Notice to Pharmacies in the Philadelphia Area FDA warns pharmacies of a potentially counterfeit drug purchased from a suspended pharmacy in Philadelphia. [10-17-2017] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pharmacies in the Philadelphia region to check any inventory…
Author: Monica Abel
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending October 14, 2017
NCPA to Discuss Impact of PBMs on Community Pharmacy at FTC Public Workshop: As reported in last week’s update, the Federal Trade Commission will hold a workshop on November 8, 2017 entitled, “Understanding Competition in Prescription Drug Markets: Entry and Supply Chain…
Part D Enrollment Starts Sunday
The Medicare Annual Election Period starts Sunday and runs through Dec. 7. Your Medicare patients are starting to review their options for their 2018 Medicare Part D plan. NCPA has the following resources to help you assist your patients and…
City of Philadelphia Immunizers Only
The City of Philadelphia Department of Health is offering a “Standing Order” for immunizations without the need of having a Business Agreement with a physician. It has been very difficult for many stores to set up an agreement with a…
DIR Fees & Part D Got You Down?
Join PPA for a short webinar with iMedicare to learn how their tool might help you and your patients to better handle Part D. Open enrollment starts October 15 and runs through December 7. Make the most of this small…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending October 7, 2017
FTC to Conduct Workshop on November 8, Examining Prescription Drug Market Competition and PBMs: NCPA is pleased that the Federal Trade Commission this week announced they will hold a workshop on November 8, 2017 entitled, “Understanding Competition in Prescription Drug Markets: Entry…
Four Quick & Easy Ways to Boost Profits During Flu Season
• Put a good tip list for flu survival on your website and share it on social media. Indicate that patients can pick up flu prevention & relief items at your pharmacy (create end-caps for each). • If you are…
Doc Vader Rants About PBMs
‘Doc Vader’ is surprised by how much his EpiPen costs when he picks it up at the pharmacy, but even more surprised by the reason why: PBMs. Watch this new short rant from our NCPA Annual Convention keynote speaker Dr.…
Evolving the Community Pharmacy for a New Era of Healthcare
A Q&A with Brad Tice, the incoming president–elect of the American Pharmacists Association, on how pharmacy practice must evolve for our changing healthcare market.
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending September 30, 2017
Study Finds Medicare ‘DIR Fee’ Legislation Would Save Government Billions: Eliminating retroactive pharmacy payment reductions — or post point-of-sale pharmacy “DIR fees” — in Medicare Part D would save the federal government $3.4 billion over 10 years, according to a…
Mel Brodsky Awarded the J. Allen Duffield Pharmaceutical Industry Award
Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) recently presented Mel Brodsky, RPH with the J. Allen Duffield Pharmaceutical Industry Award during PPA’s 2017 Annual Conference held at the Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center on September 23, 2017 in Pocono…
FDA Takes Important Steps to Stem the Tide of Opioid Misuse and Abuse
FDA taking steps to put IR (Immediate Release) Opioids on REMS program. Once finalized, in about 12 months, an additional 277 IR Opioids will be subject to REMS requirements. America is awash in immediate-release (IR) opioids. About 90 percent of…
FDA Approves First Continuous Glucose Monitoring System For Adults Not Requiring Blood Sample Calibration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System, the first continuous glucose monitoring system that can be used by adult patients to make diabetes treatment decisions without calibration using a blood sample from…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update Week Ending September 23, 2017
Potential Senate Vote on ACA Repeal and Replace: Senate Republicans are struggling to find a path forward on their latest bid to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are heading toward a potential vote this week on…
NYT, ProPublica Wants Your Patients’ Stories
The New York Times is collaborating with the investigative nonprofit ProPublica in writing about the rising cost of prescription drugs and how patients are being affected by changes in the industry. They’re looking to hear about any difficulties patients have…
Start Planning for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is right around the corner. It’s time to start planning your Breast Cancer Awareness Month promotions. Here are a few easy ideas: Ask staff to dress in pink one day in October. Post a photo on your social media…
Immunization CE Program
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has announced they will be issuing a protocol for pharmacies in the City and County of Philadelphia to immunize their adult patients (19 years and older) when there is no provider order or prescription…
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA Urges Caution About Withholding Opioid Addiction Medications From Patients Taking Benzodiazepines or CNS Depressants: Careful Medication Management Can Reduce Risks
