Prescirption Drug Thefts are Increasing

The Associate Press reports that thefts of large lots of prescription drugs is increasing.

Pharmaceutical heists in the U.S. have quadrupled since 2006, a coalition of industry and law enforcement estimates. And experts say the reasons include spotty security and high drug prices that can make such thefts extremely lucrative.

Vitamin D Supplements for Infants

New research is indicating the need for Vitamin D supplements for infants.

Personally, I take Vitamin D supplements and strongly encourage others to do it.

Prescription Disposal

Cape Cod is another community reconsidering how prescription drugs are disposed. The community depends upon a single water source. Contamination of the water supply is carefully monitored.

We must reach a better solution for disposal of prescription drugs across the nation. Disturbing reports of their effects on amphibians and fish should be enough to convince stakeholders of the necessity of action.

Wisconsin Prescription Drug Law

Wisconsin lawmakers are attempting to rid a 1939 law requiring a minimum mark-up on wholesale prescription drug prices. If passed, this will allow large companies like Wal-Mart and Target to sell prescriptions at a steep discount.

Community pharmacists are fighting this law hard.

The American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010

The Senate passed the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act of 2010. If signed into law, this bill will extend Medicare reimbursement rates at their current level and extend for 6 months a temporary increase in the federal medical assistance percentage.

This bill will probably have effects on DME accreditation as well. I will link to information on that shortly.

Newsletter Reminder

Reminder: Email me your address if you want to receive my newsletter but currently are not on the mailing list.

The newsletter is a great resource for health professionals.

Fish Oil Supplement Problems

ABC News reports that fish oil supplements have PCB contaminants.

According to California law, people should not be exposed to more than 90 nanograms of this carcinogen a day. But the results of the activists' tests showed three of the 10 -- Nature Made Cod Liver Oil, and Now Foods' Salmon Oil and Double Strength Cod Liver Oil -- contained much more than that.

Nice Article

Here is a nice article from the New York Times on the struggles that independent pharmacies have against chain pharmacies.

It highlights the extra mile that these pharmacists will go to ensure their patients' health and happiness.

Prescription Disposal Assistance During Earth Week

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is working to promote proper prescription drug disposal this Earth Week.

This press release explains some of the details.

Proper prescription drug disposal is a benefit to the environment and community.

Lawyers USA Blog Post

One of my cases was cited and I was interviewed for a Lawyers USA article regarding the Nevada pharmacy liability case. I cannot link to the blog entry because it is a subscribers' only site.

It it nice to be recognized in the field as an expert with an important case history in health care law.

Newsletter

I am currently working on a new newsletter that we hope to have sent out in the beginning of March.

As always, if you have any comments regarding the newsletter of wish suggest topics, please contact me. My email address is cpencak@pharmacylawpro.com

California Pharmacy Labeling Law Rejection

The Los Angeles Times reports on a rejection of a pharmacy labeling rule in California. The pharmacy board was set to vote for new labeling rules for prescriptions until Governor Schwarzenegger appointed a CVS executive to the board the day before the vote but left three other spots vacant. The rule was defeated in a 5-4 vote.

Not only did CVS oppose the vote but so did one of Governor Schwarzenegger's largest campaign contributors- the California Retailers Association. The Association has contributed over $400,000 to his political committees.

What are your thoughts on this?

Early Education Changes

As changes to education standards are considered, I have a couple suggestions.

First, children should be taught how to think from an early age. If children know how to think, they can learn anything easier. Theories of logic, deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning are applicable across all subjects.

Second, in addition to practical finances, students need to learn practical probability and statistics. This will make them smarter with their finances, better citizens and lead to smarter medical decisions. Casino patrons will have a better idea that their chance of winning is slim. Voters will better understand political polls and concepts such as loaded questions leading to desired answers. Even medical decisions, such as new drug choices, will be affected because patients will understand studies regarding the effectiveness of new drugs.

Time for Change for Performance Enhancing Drugs?

Is it time for a new look at performance enhancing drugs? Should we make the drugs legal through prescription?

