HHS Takes Action to Help Medicare Beneficiaries

and Providers in Iowa and Indiana

A public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana has been declared by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt. The action gives HHS’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.

“The flooding in Iowa and Indiana is devastating to each individual and to their communities,” Secretary Leavitt said. “This designation will allow HHS to immediately assist our beneficiaries and providers in the areas where hospitals and other health care delivery systems have been disrupted. It will help ensure that medical assistance is provided promptly and effectively.”

Because of flood damage to local health care facilities, many beneficiaries have been evacuated to neighboring communities, where receiving hospitals and nursing homes may have no health care records, information on current health status or even verification of the person’s status as a Medicare beneficiary. CMS is assuring those facilities that in this circumstance, the normal burden of documentation will be waived and that they can act under a presumption of eligibility.

“In emergencies such as this, CMS has the flexibility to ensure that vital health care services can be maintained and utilized,” said CMS acting administrator Kerry Weems. “Many of the agency’s normal operating procedures will be relaxed to speed provision of health care services to the elderly and persons with disabilities who depend upon these services.”

CMS will undertake actions to the extent necessary to ensure sufficient items and services are available to meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries. The agency will make certain that health care providers that provide items and services in good faith are exempt from sanctions from noncompliance with otherwise applicable requirements, provided there is no fraud or abuse.

For the Medicare Part D prescription benefit, CMS will ensure that rules that prevent early refills are waived. This will assist those beneficiaries who left prescriptions in evacuated homes or lost their prescription during the evacuation.

Beneficiaries in health plans will be able to go out of network during this emergency. CMS is working with the health insurance industry to ensure there are no barriers to this service for those in plans.

07/02/08

More Consumers Buying Medicine by Mail

Of Americans who buy prescription drugs, the proportion that purchases them from mail order pharmacies rose from just under nine percent in 2000 to just over 13 percent in 2005, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ).

The report, parts of which appeared in the June issue of AMCP News (Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy), went on to say that, during the same time frame, the proportion of Americans who bought their prescription medicine from drug stores slipped from 65 to 61 percent; from pharmacies in clinics, HMOs or hospitals declined from 15 to 13 percent; and from pharmacies inside supermarkets, discounters and big box super stores fell from 32 to 28 percent.

AHRQ found that, in 2005, 37 percent of mail order pharmacy buyers were 65 and older; nearly 88 percent were white; almost 87 percent had private health insurance and roughly 75 percent had at least one chronic illness.

The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers summary are taken from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a detailed source of information on the health services used by Americans, the frequency with which they are used, the cost of those services and how they are paid.

07/02/08

Pharmacist Associations Partner to

Increase the Voice of Pharmacy

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) are collaborating to increase the legislative and regulatory clout of pharmacists who engage in compounding, as indicated in a joint release from both groups.

IACP has established a satellite office at NCPA’s headquarters, which is led by their director of public affairs, Sarah R. Dodge. Since both groups share common concerns about federal government policies regarding pharmacy compounding, they will be able to better unite in conveying a message to elected and appointed federal officials about how patients can be hurt or helped by their pharmacy compounding decisions, according to the release.  

“The federal government has shown a proclivity for pursuing and adopting unwarranted and unnecessary policies when it comes to pharmacy compounding as was recently demonstrated by their arbitrary ban of estriol in compounded medications for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy,” said Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, NCPA executive vice president and CEO. “NCPA and IACP are committed to joining forces whenever possible to ensure patient access to medications created through compounding is not endangered.”

Besides the ongoing battle to change the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) stance towards estriol, there are numerous other areas where NCPA and IACP have been aligned in the past and are likely to be in the future. For example, in 2007, both groups fought back three separate attempts in Congress to usurp the current responsibility of the state boards of pharmacies in regulating certain aspects of pharmacy compounding. Both NCPA and IACP believe the FDA should regulate new drugs and the manufacturers of new drugs, while pharmacy compounding should continue to be regulated by state boards of pharmacies. What was attempted last year was to have those responsibilities mixed, which would have introduced a plethora of bureaucratic inefficiencies into the health care system, continued a spokesperson. That wall of delineation would have been jeopardized if NCPA and IACP were unsuccessful in their lobbying efforts. Now coordination will be even easier.

"IACP is pleased to be working even closer with NCPA, as we strongly believe both organizations can compliment each other in many ways. Not only can we work in tandem on issues where there is mutual agreement in the legislative and regulatory arenas, but both organizations have many member companies in common. IACP views this newly strengthened relationship as a truly beneficial one that recognizes you are most effective when more pharmacists join together in our advocacy efforts,” said L.D. King, executive director of IACP.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation’s independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.

The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) is a non-profit association founded in 1991 to protect and promote the art and skill of the compounding pharmacy profession Representing more than 2,000 pharmacists, physicians, technicians and patients, the group is committed to the safe practice of pharmacy compounding and committed to ensuring the rights of physicians to prescribe, of pharmacists to prepare and of patients to take customized medications that meet their unique, individual needs.  

07/02/08

ASCP Launches ASCP Ventures Inc./Gruber Named CEO

A new, wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) has been established by its board of directors. Incorporated as ASCP Ventures Inc. (Ventures), the company will be led by Joseph Gruber, RPh, CGP,

FASCP. Previously, Gruber was director of medication therapy management programs for Omnicare Inc.

“ASCP Ventures will help members engage in new career opportunities and focus on maximizing current funding sources and developing new and sustainable business ventures,” said Gruber. “I am thrilled to lead this new company to develop fresh revenue streams to support ASCP initiatives and consultant and senior care pharmacists.”

