Drug Topics - March 17, 2008 - (Page 9)

9 NEWS Roundup izumab. However, in some cases, they happened after patients had received multiple doses of the therapy. Furthermore, the lab values recurred upon rechallenge of natalizumab in patients whose therapy had been temporarily discontinued. According to the companies’ press release, the combination of these elevations in the absence of obstruction is generally considered a predictor of severe liver injury that could lead to death or the need for liver transplant in some patients. Treatment with natalizumab should be discontinued in patients with jaundice or laboratory evidence of significant liver injury. Patients should be instructed to read the Medication Guide, which discusses symptoms of liver injury. emphasizes that those at highest risk warrant treatment. Absolute fracture risk is now determined using an algorithm called FRAX, which estimates the likelihood of a person to break a bone due to low bone mass or osteoporosis over a period of 10 years. The new NOF guide also summarizes its recommendations into “5 Steps to Bone Health,” which are getting the daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol intake, talking to a provider about bone health, and getting a bone density test and medication when appropriate. The Clinician’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis can be accessed online at www.nof.org/professionals/ Clinicians_Guide.htm. New report shows ways to boost flu shot rates among health employees Dissatisifed that only 42% of healthcare professionals have obtained their flu shot, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has published a call to action report and another one listing best practices for increasing immunization rates. Among the suggestions for boosting immunization rates are: •Mobile vaccination cart programs •Free vaccinations on site •Intensive education and awareness programs •Use of new technologies •Signed declination forms •State legislation and mandate programs NFID warned that unvaccinated health employees have led to flu outbreaks in their facilities. For instance, in one long-term care facility in which only one out of 10 health personnel was vaccinated, 65 people came down with the flu, resulting in hospitalizations and a few deaths. NFID’s two reports can be found on www.nfid.org. Government and Law CMS won’t appeal AMP injunction The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has decided not to appeal a preliminary injunction that has blocked it from implementing the average manufacturer price rule for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement. In a December hearing, Judge Royce Lamberth granted the injunction after concluding that the case filed by the National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores was likely to succeed and that “implementation of this scheme would, in fact, put [pharmacies] out of business.” The rule was set to go into effect in January. In the suit, NACDS and NCPA charged that the rule threatened independent pharmacies by sharply reducing reimbursement and that CMS had contradicted numerous aspects of the Social Security Act, including its definition of AMP . CMS now has until March 31 to produce administrative documents on how it developed the rule. W. Va. bill to require pharmacist supervision of Rx dispensing in clinics Should free clinics require a pharmacist in charge to supervise the dispensing of medications? That’s what a bill in the West Virginia Senate is now considering. The bill would grant the state board of pharmacy the regulatory authority over free health clinics. Proponents of the bill believe the legislation will ensure medication safety. Opponents maintain that they don’t have the resources to hire a pharmacist in charge. As a compromise, the state board said volunteer pharmacists working a limited number of hours per week would be acceptable. DT New guide for osteoporosis addresses minorities The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) has released new treatment guidelines which, for the first time, address the needs of postmenopausal African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and men over the age of 50 – as well as the Caucasian population. A new approach to assessing fracture risk and treatment includes evidence-based recommendations to help providers identify patients at high risk and Photo: Jim Shive http://www.nof.org/professionals/clinicians_guide.htm http://www.nof.org/professionals/clinicians_guide.htm http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/BRACINGFOR-A-SHOWDOWN/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/489157 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/BRACINGFOR-A-SHOWDOWN/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/489157 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/BRACINGFOR-A-SHOWDOWN/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/489157 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Business and Management/BRACINGFOR-A-SHOWDOWN/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/489157 http://www.nfid.org http://www.nof.org

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Drug Topics - March 17, 2008 Contents Commonly Confused Drug Pairs Medicaid Prescription Reimbursement Information By State ACP Issues Guidance On Optimal HbA1c for Type 2 Diabetics Latest News Roundup

Drug Topics - March 17, 2008

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