Look at any bodybuilding forum online and it is clear that their availability is widespread. If an athlete wants to use the drugs, he/she can. Their level of knowledge is quite impressive. Users combine multiple drugs to achieve the benefits while counteracting the side effects. Yet the manufacturing of the drugs can be suspect and their safety should be questioned.

But this knowledge comes from others’ trial and error and locker room talk. It would be safer for knowledgeable physicians to prescribe performance enhancing drugs. Physicians and pharmacists can monitor the long-term effects and ensure a safer supply of drugs.

I see performance enhancing drugs being especially important for motivating people to exercise. Why should we prescribe drugs like Lipitor to lower cholesterol but not prescribe drugs that will help and encourage people to exercise? The drugs can help people achieve and see results faster and encourage them to continue exercising.

Atypical Antipsychotics MOA

Do any of the physicians or pharmacists out there know the mechanism of action that causes weight gain in patients taking atypical antipsychotics?

Please let me know.

I would be interested in looking at the MOA and what suggestions this might hold for weight gain. Conversely, can we learn anything more about weight loss from the MOA?

Technology in Health Care

The Nashville Business Journal reports on a talk that Steve Ballmer gave at the Nashville Health Care Council. The main point of his speech was the distance that health care has to go to catch-up to technology. Yet, it is an area which can benefit extensively from improvements in health care.

“I’m optimistic. The money is coming. The national debate has been engaged. And now is the time where our industry may be able to step up with some enabling factors and make an even bigger difference,” Ballmer said.

It is amazing that health care technology seems to lag so far behind other sectors, yet technology offers so much that can improve our profession to improve patient safety and health. It can even allow us more time to interact with patients. After all, that is what we went into practice for.

Ohio Prescription Database Fight

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association is working with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy to write a law requiring doctors, nurses, dentists and others who write prescriptions for narcotic pain killers to consult a database. This is meant to prevent patient drug abuse.

According to the paper, Ohio would be the second state after Nevada to have this requirement.

However, doctor groups are expected to oppose this law because it adds another requirement.

Jeff Smith, director of government relations at the Ohio State Medical Association, said the group would likely oppose any mandate on doctors forcing them to check a database for prescriptions.

"We're not ready to agree to that kind of administrative burden on the Ohio physicians," Smith said, adding that it would hit doctors at a time when they are seeing more patients and implementing their own electronic medical records.

Doctors receive training on what to look for and how to evaluate potential patients who are doctor shopping for dangerous pain medications, Smith said.

However, he said, the statewide doctor's association is willing to work with the pharmacy board to understand why physicians aren't already voluntarily participating.

What are your thoughts on this? It often is the pharmacist who is required to verify that patients are not doctor shopping and abusing prescriptions. This bill attacks the problem from another angle. Is it more effective this way or through pharmacies?

Medical Cost Database

A state representative in Colorado is pushing a bill to create a state medical cost database. Basically, this would allow for transparancy into medical costs at various locations across the state.

The database systems combine information from all patients, whether they paid through private health insurance, Medicaid or out of their pockets.

Kefalas said he'd like to see Colorado's system track the cost of various episodes of care and compare them to similar situations in other parts of the state.

This is a good idea to help illuminate some of our medical care costs and perhaps a step in the right direction to lower them.

Healthcare Reform Benefit

One of the greatest benefits that a true healthcare reform act can have is to prevent "job lock". This happens when employees fear leaving their employer to begin their own businesses because the employee fears losing health care.

But the opportunity cost of sticking around a larger company for the coverage can be steep. Job lock costs U.S. workers an estimated $3.7 billion every year in foregone wages, according to a 2009 report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Imagine if we had true universal healthcare. The entrepreneurs in our society would have the freedom to pursue their dreams and reinvigorate business with new companies and ideas because they would not have to fear losing their healthcare.

FTC Ban on 'Pay to Delay'?

According to the USA Today, the FTC wants to ban drug companies from paying to delay generic alternatives.

Agency officials estimate the deals cost American consumers $3.5 billion per year in unnecessarily high drug prices.

The FTC advocates making this ban in the healthcare reform bills being negotiated.