“Of course, ASCP’s strong supporters in the pharmaceutical industry have always been, and will remain, critical to our work,” stated ASCP executive director and CEO John Feather, PhD. “ASCP Ventures will provide an interface between ASCP, a professional, non-profit organization, and non-traditional audiences to market our knowledge, products, services, and members to those who need to know about the safe and effective use of medications.”

ASCP Ventures will be governed by an independent board of directors comprised of individuals with extensive business experience. They are Ross Brickley, RPh, CGP, FASCP; Sandra Brownstein, PharmD, CGP; Vince Galletta, RPh; Mickey Glasco, RPh; Robert J. Miller, RPh, FASCP; Robin Taylor, RPh; and ASCP executive director and CEO John Feather, PhD, who also is chair of the Ventures board.

Gruber, who was chair of the ASCP board of directors, has resigned from that position. ASCP president Lee Meyer, PharmD, CGP, FASCP, will assume the duties of ASCP chair.

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the recognized expert in geriatric pharmacotherapy, is the international professional association that provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to advance the practice of consultant and senior care pharmacy. ASCP’s 7,000 members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, subacute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and in home and community-based care.

07/02/08

NACDS Honors Montana Senator as

“Pharmacy Great Communicator”

U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has been named a “Pharmacy Great Communicator” for his outspoken support of pharmacies by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) .

Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced several crucial bills that would help ensure patient access to medications and fair reimbursement for pharmacies, including the Fair Medicaid Drug Payment Act (S. 1951), the Pharmacy Access Improvement Act (S. 1954), and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (S. 3101). Discussing S. 3101 before the Senate on June 11th, Chairman Baucus expressed his support for pharmacies and the role they play in patient care.

“Pharmacies are an integral part of the health care infrastructure in America,” Baucus stated. “Prescription drugs play a huge role in medical treatment, and many people see their pharmacists more regularly than their physicians.

“Pharmacists are also vital to the ongoing success of the Part D prescription drug benefit,” Baucus continued. “Changes in this bill, including fairer and more timely payments to those who dispense drugs to our nation's senior citizens, can make the benefit work better for pharmacists, and, thereby, for seniors.”

The “Pharmacy Great Communicator” program was created to honor those who call public attention to the value of pharmacy.

“Pharmacies are the face of neighborhood healthcare, and your comments highlight the importance of maintaining patient-pharmacist relationships, ” said NACDS president and chief executive officer Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, in a letter to Baucus. “ We applaud you for your recognition of pharmacists and your support of quality healthcare.”

07/02/08

AMP Cuts Would Have Wide Impact

(Editor’s Note: this article is being reprinted from the National Community Pharmacists Association Newsletter of June 1, 2008, with written permission.)

Pending Medicaid pharmacy cuts, currently blocked by an National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)/National Association of Chain Drugstores (NACD) lawsuit, could force more than 11,000 pharmacies to close, affecting some 300,000 jobs and $31.1 billion in output, according to a new economic impact study.

The study finds that the planned reimbursement cuts would cause 20 percent of the nation’s independent community pharmacies to close their doors. A number of states would be affected more severely unless Congress changes the law that decreased the federal upper limit (FUL) for generic drugs by changing the calculations from average wholesale price (AWP)-based to 250 percent of the average manufacturer price (AMP). The largest percentage reductions in pharmacies are projected in New York (40 percent), Louisiana (32 percent), and West Virginia (30 percent). 

The study, done for  NACDS and the Food Marketing Institute by PricewaterhouseCoopers, is based on research in the NCPA/NACDS lawsuit that has put the AMP changes on hold. 

06/23/08

NABP Awards DMEPOS Accreditation

to First Supermarket Pharmacy

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has announced that Publix Super Markets Inc. was awarded accreditation for its retail store pharmacy services through the association’s durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation program.

Publix is the first grocery store pharmacy chain to which the association has awarded this accreditation. The DMEPOS program ensures that suppliers of DMEPOS products meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) quality and accreditation standards. Publix’s decision to seek accreditation for its 715 pharmacies demonstrates that they are doing their part to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive the appropriate products, services and patient care associated with DMEPOS.

“The health and wellness of our customers and their families is paramount,” says Fred Ottolino, Publix vice president of pharmacy. “Our pharmacies being on the forefront of the Medicare accreditation process reaffirms our commitment to customer care and service.”

In November 2006, CMS named NABP an accrediting organization for pharmacies that supply DMEPOS products. NABP has more than 100 years of experience in pharmacy regulation, which provides for a thorough understanding of the complexities of pharmacy practice and regulation. The NABP DMEPOS accreditation program is best suited for pharmacies that provide a limited line of durable medical equipment, according to a recent news release.

Publix is privately owned and operated by its 142,000 employees, with 2007 sales of $23 billion. Currently Publix has 933 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. The company has been named one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for 11 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized as tops in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

06/23/08

Record Number of Pharmacy Graduates

to Enter Pharmacy Residencies

A record number of pharmacy graduates will enter pharmacy residency programs this year, according to the results of the 2008 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Resident Matching Program. More than 2,300 applicants sought the approximately 2,000 available positions, with nearly 1,700 individuals matching with residencies across the United States, adding to more than a decade of double-digit growth in postgraduate pharmacy residency training.

The majority of residency positions are categorized as postgraduate year one (PGY1) programs. Almost 1,500 applicants were matched with nearly 1,800 available PGY1 pharmacy residency positions. This is an 11 percent increase in applicants and 10 percent increase in number of positions over 2007. In these programs, pharmacy residents obtain practical experience with supervision by exemplary practitioners to build the residents’ competence, self-confidence, and skill in clinical judgment and problem solving. The majority of PGY1 programs are based in hospitals but also take place in community pharmacies, clinics, home care, and managed care facilities.

