Drug Topics - April 14, 2008 - (Page 8)

8 DRUG TOPICS APRIL 14, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Latebreakers CMS multi-source rule won’t impact lawsuit The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a preliminary final rule that changes the definition of multi-source drugs, but it is unlikely that the change will have any impact on the ongoing average manufacturer price lawsuit filed by the National Community Pharmacists Association and National Association of Chain Drug Stores. In December NCPA and NACDS were granted a preliminary injunction stopping CMS from implementing the AMP rule. The new rule concedes that CMS had erred in its definition as NACDS and NCPA charged in their suit. The new rule, however, shifts a new burden to pharmacists. With the rule CMS would assume a drug is available in each state unless pharmacists can prove otherwise. Since the new rule is an amendment to the final AMP rule, it is still subject to the court’s decision and it is unclear whether it will have any impact on the court case. NovoLog OK for children using insulin pumps Isulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection (NovoLog, Novo Nordisk) may now be used in external insulin pumps in pediatric patients between the ages of four and 18 years. The approval was based on data from a 16-week trial of 298 patients aged four to 18 years. Results showed that almost 60% of patients receiving insulin aspart achieved age-specific A1c goals as defined by the the American Diabetes Association as <8.5% for patients <6 years old and <8% for patients between six and 18 years of age. Insulin aspart is a rapid-onset, short-duration insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control for diabetes mellitus patients. Walgreens launches wellness division Walgreen has created a new Health and Wellness division. The division will manage health centers and pharmacies at largecompany worksites, while continuing the rollout of Take Care Health Clinics located at Walgreens drugstores nationwide. As part of the new division’s strategy, Walgreens also announced plans to acquire two leading operators of worksite health centers, I-trax Inc., parent company of CHD Meridian Healthcare, LLC, and privately held Whole Health Management of Cleveland. Upon closing of the transactions, Walgreens will have more than 500 worksite and retail health centers in 40 states, including its Take Care Health Clinics. Both acquisitions are expected to close within 60 days. A spokeswoman for Take Care told Drug Topics that 30 of the total worksite centers have pharmacies. Walgreens’ chairman/CEO Jeffrey A. Rein said, “I-trax and Whole Health also will open the door for us to add worksite pharmacies where they already operate health centers. This is a natural extension of the existing worksite pharmacy services we currently provide for companies such as Sprint, ABX Air, and Toyota.” CMS outlines 2009 Part D plan requirements The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants more data, better coverage, and greater transparency from Part D plan sponsors in 2009. In its 2009 Call Letter for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan sponsors, CMS is requiring that PDPs publish prior-authorization criteria on their Web sites in advance and that formularies include “all or substantially all” antiretroviral HIV drugs. In 2009 CMS will also require plan sponsors to submit more beneficiary data so that it can expand its analysis of medication therapy management programs. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Philip P. Burgess, R.Ph., M.B.A. Mary E. Inguanti, R.Ph., M.P.H. Dennis Burton, B.S.Pharm., MBA Jack Rosenberg, Pharm.D., Ph.D. National Director, Pharmacy Affairs Walgreen Co. Deerfield, Ill. Perry Cohen, Pharm.D., FAMCP Vice President of Operations Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Hartford, Conn. James A. Jorgenson, R.Ph., M.S., FASHP The Pharmacy Group LLC Glastonbury, Conn. David J. Fong, Pharm.D. Senior Vice President Pharmacy & Family Care Safeway Inc. Pleasanton, Calif. Director of Pharmacy Services University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics Associate Dean for Clinical Education University of Utah College of Pharmacy Salt Lake City, Utah Professor and Director of International Drug Information Center Arnold & Marie Schwartz Frederick S. Mayer, R.Ph., M.P.H. College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences President Pharmacists Planning Service Inc. Long Island University Brooklyn, N.Y. San Rafael, Calif. Vice President Specialty Pharmacy Services Specialty Scripts Pharmacy Fall River, Mass. Gene Memoli Jr., R.Ph., FASCP Director of Customer Development Omnicare Cheshire, Conn. Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Director, PRIME Institute College of Pharmacy University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - March 14, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters: Students Need Grounding in Chemistry Pharmacy Directors Wary of Heparin Shortages Some E-prescribing Standards are Ready to Go, Others are Not News Briefs Nanotechnology: Big Stakes in a Small World Pay for Performance is Coming to Pharmacy Patient Safety Organizations Still Very Much in Planning Stage Reconciling Medications in Specialty Patients Poses More Challenges Pharmacy Outsourcing Still Much in Use by Hospitals Studied Extensively, New Drug-Eluting Stent Said to be Very Safe Prevention is Key in Treating C. Difficile Infections E-prescribing Grows in Massachusetts, but Other States Lag Behind Active Metabolite Gives New Life to Antidepressant NSAIDS not Recommended for Long-term Use in Osteoarthritis This Time R.Ph.s and States Are Ready for Tamper-Resistant Rx Pads Cardinal Caught Between DEA and Pharmacies over Diversion Control Medicating Kids: Still More Questions than Answers Schnucks Pharmacy: Drug Topics' Chain of the Year Panel Will Ask for a System for R.Ph. Practice Across State Lines FDA Safety Page: How to use Fentora Safely The Shining OTC/HBC Stars of 2007 Take a Look at These OTCs for Eye Health Technology Update: Google Offers a Sneak Peak at its Electronic Records Initiative Recent Advancements in HIV/AIDS Treatment New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint: Are State Boards of Pharmacy Abusing Their Power?

Drug Topics - April 14, 2008

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