Based on our additional review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising that the opioid addiction medications buprenorphine and methadone should not be withheld from patients taking benzodiazepines or other drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS).…
How to Start an Enhanced Services Network in Your Area—Webinar This Thursday
Speaking of CPESNSM … As reimbursements go down and DIR fees go up, forward-thinking pharmacists must find new and innovative ways to practice. Pharmacist-provided patient care is both an opportunity and a need, and a clinically integrated network like CPESN…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending September 16, 2017
NCPA Co-Hosts Principles for Patient-Centered Prescription Drug Coverage Forum: Greater oversight and transparency of pharmacy benefit managers’ actions will help to lessen the amount of control they wield over what medicines people can use, what they pay, and where they…
Opioid Awareness Coalition
Great informative panel discussion today in Harrisburg at the South Central PA Opioid Coalition. Hospitals, ER, addiction treatment experts and pharmacists all working together to share best practices to combat this epidemic. www.opioidaware.org
FDA Approves First Biosimilar for the Treatment of Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mvasi (bevacizumab-awwb) as a biosimilar to Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Mvasi is the first biosimilar approved in the U.S. for the treatment of cancer. Continue reading…
Earn the CTTS Designation at PPA Annual Conference
PPA is offering a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training as a special pre-conference program on Thursday before the Annual Conference. Take this opportunity to earn your CTTS designation as a professional specializing in the science of tobacco addiction and ways…
Clearing the Confusion: The ROI of Vaccines and Leveling Up Your Vaccination Program
PrescribeWellness is offering a discussion on vaccines and how to improve your pharmacy vaccination program. Follow PrescribeWellness on twitter at @prescribebwell and join the discussion through Twitter on Thursday Sept 14th at 3:30. http://partner.prescribewellness.com/vaccinecomplete-webinar/
Allergan, Author of the ‘Social Contract,’ Stirs up Hornet’s Nest with Controversial IP Deal
Seeking to shield its blockbuster eye drug against a second round of patent attacks, Allergan has transferred key Restasis intellectual property to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. With the unusual move, the same company that touted pharma’s social contract with patients drew…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending September 9, 2017
Hurricane Emergency Preparedness Update: Healthcare Ready has activated the RxOpen map for Hurricane Irma. They will be actively tracking the storm and standing by ready to assist with requests for information or assistance, and information sharing. If you have partners…
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse for Clinicians
Pharmacists licensed in Pennsylvania are required to complete a minimum two-hour training on Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting during each renewal cycle. If you haven’t met this requirement for your 2018 renewal, check it off your list at the PPA…
Webinar Tomorrow: Get Ready for the Holidays Now
Get tips on prepping your front end for success in the fall and holiday merchandising seasons during a free Sept. 6 webinar (non-CE). NCPA front-end guru Gabe Trahan will highlight upcoming sales themes for October, November, and December (for both…
National Check Your Meds Day – Saturday, October 21, 2017
For those of you have not seen it, Consumer Reports’ September issue on medication use is out. The NCPA Innovation Center is working with Consumer Reports to promote a National Check Your Meds Day on Saturday, October 21, 2017 (see…
Potential New Treatment for Cancer
Novartis gene therapy approval signals new cancer treatment era Novartis AG on Wednesday won highly anticipated U.S. approval for the first of a new type of potent gene-modifying immunotherapy for leukemia, a $475,000 treatment that marks the start of a…
Hurricane Harvey Relief Info, All in One Place
PARD and Keystone are proud to support NCPA Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund for Independent Pharmacy. NCPA has created a special web page to help you find all pharmacy-related resources relevant to Hurricane Harvey. We’re adding new links regularly. Look for…
Send Help NOW: Community Pharmacies Affected by Harvey
You can help community pharmacy owners restore their businesses in the wake of disasters like Hurricane Harvey. Make a donation to the NCPA Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund. Your help is urgently needed to help maintain the fund so timely aid…
Gilead’s $11.9 Billion Purchase of a Groundbreaking Cancer Therapy Could Drag it Into a New Debate on Prices
Gilead Sciences has ended the long-running suspense about what it would do with some of the billions in cash it has amassed from selling effective, but expensive hepatitis C drugs: Buy a groundbreaking cancer therapy. Gilead, which has come under…
Purchase from DollarDays and You Can Help Those Affected by Hurricane Harvey
DollarDays is donating 5% of all customer orders from now until 9/3/17 to Good360, an organization that is helping with Hurricane Harvey relief. Read more about Good360 here.