Upon completion of a PGY1 residency, a pharmacist can chose to continue training in a postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency. Nearly 270 individuals were matched to approximately 340 available PGY2 residencies. This was a 27 percent jump in PGY2 candidates and over a 17 percent increase in positions over 2007, the statement pointed out. PGY2 residents focus on specific areas of practice; this year internal medicine, critical care, infectious diseases, oncology, and cardiology had the highest percent fill rates of their open PGY2 positions.

In 2007, the ASHP house of delegates approved a policy that supports the goal of requiring by the year 2020 all new college of pharmacy graduates who will be providing direct patient care to have completed an ASHP-accredited postgraduate-year-one residency.

“The continued growth in interest by applicants and positions bodes well for meeting this goal for health system pharmacies,” said ASHP President Janet A. Silvester, MBA.  “The unique, ‘hands-on’ learning offered to residents will prepare these practitioners for leadership roles in health-system practice.”

National Matching Services, Inc., administers the matching process and also conducts the matching service for medical and dental residencies. The service pairs residency applicants with positions by linking the highest preference of both the applicant and training site. For a match to occur, both parties must have listed each other. After the match, unmatched applicants are considered free agents and may contact a residency program directly to obtain one of the remaining open available positions.

ASHP has accredited pharmacy residency programs since 1962 and has developed standards for PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residencies through its Commission on Credentialing (COC). The COC develops pharmacy accreditation standards, conducts accreditation surveys using the standards, and is the ASHP oversight body for the accreditation process for both pharmacy residency programs and pharmacy technician training programs. Its members are experts in pharmacy residency and pharmacy technician training programs. The society also has partnered with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and the American Pharmacists Association in accrediting residencies.

06/09/08

Lobbying Increases Continue

(Editor’s note: this article is reprinted from the NCPA newsletter with written permission from the National Community Pharmacists Association.)

Trade associations, corporations, labor unions, and other interest groups spent $2.79 billion last year trying to influence Congress and federal agencies, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. That’s an increase of $200 million, or 7.67 percent, over 2006 and $1.35 billion more than just a decade ago.

The pharmaceuticals/health products industry outspent all industries by shelling  out $227 million for lobbying services during the first session of the 110^th Congress. “The drug industry has spent $1.3 billion on federal lobbying over the last 10 years,  more than any other industry,” the center said. “Its reported lobbying increase 2.5 percent in 2007.”

A look at the biggest spenders finds the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in third place ($22.7 million); Amgen, ninth ($16.3 million); and Pfizer, 13^th ($13.8 million). Also in the top 15 are the American Medical Association ($22.1 million); the American Hospital Association ($19.7 million); and AARP ($19.5 million). The first spot goes to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ($52.8 million), far outpacing second place GE ($23.6 million).

NCPA’s lobbying expenses in 2007 were $380,000. Among the major PBMs, Medco spent $2,040,000; CVS/Caremark, $1,696.661; and Express Scripts, $980,000.

06/09/08

NABP Names 79 Internet Drug Outlets Operating in Conflict with Patient Safety and Pharmacy Practice Standards

On May 16, 2008, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) launched the Internet Pharmacies section of its Web site, educating patients on the potential dangers of buying medicine online and empowering them to make informed choices. Thus far, the site lists 79 Internet drug outlets that appear to be out of compliance with state and federal laws or NABP patient safety and pharmacy practice standards, thereby putting those who purchase from these sites in danger of purchasing drugs that could cause patients serious harm or even death.

NABP developed these standards for its new Internet Drug Outlet Identification program with input from its member boards of pharmacy, interested stakeholders, and regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Internet drug outlets operating in conflict with these criteria are listed on the NABP Web site as “not recommended.”

NABP has identified another 200 suspiciously operating Internet drug outlets and is in the process of verifying its findings before posting these sites to the “not recommended” list. Of the hundreds of sites reviewed under this program so far, only nine have been found to be potentially legitimate, pending verification of licensure and other criteria. At this time, NABP recommends that patients buying medicine online use only Internet pharmacies accredited through VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) program.

NABP has verified that these pharmacies are appropriately licensed and have successfully completed the well-recognized and rigorous VIPPS criteria evaluation and on-site inspection. These pharmacies, representing more than 12,000 pharmacies, are listed on the NABP Web site as “recommended.”

Of the 79 Internet drug outlets currently listed as “not recommended”:

u  71 do not require a valid prescription – a valid prescription is a legal requirement for dispensing prescription drugs in the United States;

u  35 offer foreign or non-FDA-approved drugs – it is illegal to sell such drugs in the United States.

u  36 have a physical address located outside of the United States  – to sell prescription drugs legally in the United States, a pharmacy must be based in the United States and licensed in each state where it practices pharmacy.

Many of these Internet drug outlets do not offer consultation with a pharmacist; do not secure patients’ personal or financial information; and do not provide a physical address for their base of operations. The World Health Organization estimates that medicines purchased over the Internet from outlets that conceal their actual physical address are counterfeit in over 50 percent of cases.

These lists, along with program criteria and related patient information, are accessible in the Internet Pharmacies section of the NABP Web site.

Established through a grant from Pfizer Inc., the new Internet Drug Outlet Identification program is an outgrowth of a 2007 NABP resolution, “Internet Pharmacy Public Safety Awareness,” in which the association pledged to continue collaborating with federal agencies and other interested stakeholders to educate the public and health care professionals of the dangers of acquiring drugs illegally through the Internet and from foreign sources. As part of this initiative, NABP will provide information to assist state and federal regulators in their efforts to shut down rogue Internet drug outlets.

