summer Content Ideas for Your Store’s Website and Social Media Accounts
Six Summer Content Ideas for Your Store’s Website and Social Media Accounts (Courtesy of NCPA) Tips on preventing and treating sunburns (perhaps you can recommend a good Aloe product in your store) Tips on identifying poison ivy/oak/sumac (include photos) and…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending June 24, 2017
Senate Releases Its Version of ACA Repeal Bill: This bill retains the protections on pre-existing conditions and insurers would still be required to accept all consumers. However, this legislation would allow states to waive compliance with other rules that stipulate…
FDA Working to Lift Barriers to Generic Drug Competition
Too many patients are being priced out of the medicines they need. While FDA doesn’t have a direct role in drug pricing, we can take steps to help address this problem by facilitating increased competition in the market for prescription…
Urge Your State Rep. to Co-Sponsor and Support Medicaid Reimbursement Legislation (HB 1595)
This morning, Representative Garth Everett (R-84) introduced House Bill 1595, which would establish a $10.49 professional dispensing fee in the Medicaid program while reimbursing pharmacies for ingredient cost based on the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), or Wholesale Acquisition…
For the First Time, Analyst Group Lowers 2022 sales Forecast as Pricing Backlash Takes a Toll
For a decade, each new projection for drug sales from analyst group Evaluate has been higher than the last as new blockbusters and price hikes have pushed up its forecasts. Not this year. For the first time since it has been…
Canada Drugs Indictment: Six Canadians Arrested and Facing Extradition in Connection with the Distribution of Counterfeit Cancer Medication in the United States
Almost three years after the original grand jury indictment in November 2014, the owner of Canada Drugs and five of his co-conspirators were arrested on June 14 and 15 in Canada under the Extradition Act, reports CBC News. Kristjan Thorkelson,…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending June 17, 2017
Bill to Preserve Patient Access to Compounded Medications Introduced in the House: This week Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) introduced H.R. 2871, the Preserving Patient Access to Compounded Medications Act of 2017. NCPA, working with the Drug…
Hearing Aids at the Mall? Congress Could Make it Happen
A few years hence, when you’ve finally tired of turning up the TV volume and making dinner reservations at 5:30 p.m. because any later and the place gets too loud, you may go shopping. Perhaps you’ll head to a local…
How “Price-cutting” Middlemen Are Making Crucial Drugs Vastly More Expensive
Diabetes doctor Irl B. Hirsch has watched with dismay as more of his Seattle-area patients take life-threatening steps to deal with the soaring price of insulin. Some need two vials a week of the crucial medicine, at $300 per vial.…
Webinar Invitation From Prescribe Wellness
PrescribeWellness tools to support CPESN and other enhanced services” will be our June webinar(s) scheduled for 6/20 and 6/27 Join us in one of 2 sessions where Mindy Smith, VP of Pharmacy Practice Innovation at PrescribeWellness, will discuss how…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending June 10, 2017
NCPA Urges Key Medicaid Managed Care Rules Be Retained: In light of the fact that the Administration is currently reviewing the policies included in the final Medicaid managed care rule released last year (88 Fed. Reg. 27498, May 6, 2016),…
Trends and Challenges in Specialty Drugs
Excellent Article exploring both the Challenges and Benefits for Pharmacies interested in entering the growing Specialty Market. Trends and Challenges in Specialty Drugs EL-White-Paper-Controlling-Cost-of-Specialty-Drugs_D-002
FDA Requests Removal of Opana ER for Risks Related to Abuse
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested that Endo Pharmaceuticals remove its opioid pain medication, reformulated Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride), from the market. After careful consideration, the agency is seeking removal based on its concern that the benefits of…
Register for NCPA Annual Convention – October 14-18, 2017
Did you know that membership in Keystone includes membership in NCPA? NCPA Annual conference is occurring Oct 14-18 in Orlando, Fl. Register by 7/31 and save $150! http://www.ncpanet.org/meetings/annual-convention/register-now
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending June 3, 2017
NCPA Submits Comments on CMS’ Proposed Guidance on DIR Reporting: This week submitted comments to CMS regarding their proposed guidance on how Part D plan sponsors report direct and indirect remuneration (DIR). While the proposed CMS guidance will not change…
Lengthy but excellent article that goes beyond the “Price Transparency” buzzword.
http://www.ipi.org/ipi_issues/detail/selective-transparency
Ohio Sues Five Drug Companies Over Opioid Crisis
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ohio-opioids-idUSKBN18R2BY
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