Drug Topics - October 29, 2007 - (Page 20)

20 DRUG TOPICS OCTOBER 29, 2007 www.drugtopics.com The Week at a Glance ets. States attributed the low enrollment numbers to dualeligible beneficiaries moving to Medicare Part D, new federal documentation requirements, and low unemployment. The slow growth in costs is also allowing states to look into expanding benefits, loosening eligibility requirements, and expanding long-term care services. For the first time since 2003, no state plans to cut a benefit in 2008. The study does not address the potential impact of the expected move to using average manufacturer price (AMP) for determining pharmacy reimbursement. ing from an eightfold overdose in patients seeking off-label treatment with IV colchicine for back pain. Toxicology reports showed the colchicine vials contained 4 mg/ml instead of the 0.5 mg/ml indicated on the label; therefore, the intended 2-mg dose was actually 16 mg. Bonnel et al. (J Emerg Med, 2002) showed that deaths have been reported with cumulative doses of colchicine as low as 5.5 mg. According to MMWR, the deaths underscore the potentially fatal ramifications of errors by compounding pharmacies, which generally are not subject to the same oversight and manufacturing practices as pharmaceutical manufacturers. In response to the incident, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, in cooperation with the FDA, issued a recall of all colchicine that had been sold or produced by the compounding pharmacy within the past year. Monday 10/15/07 CMS slow to investigate PDP fraud An investigation into antifraud and abuse measures for the Medicare Part D program by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that in 2006, CMS relied primarily on complaints to identify fraud and abuse . The report also noted that many complaints against prescription drug plans were not investigated in a timely manner. According to the report, nearly one-fourth of the more than 6,000 complaints received by Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (MEDIC) remained open due to insufficient staff. OIG also pointed out that complaints to the 1-(800) MEDICARE hotline were not tracked. OIG recommended that CMS “develop a comprehensive safeguard strategy” to prevent fraud and abuse by Medicare Part D PDPs. Outcomes upgrades MTM system Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care has rolled out Outcomes 8.0, the latest version of its medication therapy management system. The system includes a new Web-based pharmacist training program and MTM documentation system. With the new system, pharmacists have access to comprehensive patient charting functionality to document MTM claims, create master medication lists and medication action plans, view prescription histories, and record clinical information. Outcomes 8.0 allows for in-depth analysis of MTM data through a menu of customizable reports. Manufacturer cuts off compounding pharmacies’ access to its drug Compounding pharmacies can no longer buy bevacizumab (Avastin) from their wholesalers. This is the result of a decision by the manufacturer Genentech to limit the sale of the drug starting Nov. 30. Compounding pharmacies have been preparing the cancer drug in small doses on an off-label basis to treat patients with macular degeneration. But Genentech contends that the compounded preparations may be contaminated and, besides, patients can now use its ranibizumab (Lucentis) for their condition. However, ranibizumab costs about $2,000 a dose as opposed to $50 for bevacizumab. Genentech said doctors can still buy bevacizumab and then send the drug to pharmacies for compounding. Ophthalmologists don’t like this decision since it’s an extra step they must take. Consumers Union finds fault with Part D ratings The current system for rating and comparing Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) is confusing, meaningless, and should be reformed according to Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. In a letter sent to Kerry Weems, CMS’ acting administrator, the consumer group faulted the rating system for ignoring information such as how much PDPs increased drug prices during the year, or whether a PDP has more lower-cost generics on its drug list than highpriced brands. Instead, the rating system includes information of little use to consumers, like the ease for pharmacist in filling an Rx. CMS recently released information on the 2008 PDPs in preparation for open enrollment, which begins Nov. 15. DT MMWR reports on colchicine deaths due to compounding error The Oct. 12 issue of MMWR describes three deaths attributed to a Texas compounding pharmacy error result- http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/Article-Standard/Article/detail/394827 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/Article-Standard/Article/detail/394827 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/Article-Standard/Article/detail/394827 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/394827 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/394827 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/394827 http://www.drugtopics.com/drugtopics/Medicare+Part+D+News/On-guard-The-auditor-cometh/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/394827

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - October 29, 2007

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

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.