06/09/08

PTCB Announces Milestone: 300,000

Certified Pharmacy Technicians

Over 300,000 pharmacy technicians have officially been designated Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT) by successfully completing the national pharmacy technician certification examination or transfer process since the program inception in 1995, according to a recent announcement from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

PTCB is a pioneer in the certification of pharmacy technicians, who play a vital role in assisting pharmacists in serving patients nationwide, the release stated. Pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, hospitals and health-systems, nursing homes, mail-order pharmacies, and other pharmacy locations. The field is growing - pharmacy technician was named one of the 30 top jobs of 2008 by CareerBuilder.com.

The PTCB national pharmacy technician certification examination (PTCE) is the only certification program for pharmacy technicians accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NCAA accreditation represents an independent audit by certification industry experts and ensures that PTCB's certification program adheres to current standards of practice in the certification industry. The PTCE is recognized by National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, major employers, pharmacy technicians nationwide, and state boards of pharmacy. The PTCE is administered in all 50 states and is included in regulations of 30 states.

"Certifying pharmacy technicians is critical to patient safety. We know that in a recent survey of American consumers, 91 percent support strong regulations across the country to protect patient safety by requiring that pharmacy technicians be trained and certified," said Melissa Murer Corrigan, RPh, executive director and CEO of PTCB. "With more than 300,000 trained and tested PTCB certified pharmacy technicians and new regulations for pharmacy technicians in states such as Florida, significant progress is being made to meet this expectation."

PTCB was established in January 1995 and is governed by five pharmacy organizations - the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The goal of the PTCB national certification program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. PTCB contracts with Pearson VUE, the industry's technology leader, as its computer-based testing vendor. PTCB draws upon the experience and expertise of its 13-year partner, Professional Examination Service (PES) for test development.

06/09/08

Abstract Submissions Now Being Accepted for LabAutomation2009 Podium Presentations and Posters

The non-profit Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) invites research scientists, engineers, and business leaders to accelerate breakthroughs in laboratory automation strategies and technologies by submitting abstracts for podium presentations and posters at the LabAutomation2009 Conference and Exhibition, January 24–28, 2009, in Palm Springs, Calif. Submission deadline is August 11, 2008.

ALA is encouraging academicians, scientists, engineers, business leaders, and post-docs or graduate students to present information featuring innovation in research and discovery involving laboratory automation and technologies. The conference theme is “Where Science, Technology and Industry Come Together,” and abstract focus areas include the following tracks: Detection and Separation, Micro- and Nanotechnologies, High-Throughput Technologies, Informatics, and New Frontiers for LabAutomation: Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Those selected to be part of the world’s top 100 podium presentations on laboratory automation will be eligible for the prestigious annual ALA Innovation Award, a $10,000 cash prize given to the most exceptional podium speaker at the LabAutomation Conference. In addition, this year for LabAutomation2009 qualifying Innovation Award finalists (up to 10 presenters) will be provided with air travel to and from Frankfurt, Germany, along with hotel accommodations and a modest per diem, to present their work at ACHEMA 2009, May 11–15. 

Everyone who submits a podium or poster abstract, regardless of whether they are selected for presentation, will be entered into a drawing to win a MacBook Air-Apple’s new ultra thin, ultra innovative laptop. Qualifying junior faculty and post-doctoral associates or graduate students who are chosen to present posters at LabAutomation2009 are eligible for ALA’s academic travel award program and poster competition. Cash prizes are awarded for first place, second place, and potentially honorable mention in the poster competition.

All LabAutomation2009 abstracts will be reviewed by ALA's scientific committee. 

For information on LabAutomation2009, visit www.labautomation.org/LA09, or call +1.888.733.1ALA (1252).

06/09/08

2008 Pinnacle Award Recipients Announced

Winners of the eleventh annual Pinnacle Awards: Recognizing Contributions to Health Care Quality through the Medication Use Process have been announced by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation.  

The Pinnacle Awards are administered by the APhA Foundation’s Quality Center and are made possible through a grant from Wyeth. These awards were inspired by and created in response to the increasing importance of the proper use of medications in today’s health care environment, stated a foundation officer. Morbidity and mortality associated with improper medication use is a major public health problem, resulting in significant disability and up to 100,000 deaths each year. An estimated 177 billion dollars is spent annually on preventable hospitalizations, lengthened stays, and/or prolonged treatment as a result of prescribing contraindicated therapy, drug–drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, duplication of drug therapy, and/or errors in drug administration.

“This year’s award recipients show that, despite the challenges we face in the U.S. health care system, significant improvements are possible,” said William M. Ellis, APhA Foundation executive director and CEO. “The 2008 Pinnacle Award recipients are champions of bold and innovative approaches to improving our nation’s health, and the APhA Foundation is pleased to recognize their outstanding work.”

The 2008 Pinnacle Award recipients are:

Individual Award for Career Achievement .. Daniel E. Buffington, Tampa, Fla.

Buffington received his doctor of pharmacy degree and a masters of business administration degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is recognized for the development of a pharmacist-managed collaborative practice model providing medication therapy management services to patients who utilize chronic or high risk medication therapies. Demand for these model collaborative practice services in patients with complex drug-related needs has expanded to encompass the unmet drug therapy needs of employers, insurers, physicians and health care organizations, as well as in the fields of education, clinical trials research and health care law.

Group Practice–Health System–Corporation Award .. Ukrop’s Pharmacy Immunization Program, Richmond, Va.

Ukrop’s Supermarket is a local family-owned grocery store chain with 30 stores including 24 pharmacies in the greater Richmond area. Ukrop Pharmacy’s mission is to help their customers live healthier, happier and longer lives. The purpose of the immunization program is to incorporate preventive services to help achieve this goal.  The Ukrop Pharmacy’s immunization program was started in 1998 and has grown from the provision of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for adult patients to immunizations across the lifespan and a comprehensive pre-travel medicine program. Since starting the program, Ukrop’s pharmacists have administered over 200,000 immunizations including a program called Shots for Tots that has provided immunizations to 2,500 children of whom 90-95 percent are uninsured. 

