Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 - (Page 12)

12 DRUG TOPICS OCTOBER 15, 2007 www.drugtopics.com The Week at a Glance lisher of Consumer Reports, most Medicare Part D prescription drug plans increased the cost of some covered drugs during the plan year. Between February and September, 95% of the plans in the sampled areas raised drug costs for the studied medications. Only 15 of the 289 plans in the sampled areas lowered their prices. The study looked at drug prices for five widely used drugs in zip codes in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas. The examined prescriptions were for 30-day supplies of Altace 10 mg (ramipril, King Pharmaceuticals), Celebrex 200 mg (celecoxib, Pfizer), Lipitor 10 mg (atorvastatin, Pfizer), nifedipine ER 20 mg, and Zoloft 100 mg (sertraline, Pfizer). Price increases were often significant as well. The average price increase over the seven-month period ranged from $123 to $158. A quarter of the plans raised prices by at least 5%. Illinois’ BlueMedicare Rx Standard plan had the largest rise at $679, a 28% increase. The data are in keeping with previous Consumers Union studies of Medicare Part D pricing. agents increase the risk of NSF in patients with acute or chronic renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1.73 m2) and patients with renal dysfunction due to hepatorenal syndrome or in the perioperative liver transplantation period. In NSF, excessive amounts of connective tissue form on internal organs and the skin. The condition is progressive and can be fatal. According to the letter, the FDA has received reports of more than 250 cases of NSF. The affected products include gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist, Bayer), gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance, Bracco), gadodiamide (Omniscan, GE Healthcare), gadoversetamide (OptiMARK, Mallinckrodt), and gadoteridol (ProHance, Bracco). Gadolinium-based contrast agents are used during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ranbaxy gets agency nod for generic Biaxin suspension Clarithromycin for Oral Suspension, USP, has been approved by the FDA for Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals in strengths of 125 mg/5 ml and 250 mg/5 ml. The agent is bioequivalent to Biaxin Granules in the same strengths from Abbott Laboratories. Clarithromycin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. CMS to require NPI numbers in January After a delay of seven months, CMS will insist upon NPI (National Provider Identification) numbers for Medicare billing beginning in January 2008. The requirement for using NPIs was originally slated to begin in May, but delays forced CMS to extend a transition period. Since May, many health plans have required pharmacies to submit both legacy identifiers as well as NPIs to ensure that the claims are paid. CMS announced that its transition period when both NPI and legacy identifiers are required will end at that time. SmartCare Family Medical Centers kicks off flu shot season SmartCare Family Medical Centers, which operates retail-based, walk-in medical clinics inside 15 Front Range, Colo., Wal-Mart Supercenter locations, is offering convenient flu immunizations. Vaccines are available seven days a week, with no appointment needed. Guests 18 months and older can receive the vaccine for $25. For more information, visit www.smartcarecenters.com. Warnings of fibrosis added to gadolinium-based contrast agents PI Postmarketing reports of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) following administration of gadoliniumbased contrast agents have led manufacturers of five gadolinium-based contrast agents to issue a Dear Healthcare Professional letter. The prescribing information for each product will now contain a black box warning and an updated Warnings section describing the risk for developing NSF. The URAC names first companies to earn accreditation Ten organizations have earned URAC’s Pharmacy Benefit Management Accreditation, the first voluntary accreditation developed for the PBM industry. These companies include Aetna Inc., Caremark LLC d/b/a CVS Caremark/Caremark, Envision Pharmaceutical http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=408543&searchString=consumers%20union%20part http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=408543&searchString=consumers%20union%20part http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/MedicarePartDNews/Get-ready-for-all-NPI-contingencies/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/423914 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/MedicarePartDNews/Get-ready-for-all-NPI-contingencies/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/423914 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/MedicarePartDNews/Get-ready-for-all-NPI-contingencies/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/423914 http://www.smartcarecenters.com http://www.smartcarecenters.com

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Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 Contents Drugs in the Pipeline for Diabetes Vanquishing Med Errors from Abbreviations What Pharmacy Schools Never Taught You The Week at a Glance What Kinds of Mistakes Do Pharmacists Make?

Drug Topics - October 15, 2007

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