NCPA Explains How Congress Can Give Pharmacies Relief from DIR Fees
In response to a House Ways and Means Subcommittee initiative aimed at reducing government regulation, NCPA provided the committee written feedback on providing community pharmacies relief from DIR fee rules. Since CMS has not released a final guidance on the…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending August 26, 2017
Important Information Regarding Pharmacy Services in Relation to Hurricane Harvey: Healthcare Ready’s Rx Open is an interactive map that helps patients and providers find nearby open pharmacies in areas impacted by disaster. The map will be updated daily throughout the federally…
Follow Up: A PBM Wants to Terminate Your Contract – Video
Here is a follow up video to the Webinar that was given Mediware. Click here to view the video.
Mylan Wraps Up $465 Million U.S. Accord Over EpiPen Rebates
Mylan NV and the U.S. Justice Department finalized a $465 million settlement to resolve claims that the drugmaker defrauded taxpayers by misclassifying its allergy-shot EpiPen product as a generic drug. The settlement, announced by the Justice Department Thursday, resolves claims that…
So a PBM Wants to Terminate Your Contract: The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid to Keep You in the Network
WHEN: Thursday, August 24, 2017; 2:00pm – 3:00pm EDT COST: Free In a world where PBMs also operate their own in-house specialty pharmacies, the incentive to reduce competition through network termination of independent pharmacies has never been stronger. PBMs have…
Free Webinar from NCPA
Click on the link below to register. A FREE Aug. 22 webinar: Pharmacy Security to Prevent Robbery, Theft and Diversion
Study: Patients More Likely to Get the Flu Shot When It Is Available at Retail
Making influenza immunizations available through retail pharmacy increases the odds that a patient will get the flu shot, according to an article published in Clinical Therapeutics last week. The study found that state-level policy changes allowing for pharmacists to administer…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending August 5, 2017
President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction Interim Report Released: The report, attached, includes recommendations for action by the President. The Commission recommended that the President “declare a national emergency” that would empower Cabinet members “to take bold steps” and “force…
Pharmacy Instructions for License Renewal
To those of you that were able to apply to the State Board for the renewal of your PHARMACY license, your new license received in the mail should be reviewed very closely. We are finding that expiration dates on many…
Interested in Diversifying Your Independent Pharmacy with LTC? Free Webinar on August 9th from NCPA.
Long-term care is ripe with opportunity, but first you need a solid foundation for your LTC business. The NCPA Innovation Center’s Aug. 9 live webinar will cover the basics: getting started, using LTC business metrics, financing and important considerations as you prepare…
PA State Senate Passes Bill to Lower PACE Dispensing Fee to $10
Last week, the Pennsylvania State Senate amended House Bill 118 to include provisions that would cut the PACE professional dispensing fee from $13 to $10.49. This bill then passed the full Senate by a vote of 37-13 and will now…
Trump’s FDA Chief Takes Wide Aim at Opioid Addiction Crisis
The Food and Drug Administration, as part of a sweeping overhaul in how it regulates opioid painkillers, plans to look to some unusual allies to limit the flood of the addictive pills — health insurers and companies that manage prescription…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending July 29, 2017
GOP Health Care Overhaul Stalls Indefinitely: The Senate rejected several proposals to repeal and/or replace the ACA, including a final attempt at a “skinny” repeal primarily targeted at the individual and employer insurance mandates. The votes likely end the remarkable,…
In the Mon Valley, Independent Pharmacies Have Stood the Test of Time
When Joe Janosik’s grandfather bought a pharmacy in Monessen, he started what would become a three-generation family business. The original location, a few doors down on Sixth Street, had a soda and ice cream bar. “We’ve been here since the…
Contact Your Legislator and Make Your Voice Heard
The House of Representatives will be adjourning for its annual August in district work period at the end of this week and is scheduled to remain out of session until September 5. Many legislators will be in district for the…
The Expanded Access Navigator – Helping Patients In Need of Potentially Life-Saving Drug Treatments
Patients with serious or immediately life-threatening diseases or conditions who have no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy and who seek access to potentially life-saving investigational drugs will have another option to guide them through the process – thanks to the…
Top