Government Agency–Nonprofit Organization–Association Award .. National Diabetes Education Program, Washington, D.C.

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) and its 200 partner organizations, are working together to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. NDEP began in 1997 with one message: that diabetes is serious, common, costly, but controllable. Ten years later, NDEP is still spreading the word, having added the dynamic new message that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. In 1997, only nine percent of Americans reported that they believed diabetes was a serious disease. A 2006 NDEP survey found that 89 percent of Americans now believe diabetes is serious. More than 10 million NDEP brochures and tip sheets have been distributed and although America has more people diagnosed with diabetes, people with diabetes have better AIC, blood pressure, and cholesterol values than they did a decade ago. This extraordinary achievement sets the stage for the next phase of NDEP’s work, empowering Americans to take action to better control and ultimately prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

06/09/08

CARDINAL HEALTH AWARDS $1 MILLION

TO FUND PATIENT SAFETY INITIATIVES

To support initiatives that enhance patient safety and quality of care, Cardinal Health has announced grants totaling $1 million for new and innovative programs at 34 hospitals, health systems and community health clinics across the country. This program is the largest and first of its kind given by a health care company, pointed out the news release.

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 will provide funding for programs that implement creative and replicable methods to improve the quality of patient care, said Cardinal Health chairman and CEO R. Kerry Clark. Initiatives that received funding include a regional, collaborative program to reduce Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in New Mexico, an initiative to create the largest national clinical outcomes database to define, measure and benchmark the highest standards of practice in anesthesiology and a hospital in New Jersey using pre-labeled and pre-filled insulin pens to reduce errors in insulin administration. 

More than 10 percent (700 organizations) of the nation’s hospitals applied for the grants. In choosing recipients, Cardinal Health looked for projects that respond to a clearly identified, high priority safety issue; collaborative programs; projects that apply new thinking and approaches to development of solutions; model programs that can be replicated at other organizations and demonstrable and sustainable measures to ensure that improvements last over time, Clark continued.

“I believe the health care industry can use quality improvements as a strategy to achieve lower costs and provide safer care for our citizens,” said Clark. "Fixing health care is not a simple task, but we have it within our control to take simple steps that can have a dramatic effect.”

According to the Institute of Medicine, medication mistakes injure more than 1.5 million patients each year, causing nearly 100,000 deaths and costing the health care industry more than $3.5 billion. The 34 grant recipients are tackling these and other quality issues to improve patient safety.

06/09/08

Suydam Receives FDA’s Distinguished Alumni Award

Linda Suydam, president of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), has been named recipient of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Distinguished Alumni Award. The citation for Suydam’s achievement reads: “For exceptional management of FDA programs in medical devices, radiological health, and agency-wide, and leadership to fight abuse and ensure safe use of over-the-counter medicines,” according to FDA commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who made the announcement.

Prior to joining CHPA as its president in 2002, Suydam had a 21-year career at FDA, rising from an entry-level position to senior associate commissioner, the highest-ranking, non-political executive position at FDA.

Since joining CHPA , Suydam has directed the establishment of the CHPA Educational Foundation whose goal is improved public health through safe and effective OTC use; increased opportunities for synergistic cooperation between member firms by establishing the annual Market Exchange and retail immersion events; and enhanced the association’s positive relationship with the FDA through educational seminars, conferences, and joint learning opportunities.

07/02/08

Tuteja and Laizure Selected as 2008 Frontiers

Fund Career Development Award Winners 

This year’s recipients of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Research Institute Frontiers Fund Career Development Awards are Sony Tuteja, PharmD, BCPS, associate, Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa, College of Pharmacy, for her proposal titled “Utilizing Pharmacogenomics to Predict Drug Interactions in Transplant Recipients,” and S. Casey Laizure, PharmD, BCPS, associate professor, University of Tennessee, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Memphis, for his proposal titled “Synuclein NACP-Rep1 Allele-Length Polymorphisms in Drug Addiction.”

07/02/08

Daiello, Stratton Receives 2008 ASCP Awards

Lori Daiello, PharmD, BCPP, received the 2008 ASCP Senior Care Pharmacist Award from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) during ASCP’s 30th Midyear Conference and Exhibition recently. The ASCP Senior Care Pharmacist Award is presented annually to recognize individuals who apply their knowledge of geriatric pharmacotherapy on a daily basis through the practice of senior care pharmacy, thereby significantly improving the quality of life of the senior population.

Daiello is an expert in the care of seniors with dementia. She has practiced in geriatrics since the 1980s, when she consulted to skilled nursing facilities. It was there that she began to develop her interest and expertise in geriatric psychopharmacology. Currently, she is fulfilling a postdoctoral dementia research fellowship at Brown University Medical School and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center at Rhode Island Hospital, the first pharmacist to be accepted to this fellowship. In addition, she still maintains her private practice in Orlando, focusing on seniors with dementia.

“Lori Daiello was one of the first pharmacists in the country to specialize in geriatric psychopharmacology consultations and has become a nationally recognized expert in this area,” said ASCP president Lee Meyer, PharmD, CGP.

Mark A. Stratton, PharmD, CGP, FASHP, received the 2008 ASCP Leadership in Education Award. This award was established to honor the unique and innovative educational endeavors of ASCP members and to recognize specific accomplishments and achievements in the area of education.

