It’s back-to-school time—is your pharmacy prepared? I’m not just talking about having school supplies on hand. Parents may come into your pharmacy with questions about a good children’s vitamin to take, or what you recommend for cough and cold medicines…
Author: Monica Abel
To-Do List Item: Order Banners for Flu Shots
Order your flu shot banners and signage now to be prepared for the start of flu shot and immunization season in August and September. A simple message like “Flu shots available here!” will do the trick. In addition, check the…
‘Alexa, help manage my diabetes.’ That’s what Merck and its contest finalists envision for the Amazon platform
What can Amazon Alexa can do for people with diabetes? When Merck & Co.’s Alexa Diabetes Challenge posed that question earlier this year, contest entries turned the voice-enabled system into a mood-sensing coach, a nutrition assistant and a sleuth that…
Pharmacy Owners: Tell Your Story
NCPA has put together its fourth census to document who you are and what you do. This is your chance to be a part of the bigger story NCPA communicates to legislators, regulators, the media, and patients. Data from the…
Community Pharmacy Champions Talk About PBMs on House Floor
Independent community pharmacy champion U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) hosted a special order on the House floor Monday evening to talk about PBMs and the role of community pharmacy. Collins was joined by two Congressional friends of pharmacy from Georgia,…
Pennsylvania Announces Disposal Plan in Effort to Curb Opioid Abuse
To help reduce the diversion of prescription drugs in communities hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office will supply 300,000 drug deactivation and disposal pouches to pharmacies in 12 counties. The action means everyone who receives a Schedule…
Counterfeit Pills Laced With Fentanyl Are Ravaging Communities Across North America
For more than a decade, counterfeit drugs with unreliable ingredients have caused patients suffering by not curing their illnesses. Now, counterfeit drugs with deadly ingredients threaten American lives with just one dose. A closed, secure supply chain is even more imperative when…
Purchasing Medication For Your Pet From An Unlicensed Online Pharmacy Can Hurt Them
When Dr. Watts’ veterinary patient stopped responding to medication, Dr. Watts questioned the source of the medication. The pet’s owner purchased the medication from online. When the doctor called the manufacturer with the owner in the room, the manufacturer stated that they…
Endo Pulls Opioid as U.S. Seeks to Tackle Abuse Epidemic
Endo International Plc said on Thursday it agreed to withdraw its long-acting opioid painkiller Opana ER from the market after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared its benefit did not outweigh public health risks associated with opioid abuse. Read…
Federal Judge Enters Consent Decree Against Alabama Compounder Medistat- Drug Information Update
U.S. District Judge William H. Steele entered a consent decree of permanent injunction yesterday between the United States and Medistat RX LLC of Foley, Alabama, the company’s co-owners, Mark D. Acker and Timothy L. Fickling, and quality manager and pharmacist-in-charge…
July 12 Webinar: How to Budget for Your Pharmacy’s Technology Needs
Choosing the right technology to fit your business needs and help you to expand is only a part of the equation; a “good fit” has to include how you budget for adding capabilities. Join a July 12 live webinar by NCPA for…
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending June 30, 2017
MAC Update Amendment Included in House Defense Authorization Bill: Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) successfully added an amendment to the defense authorization bill to ensure that MAC lists are regularly updated in the TRICARE retail pharmacy program. This is a big step…
“Celebrate Independents” Month With Free Marketing Materials from NCPA
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…
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
Stampeding Generics Expected to Trample Lily’s now off-patent ADHD med Strattera
http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/lilly-s-adhd-med-strattera-faces-new-generic-competition-from-teva-and-others?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal&mrkid=41785545&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWWpGaE1qQTBZMkptTVRReCIsInQiOiJvMElvYVNsOHNHSHlTVFMyNzhtMkI1WEVBSW5xTk0xU08xUnZmYlVmMVk2YkI5bTkzeXlmM3RLOGZpa3NRWVFPcmlPWUhPQ1JpM3VTS2liblF5ZDRQb0NDQUpGdUhEbGcwcVpmaGR6YmtlVEdpRkVrcjEydmg2ODhwaUZsZXROaSJ9
