Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 - (Page 13)

www.drugtopics.com OCTOBER 15, 2007 DRUG TOPICS 13 Services and Rx Options d/b/a Envision Rx Options, Express Scripts, Humana, Medco Health Solutions, Navitus Health Solutions LLC, PerformRx, Prescription Solutions, and Prime Therapeutics LLC. Four organizations have also earned URAC’s new accreditation for drug therapy management, a range of pharmacy management services designed to optimize therapeutic outcomes for individual consumers. These companies include Aetna Inc., Caremark Rx LLC d/b/a CVS Caremark/Caremark, Catalyst Rx, and Prescription Solutions. URAC’s accreditation process for both pharmacy benefit management and drug therapy management includes an application and evaluation process, an on-site evaluation and assessment by a URAC accreditation team, and review and consideration for accreditation by URAC’s accreditation committee. Rite Aid holds favorite R.Ph.s contest to celebrate pharmacist month In celebration of American Pharmacists Month this month, Rite Aid is asking patients to vote for their favorite pharmacist by sharing stories of exceptional service and describing why their pharmacist stands out. The fourth annual program is designed to honor Rite Aid’s 14,000 pharmacists for their commitment to patient care. Patients can vote for their favorite pharmacist on-line at www.riteaid.com or by paper ballot, which they can pick up at any Rite Aid pharmacy. As part of the contest, customers who vote will be entered into a random drawing where one customer will win a $2,500 Rite Aid gift card. One pharmacist will also win a $2,500 gift card. OTC cough, cold medicine in children under six under FDA review The FDA is asking for advice from its advisory committees about the use of cough and cold products in children under six years of age. The agency reviews pertain to both single-ingredient products and products that include multiple combinations of ingredients. The FDA is making the background briefing information available for the Oct. 18 and 19 Nonprescription Drugs and Pediatric Advisory Committees joint meeting at www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ ac/cder07.htm. The label currently advises that consumers or parents ask a doctor about use of antihistamines for children under six years of age. Professional labeling for children between two and six years of age is available to health providers for the antihistamines. Other products containing decongestants, antitussives (cough suppressants), or expectorants are not labeled for children less than two years of age. For more information about this issue, visit www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/cough_cold.htm. Wednesday 10/3/07 AZ&Me Prescription Savings program launched by AstraZeneca AstraZeneca has launched a new program to provide medicines free to community free clinics, community health centers, and hospitals that serve the uninsured. The AZ&Me Prescription Savings program for healthcare facilities is planning to provide free AstraZeneca medicines to hundreds of thousands of patients at approximately 150 facilities by the end of 2008. The program is available to organizations that have a licensed outpatient pharmacy or dispensary on site and can provide documentation that their facility meets other program criteria. Patients are eligible if they do not have prescription coverage and must have a household income at or below $30,000 for an individual or $60,000 for a family of four. To find out whether your organization could qualify for the program for healthcare facilities, call 1-(866) 325-8198. Take Care, Walgreens to expand in nine markets Take Care Health Systems, one of the largest managers of convenient care clinics and a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens, is opening clinics in nine new markets this fall, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa, and Tucson. Combined with expansion in its existing markets of Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, up to 100 new Take Care Health Clinics are planned to open by the end of 2007. Walgreens acquired the company in May 2007. Sixth flu vaccine approved for 2007-2008 season CSL Limited has received regulatory approval for its flu vaccine to protect against influenza type A and B viruses for the 2007-2008 season. Afluria will be one of six influenza vaccines available to contribute to the 132 million doses of vaccine that will be manufactured this year, according to CDC. Afluria was granted accelerated approval by the FDA, which expedited its eval- http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.riteaid.com http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cder07.htm http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cder07.htm http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/cough_cold.htm http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/cough_cold.htm

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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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