A certified geriatric pharmacist (CGP), Stratton is professor of pharmacy practice and holds the Herbert and Dorothy Langsam Endowed Chair in Geriatric Pharmacy at the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, where he formed the Institute for Geriatric Pharmacy in 2001. He is also adjunct professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

“Mark Stratton’s role in educating students, peers, patients and other health care professionals is far-reaching,” said Meyer. “Further, he has made a tremendous impact in increasing awareness of ‘America’s Other Drug Problem’ – the inappropriate medication use among elderly consumers.”

Stratton’s development of the Institute of Geriatric Pharmacy at Oklahoma has been fruitful in increasing and improving both knowledge and attitudes regarding the care offered to seniors. Since establishing the institute, he has provided educational programs to thousands of consumers, hundreds of health care practitioners, and over a thousand students from all disciplines – pharmacy, medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, public health, nursing, dental, and others. He established a highly respected, elective, clinical pharmacy rotation for senior pharmacy students that provides them with advanced geriatric pharmacy patient care and experience in both inpatient and ambulatory, clinic-based settings.

Stratton’s presentation “Using Medications Safely: A Key Ingredient to Your Health” has increased the public’s awareness of the risks associated with inappropriate medication use in elderly individuals. He has produced an award winning videotape distributed to more than 390 geriatric nutrition sites across Oklahoma, and a number of public service announcements.

07/02/08

ASHP Installs Officers

Kevin J. Colgan, MA, FASHP, was installed as president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) during the 60th session of the society’s house of delegates in Seattle.

Colgan is senior vice president, Health Economics & Outcomes Research at EPI-Q Inc. in Oak Brook, Ill., A longtime ASHP member, he has served as a member of the board of directors, as chair of the council on legal and public affairs, and as an Illinois delegate. He is a past president of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP) and assisted ASHP and ICHP in the creation of the pharmacy technician certification board.

Also taking office during the society’s annual business meeting was Teresa J. Hudson, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, who was reelected to a one-year term as chair of the ASHP house of delegates. John A. Armitstead, MS, FASHP, and Janet Mighty, MBA, were installed as members of the ASHP board of directors.

07/02/08

AMCP Inaugurates  New Officers

Cathryn (Cathy) A. Carroll, BS Pharm, MBA, PhD, was installed as the 20^th president of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) during ceremonies at the group’s annual meeting this spring.

Carroll is director of pharmacy for Comprehensive Pharmacy Services in Memphis, Tenn. She has a bachelor of science in pharmacy and MBA from the University of Missouri Kansas City and an MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Kansas. She has  been involved in AMCP for over 16 years, serving as diplomat and supporting the School of Pharmacy Relations Committee. She served a two-year term as AMCP treasurer before being elected president-elect in 2007 when she also became a member of the board of trustees.

Shawn Burke, president-elect, is regional vice president, Pharmacy Services for Coventry Health Care, Kansas City, Mo. She is responsible for the management and delivery of the pharmacy benefit promoting rational, cost-effective and quality medication therapy management, as well as director of residency and student programs.

Burke has been active in AMCP since 1990 and has served as member and chair on numerous committees, as well as a contributing editor and editorial advisory board member for the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy.

Jean Brown, William Fleming and Robert Gregory were elected to two-year terms as directors.

Brown is a clinical pharmacists with Coventry Priority Services, in Fountain Hills, Ariz. She has been a member of the academy since e1991, serving as a director on the board from 1998-2000. She has been on several other AMCP committees.

Fleming is vice president of Pharmacy and Clinical Integration for Humana Inc., in Louisville, Ky. A member of AMCP since 1994, he has served as a member and as chair of the program planning and development committee and as chair of the legislative committee.

Gregory is a pharmacy director for Aetna Pharmacy Management in Hartford, Conn. He has been a member of the academy since 1992, serving on the legislative committee and as a member and chair of the professional practice committee.

06/23/08

AMCP and FMCP Presents Awards at Annual Meeting

Some 4700 managed care pharmacy professionals gathered for the 20^th annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) this spring and were part of the achievement awards ceremony.

Elaine Manierie, BS Pharm, was awarded the AMCP Distinguished Service award which reflects the highest standard that an AMCP member can achieve. Given to a member who has demonstrated at least five years of exceptional and sustained  volunteer service, award winners achieve recognition not only for their professional achievements, but also for their commitment to the academy. Manieri is currently president of AMCP Horizons through 2010.

H. Eric Cannon, PharmD, and Cynthia J. Pigg, BS Pharm, MHA, are new AMCP fellows in recognition of sustained excellence in the pharmacy profession as well as notable service to AMCP. Cannon is chief of pharmacy and director of health and wellness for SelectHealth, an Intermountain Healthcare company. Pigg is executive director and CEO of the Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy.

The 2007 Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy Award for Excellence went to Michael Johnsrud, PhD, RPh, Kenneth A. Lawson, PhD, RPh, and Marvin D. Shepherd, PhD, RPh,  for their article “Comparison of mail-order with community pharmacy in plan sponsor cost and member cost in two large pharmacy benefit plans,” which appeared in the March 2007 issue of JMCP. All three authors are employed by the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy’s Steven G. Avey Award went to David Eddy, MD, PhD. Before he resigned to become an independent researcher and writer, Eddy was professor of engineering and medicine at Stanford and then the J. Alexander McMahon professor of health policy and management at Duke University. He has been elected or appointed to more than 40 national and international boards and commissions.

Sherry Maher, student pharmacist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was named winner of the FMCP Best Student Post award for “Impact of Rising Costs on Utilization, Adherence, and Patient Satisfaction of Contraceptive Therapy in a University Setting.”

Cindy Hanh Tran, PharmD, a resident at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, was recognized as having the Best Graduate Student, Resident or Fellow Poster for “Accuracy and Usability of Patient Self Testing with the HemoSense INRatio Device: A Pilot Study.” 