Brilinta (ticagrelor) 90 mg tablets, 8-count Physician Sample Bottles: Recall of Lot # JB5047 – Due to Report of Another Medicine in One Bottle
AstraZeneca is notifying physicians and consumers that it is voluntarily recalling one lot of professional (physician) sample bottles containing eight tablets of Brilinta (ticagrelor) 90mg tablets as a precautionary measure. This voluntary recall follows a report that a professional sample…
Proposed Cuts to Pharmacy Reimbursement
You’re already fighting the proposed cuts to PACE and Medicaid dispensing fees, but your patients need to understand the detrimental effect these proposals would have on them. Discuss these proposals with your patients to help them understand the harmful consequences…
Drug Lobbyists’ Battle Cry Over Prices: Blame the Others
A civil war has broken out among the most powerful players in the industry, which is scrambling in the face of public anger and legislative efforts to reduce costs. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/health/drug-lobbyists-battle-cry-over-prices-blame-the-others.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
New FDA Commissioner Gottlieb Unveils Price-fighting Strategies
http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/new-fda-commissioner-gottlieb-unveils-price-fighting-strategies?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal&mrkid=41785545&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTlRKalpUSmxOREEwTW1NNSIsInQiOiJrNW9ncDJJQjZhSUQrSDdFcHA3YWcyd1MwQXQwODA3dmQydDZcL2k5a0hPbkp5cFlFYVhqMzdOWHlWRDQ3Q2R1TGpEXC90NExwQVpQUHBOa3VmdU1Vc3hva0wwaU1UT2F0NlRlNDZQRFpmY25xXC8weHFIcDF6cVZubXdFUGRJdXJWMCJ9
FDA Commissioner Asks Staff for ‘More Forceful Steps’ to Stem Opioid Crisis
https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2017/05/fda-commissioner-asks-staff-for-more-forceful-steps-to-stem-the-opioid-crisis/
Invite Your Legislator for a Pharmacy Visit Over the Memorial Day Recess
Congress will be in recess from May 26-June 5 for the Memorial Day holiday. Many legislators will be in their districts meeting with constituents and attending local events. This is an opportune time to engage your legislators and invite them…
A Reality Check on Amazon’s Pharmacy Ambitions
Click on the link below to see the article. A Reality Check on Amazon’s Pharmacy Ambitions
NCPA Advocacy Center Update – Week Ending May 20, 2017
CMS Releases Annual Part D Plan Sponsor DIR Reporting Guidance Including Details on Reporting Pharmacy DIR: This week CMS released a memo proposing guidance for Part D sponsors on reporting DIR data for CY 2016. Part D sponsors are required…
Mel Brodsky, Executive Director of PARD, Presents a Check to the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia
From left to right.. Police Commissioner Richard Ross, Jr.; Bernie Prazenica, PAL Board Chair and General Manager of WPVI TV/6abc; Mel Brodsky, Rich Ost; Lt. Evelyn Cintron, PAL’s Commanding Officer and Ted Qualli, PAL’s Executive Director.
FDA Confirms Increased Risk of Leg and Foot Amputations with the Diabetes Medicine Canagliflozin
Based on new data from two large clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that the type 2 diabetes medicine canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR) causes an increased risk of leg and foot amputations. We are…
PrescribeWellness – Ways to Improve An Immunization Program
Click the link to see presentation done by PrescribeWellness: https://www.pscp.tv/PrescribeWell/1RDxlZVnkWRGL
Top Pharmas Team With Express Scripts To Gin Up Savings for Cash-paying Patients
http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/amid-pricing-scrutiny-drugmakers-team-up-express-scripts-to-find-savings-for-cash-paying?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWWpGak1ETmxOamxsTkRVMSIsInQiOiIzK1VGOEY4S1A0UzlzVm1rczM0cmg0cngyemNGbmtUekNRZXJYcW1maXZQbzB0bzE5T1FSQ1BoeFVIRnNHeWYxb0VLa1wvczNBcWVOWlR5ZmhIaHZNUWlCY1kxOFlubXI1SHVoOUVxNTBDcXJDbWpIYklwXC9TaDFzUUtcLzRoZWNmSiJ9&mrkid=41785545&utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal
Pharm Tech Bill Passes the House
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 454 today; this bill would require pharmacy technicians to register with the State Board of Pharmacy. The bill now awaits consideration from the Pennsylvania State Senate. You can learn more about this…
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