CLINICAL NEWS

FDA approves first quadrivalent flu vaccine

FDA approved the first 4-strain influenza vaccine live, intranasal (FluMist Quadrivalent, MedImmune) for the prevention of influenza. The vaccine’s 4 strains (2 type-A and 2 type-B lineages) help provide broad protection against circulating influenza A and B. » More

PBM NEWS

Express Scripts develops predictive model to combat non-adherence

Pharmacy benefit manager giant Express Scripts has developed a predictive model, ScreenRx, to combat what its chief scientist calls “the most costly healthcare issue in America” – non-adherence. And today the company is putting a number to that cost with the release of its 2011 Drug Trend Report. » More

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The impact of electronic health records on pharmacy practice

E-prescribing, a paperless, real-time transmission of data, places pharmacists squarely within the healthcare technology team.

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LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Backlog of ANDAs could be alleviated with passage of generic drug user fee act

Congressional approval of the bipartisan Generic Drug and Biosimilars User Fee Act could eliminate 90% of the backlog of Abbreviated New Drug Applications by 2017, FDA official Russell Wesdyk, BS, MBA, said in a presentation last month. » More

CPhA pushing bill to allow California pharmacists to perform OTC lab tests

California pharmacists would be able to better assist patients with increasingly more complicated over-the-counter assessment tests if the state’s Senate approves new legislation, according to Jon Roth, CEO, California Pharmacists Association. » More

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Kentucky law protects pharmacies against unfair PBM audit practices, NACDS says

The recent passage of a Kentucky bill prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from recouping payments through pharmacy audits when there is no evidence of fraud bodes well for similar federal legislation, according to a recent statement from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. » More

CHAINS & BUSINESS

Community pharmacies preferred over mail order at a rate of 4:1, study shows

When co-pays are similar, patients prefer community pharmacies versus mail order to fill their prescriptions by a ratio of 4 to 1, according to a new study published in the April 2012 issue of The Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy. » More

OTC PRODUCT NEWS

What’s new on your shelves?

What’s different in your drug stores this month? A new source of iron in a prenatal multivitamin supplement drink. Healing lotion that contains aloe and vitamin E to protect skin from dryness. A topical pain reliever that is applied like a deodorant and stored in the freezer. For those year-round coughs and colds, a soothing, non-drowsy liquid formula. An omega-3, 6, 9 vitamin to support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. Yogurt-based products that help quench the skin’s “moisture-thirsty” cells. And there are even more new over-the-counter items featured in the print edition of Drug Topics. » More

BUSINESS PRACTICES

AccentHealth offers health education in physician offices with opportunity to advertise your retail pharmacy

AccentHealth, one of the largest health education television networks, has expanded its patient waiting room television programming to include 8 new condition-specific networks that reach 173 million viewers annually. » More

Survey

Does your employer allow the use of your doctor degree on your name tag?

a) Yes, my employer allows PharmD after my name or the use of the title Dr. before my name.
b) Yes, my employer allows PharmD after my name but not the title Dr. before my name.

c) No, my employer does not allow any doctor title before or after my name.

Respond here and see what your colleagues think, too.

Want to see the results of our last survey about whether pharmacists should have the authority to prescribe medications? Click here.

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