06/23/08

Recipients of the 2008 APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management Presentation Merit Award Announced

Recipients of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) Presentation Merit Award have been announced. This award recognizes eligible participants on practice-related topics presented at the APhA 2008 annual meeting contributed poster session.

Established in 1998, the award is intended to give members an incentive to submit practice-focused papers to be presented during the APhA annual meeting. Up to eight recipients may be selected for this award each year.

There are five categories in which the award can be given: APhA-APPM Contributed Research, APhA-APPM Innovative Practice Reports, APhA-APPM Current Residents Report on Projects in Progress, APhA-APPM Student Pharmacist Contributed Research, and APhA-APPM Student Pharmacist Innovative Practice Reports. Award recipients received a rosette and a certificate and were recognized during the APhA 2008 annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. in March.

The 2008 APhA-APPM Presentation Merit Award recipients are:

APhA-APPM Contributed Research Paper:

Emily M. Ambizas, Danielle C. Ezzo, Maria Marzella Sulli, John Conry, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions: Cultivating Patient Empathy in Student Pharmacists through an Introduction to Pharmaceutical Care Course.

Sharanya Murty, Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Sujit S. Sansglry, Department of Clinical Sciences and Administration, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston: New Information Card Labels to Improve Consumer Comprehension for Behind-the-Counter Pseudoephedrine Products.

APhA-APPM Innovative Practice Report:

Dean Gianarkis, medical outcomes specialist, Global Research & Development, Pfizer Inc, Darshi Sunderam, Department of Medicine, East Orange General Hospital, Department of Medicine, Irvington General Hospital: Role of the Pharmacist in a Community Health Screening Event: Focus on Cardiovascular Disease.

Nicole M. Gattas, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Ellen E. Rhinard, University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Charles Taylor, Nimita Thekkepat, St. Louis College of Pharmacy: Fostering learning and growth through innovative teaching strategies in a self-care course.

APhA-APPM Current Residents Reports on Projects in Progress:

Klodiana Myftari, Sonali G. Kshatriya, Kristen Goliak, Dominick’s Pharmacy and University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Pharmacy: Assessing Factors Influencing Patients’ Decisions to Obtain Shingles Vaccine in Community Pharmacies.

Meghan K. Sullivan, Kristin A. Casper, Tara R. Green, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and Kroger Patient Care Center: Determining Factors that Influence Patient Participation in Medication Therapy Management Services (MTMS).

APhA-APPM Student Pharmacist Contributed Research Paper:

Erin Beth Hays, Denise Hopkins, Joseph A. Banken, Nafisa Dajani, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: The Prevalence of Comorbid Depression in Women with Diabetes during Pregnancy.

APhA-APPM Student Pharmacist Innovative Practice Report:

Candis M. Morello, Shawna Kobayashi, Linda Luu, Brandon Mutrux, Renu F. Singh, Brookie M. Best, University of California, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: Evaluation of an Innovative Diabetes Training Model Effectiveness in Knowledge Retention and Usefulness by Pharmacy Students.

06/23/08

Lawson Named First Knowlton Center Executive Resident

Brian Lawson, PharmD, has been named recipient of the first Knowlton Center executive residency in association management and leadership by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation. The residency, established by the Knowlton Foundation through the Center for Pharmacist-Based Health Solutions, seeks to groom the next generation of leaders in the pharmacy profession, according to a recent APhA news release.

A recent graduate of West Virginia University (WVU), Lawson was selected based upon his demonstrated leadership qualities and commitment to the pharmacy profession. On July 1, he will begin his year-long residency at APhA Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C. As the executive resident, he will participate in a broad range of association management experiences and initiatives.

"Through this residency program, Brian will be able to build upon his leadership skills and gain a real understanding of what it takes to operate and lead a successful health care organization,” said William Ellis, CEO and executive director, APhA Foundation. “Historically, APhA residency programs have produced distinguished leaders. We have no doubt that Brian has a bright future ahead, and we look forward to his participation in the program.”

As a student pharmacist, Lawson was an active member of West Virginia University’s APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) chapter, serving as vice president in 2006 and was elected midyear regional meeting coordinator. Among his other accomplishments, he has won multiple scholarships, mentored first-year pharmacy students, delivered numerous presentations and authored several publications for Student Pharmacist magazine. He worked as an intern at CVS pharmacy from 2005 until he graduated.

"We are excited to have Brian on-board as the center's first executive resident," said Dr. Calvin Knowlton, former APhA president and current APhA Foundation board member. “He has set the benchmark very high for other student pharmacists that hope to come through this program."

The executive residency is the first in the line of many programs planned for the “Knowlton Center for Pharmacist-Based Health Solutions.” The center was made possible through a multi-year $1.5 million gift from the Knowlton Foundation, founded by Dr. Knowlton. It is part of the APhA/APhA Foundation’s Bringing Your Medicines to Life campaign.  A pharmacist himself, Dr. Knowlton created the foundation to provide resources, such as the center, to develop leaders in the areas of pharmacy, music education and spirituality in healthcare.

06/23/08

NABP Welcomes New Executive Officers

Five recently named state board of pharmacy executive officers were welcomed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) during the new executive officer orientation program.

New officers are Mark D. Johnston, RPh, executive director, Idaho Board of Pharmacy; Ronald J. Huether, RPh, executive secretary, South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy; Mary Walker, RPh, executive director, Wyoming State Board of Pharmacy; Ronald J. Klein, RPh, executive director, Montana Board of Pharmacy; and Kevin K. Eidson, PharmD, executive director, Tennessee Board of Pharmacy.

