Drug Topics - October 29, 2007 - (Page 13)

13 back off the fight over a CMS decision that restricts reimbursements for low-dose levels of erythropoiesisstimulating agents (ESAs). “The safe and proper dosage of this drug in very vulnerable cancer patients is an extremely technical issue,” the letter stated. “Congress should leave these life-and-death medical decisions to the professional, objective physician-scientists at our nation’s health agencies.” The letter also reminds Congress of the studies that suggest the overuse of ESAs can foster the growth of tumors and lead to early death in cancer patients. “Congress should not substitute its own judgment for that of CMS and the FDA on these issues,” the letter continued. Last week, the FDA drafted a letter supporting the decision by CMS to limit the duration of ESA treatment to a maximum of eight weeks after a chemotherapy session. The decision also requires doctors to wait until hemoglobin levels drop below 10 gm/dl before starting ESA treatment. The restrictions have come under fire from several groups and prompted federal lawmakers to introduce legislation asking CMS to reconsider its decision. The resolution is before the House’s Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means committees. Intra-articular pain pumps could lead to permanent joint damage Pumps that deliver pain medication directly into the joint space can cause permanent and debilitating damage, according to an article published in the October issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine. The devices are manufactured by several companies, including Stryker Corp. and I-Flow Inc., and are normally used after surgery to reduce pain in the shoulder joint space. According to Charles Beck, M.D., a well-known orthopedic surgeon, the devices have been used in thousands of patients and hundreds appear to be at risk for the complication, which is called postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL). The condition results in severe pain, debilitating stiffness, and eventual joint replacement surgery for those affected. The article reported that PAGCL is permanent and can lead to extreme pain and lifelong suffering in 63% of patients who use the pumps. Thursday 10/18/07 Coalition wants e-prescribing in Medicare to be mandatory by 2010 A broad coalition of consumer, union, business, and purchaser groups is urging Congress to make e-prescribing in Medicare mandatory for all doctors by 2010. In a letter to Congressional committee leaders, the coalition urged policymakers to implement a safety requirement that e-prescribing be used for all Part D prescriptions. According to the coalition, requiring e-prescribing in Medicare could prevent 1.9 million adverse drug events over the next decade and save billions of dollars. “The IOM [Institute of Medicine] called on all physicians to adopt electronic prescribing by 2010,” the coalition’s letter states. “Unfortunately, fewer than one out of 10 physicians are meeting this challenge. As a result, neither patients nor physicians take advantage of critical, available, real-time information that would improve outcomes, save lives, and dramatically reduce healthcare costs.” The letter, addressed to Reps. Joe Barton (R, Texas), John D. Dingell (D, Mich.), Jim McCrery (R, La.), and Charles B. Rangel (D, N.Y.) and Sens. Max Baucus (D, Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R, Iowa), was signed by various groups, including the AFL-CIO, Consumers Union, SEIU, UAW (International Union), and prescription drug stakeholders such as Walgreens, RxHub, Apotex, NACDS, and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. InforMedix partners with Eaton Apothecary on Med-eMonitor InforMedix Holdings, developer of the Med-eMonitor System for medication adherence and disease management, has signed a distribution agreement with Bostonbased Eaton Apothecary. Eaton Apothecary will distribute the Med-eMonitor system in its pharmacies in Weston and Newton, Mass., as an initial step toward potentially expanding the distribution to more of its stores once proven successful. InforMedix’s Med-eMonitor System is an interactive “smart pillbox” for medication adherence, monitored by healthcare professionals at 24/7 call centers. In addition to storing medication and tracking patients’ adherence to their health plans, the MedeMonitor provides healthcare professionals with real-time alerts when patients miss their meds or Med-eMonitor their health declines. http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=450104&searchString=ESA%20coverage http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=450104&searchString=ESA%20coverage http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=450104&searchString=ESA%20coverage http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Safety/BLOODBATH-OVER-ESAs/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/442734?searchString=ESAs http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Safety/BLOODBATH-OVER-ESAs/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/442734?searchString=ESAs http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Safety/BLOODBATH-OVER-ESAs/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/442734?searchString=ESAs http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Drug+Topics+Daily+News/Legislators-introduce-bill-to-reverse-CMS-decision/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/464345?contextCategoryId=10239 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Drug+Topics+Daily+News/Legislators-introduce-bill-to-reverse-CMS-decision/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/464345?contextCategoryId=10239 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Drug+Topics+Daily+News/Legislators-introduce-bill-to-reverse-CMS-decision/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/464345?contextCategoryId=10239 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Drug+Topics+Daily+News/Legislators-introduce-bill-to-reverse-CMS-decision/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/464345?contextCategoryId=10239 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/Medicare-Part-D-ready-for-e-prescribing/Article-Standard/Article/detail/421205?contextCategoryId=5963&searchString=medicare%20e-prescribing http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/Medicare-Part-D-ready-for-e-prescribing/Article-Standard/Article/detail/421205?contextCategoryId=5963&searchString=medicare%20e-prescribing http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/Medicare-Part-D-ready-for-e-prescribing/Article-Standard/Article/detail/421205?contextCategoryId=5963&searchString=medicare%20e-prescribing http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/Medicare-Part-D-ready-for-e-prescribing/Article-Standard/Article/detail/421205?contextCategoryId=5963&searchString=medicare%20e-prescribing http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/Medicare-Part-D-ready-for-e-prescribing/Article-Standard/Article/detail/421205?contextCategoryId=5963&searchString=medicare%20e-prescribing

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Drug Topics - October 29, 2007 Contents N.J. R.Ph.s Take AMP Fight to Congress Oral Care Product Sales Holding Steady Still More Stellar Independent Pharmacies Students to Students: Check Out Our Book The Week at a Glance

Drug Topics - October 29, 2007

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