06/09/08

Chao Center Quality Assurance Director Appointed

to U.S. Pharmacopeia Expert Committee 

Joseph G. Stowell, of the Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy & Contract Manufacturing, West Lafayette, Ind., has been appointed to serve on the U.S. Pharmacopeia Expert Committee for Monograph Development: Ophthalmology, Oncology, and Dermatology.

Stowell is the Chao Center's quality assurance director and an adjunct assistant professor in Purdue University's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He taught at the university for more than 20 years. He was responsible for the undergraduate teaching laboratories in the school for organic, analytical and the integrated laboratory series, as well as writing the laboratory manuals used in those courses. Stowell received his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of California at Davis. 

The U.S. Pharmacopeia is the official public standards-setting authority for all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and other health-care products manufactured and sold in the United States. 

06/09/08

Hall Joins Buy-Sell Team

Tony De Nicola, president of Buy-sellapharmacy.com, has announced that Glenn Hall, RPh, one of the industry’s most well known and widely respected professionals, and a long time personal friend and business associate, has joined the Buy-Sell team of associates, effective April 1, 2008. Hall’s recent early retirement from Cardinal Health, where he spent the last twelve years serving as vice president of managed care and general manager of the Leader Drugstores, has enabled him to become part of the industry’s only national team of advisors and consultants to independent pharmacy owners on the issues of pharmacy valuation, exit strategy planning and management transition.

"My respect for Glenn’s knowledge of the industry from so many diverse perspectives and my knowledge of his dedication to the preservation of the independent pharmacy community (“keeping independents independent”) tells me that Glenn will be a most valuable addition to our group,” said De Nicola. "Glenn’s vast network of industry contacts, his experience in the world we function in, both for himself and as an advisor for others, coupled with his analytical approach to the issues affecting independent pharmacy will add a new dimension to our group and its business activities.”

Hall was the co-founder of Hall and Hall Pharmacies in Houston, Texas. After graduation from the University of Texas School of Pharmacy, he had a successful 17- year career in retail pharmacy, during which time he founded and helped develop the Texas Pharmacy Cooperative, later known as the Legend Pharmacies of Texas, taking it from a 19-store charter group to over 250 pharmacies in Texas in just 12 years.  He served as chairman and president of that group while he was a retailer; subsequently became the full time EVP after the sale of his pharmacies, and served concurrently on a number of national boards and committees as part of the Legend Group. He is a member of numerous pharmacy and health care trade associations and remains an active participant in all of them, including as a board member of Community Care Rx.

During his twelve year stint at Cardinal, Hall helped develop and structure the activities of Cardinal’s National Retail Advisory Board, chairing and managing dozens of meetings of a diverse group of Cardinal’s independent retail customers. During the course of these meetings, and many other activities he participated in while at Cardinal, he developed a stellar reputation among the independents as the go-to guy at Cardinal on all independent issues. His expertise in the managed care arena is well known by pharmacists and payers alike, and his grasp of those issues, coupled with his knowledge of pharmacy operations, finances and economics, will serve him well in his new role, said De Nicola.

"I feel fortunate to have worked at a company as large and diverse as Cardinal, an experience that served me well during my time as a member of the management team. I firmly believe that all independent owners will sooner or later reach the stage in their careers where they need to address exit strategy planning. My long personal relationship with Tony De Nicola and my recent interaction with him and other members of the Buy-Sell team have convinced me that working with them will enable me to provide the highest quality advice and services in this sensitive and confidential aspect of business planning," said Hall. "Knowing, from personal experience, how important it is to plan your exit carefully, in order to maximize shareholder value from all perspectives, I couldn't be more pleased about the opportunity to participate in Buy-Sell's business activities. I am excited about the ability to move back to my home state, get closer to my family and be part of a new and challenging business environment."

Buy-Sellapharmacy.com, founded in the year 2000, functions as an evaluator, appraisers and advisor to the world of independent community pharmacy buyers and sellers. “Utilizing 21st Century technology tools and sophisticated financial modeling capabilities, we help buyers and sellers enter into a fair and equitable transaction, one which will withstand the test of time and provide each party to a transaction with what they expected. For the seller, a fair price and a qualified buyer. For the buyer, an economic outcome that will provide him or her with a reasonable return on invested capital, the ability to service any debt incurred and the ability to earn a salary commensurate with the managerial responsibilities and risks involved in owning one's own business, said De Nicola.

Visit www.buy-sellapharmacy.com for additional details on the firm and its activities.

06/09/08

Scholz Assumes Leadership of APhA

HRSA Pharmacy Services Support Center

Lisa Michelle Scholz, PharmD, MBA, has joined the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to lead the HRSA Pharmacy Services Support Center (PSSC) as its senior director, according to a recent statement from APhA. PSSC is a program established by a contract between APhA and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Pharmacy Affairs. 

Scholz will be charged with carrying out the terms of the HRSA contract which include working with staff and consultants to expand the 340B pharmacy technical assistance resource, analyzing the impact of state and federal initiatives on safety net providers, and maximizing the effective and appropriate use of the 340B drug pricing program. Under her direction, the PSSC will continue to provide information, education and policy analysis to help eligible entities optimize the value of the 340B program and provide clinically and cost effective pharmacy services that improve medication use and advance patient care.

Scholz holds a doctor of pharmacy from the University of Houston and a masters of business administration from Madison University in Mississippi. She joins APhA from the Harris County Hospital District in Houston, Texas, where she was the administrative director of pharmacy operations. In that position, she was responsible for a $120-million budget that included 742 beds in three inpatient hospitals, 12 ambulatory health center pharmacies plus school-based, homeless program and Department of Public Health and Environment pharmacies. Scholz also has been serving as a pharmacy technical assistance consultant in HRSA’s Pharmacy Services Support Center for nearly two years.

06/09/08