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DTM programs increase adherence to injectable medications and treatment persistence in MS patients

A new study reveals that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients enrolled in a seven-month disease therapy management (DTM) program show greater adherence to injectable MS medications and treatment persistence than patients who receive injectable MS medications through a community pharmacy.

10 Feb 2010

Enrollment for SCAN Health Plan Arizona exceeds projections in Maricopa County

More than 6,300 Maricopa County residents selected SCAN Health Plan Arizona as their Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) for 2010, far exceeding SCAN's enrollment projections. Eligible individuals may continue to join SCAN until March 31, 2010.

10 Feb 2010

Elan announces fourth-quarter and full-year financial results ended December 31, 2009

Elan Corporation, plc today reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2009 financial results and provides financial guidance for 2010.

10 Feb 2010

Idaho Health Freedom Act: Passage will lead to loss of $1.6 billion in federal health care funding

As the Idaho House approved legislation today laying the groundwork to oppose a non-existent federal health care law, the long-term effects of the move could be felt for years to come. AARP is calling the Idaho Health Freedom Act (House Bill 391) a disastrous and problem-riddled piece of legislation that, if signed into law, could see Idaho lose nearly $1.6 billion in federal health care funding for the state and cost thousands of jobs.

10 Feb 2010

CVS Caremark reports fourth-quarter and fiscal 2009 results

CVS Caremark Corporation today announced record revenues, operating profit, and income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

8 Feb 2010

HealthSpring reports net income of $38.8M for fourth-quarter 2009

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

8 Feb 2010

HealthSpring nurse practitioner identifies impending heart attack

Olive Branch, Miss. resident Glenn Lusk has a special perspective on the value of his Medicare Advantage plan. It was a HealthSpring-contracted nurse practitioner who discovered during a home visit in November that Lusk was experiencing serious heart trouble.

6 Feb 2010

URAC seeks public input for Pharmacy Quality Management Accreditation programs

As part of its commitment to a comprehensive review of its standards, URAC, the nation's leading health care accreditation and education organization, today called for public comment on revisions to its suite of Pharmacy Quality Management® Accreditation programs.

6 Feb 2010

Health bill stall creates uncertainty for drug makers

"With the possible demise of health care legislation, getting back to business as usual may not be the best thing for the nation's drug makers," The New York Times reports. "After all, in return for the prospect of tens of millions of newly insured customers and a large degree of regulatory certainty, the pharmaceutical industry had agreed to pay a relatively small price: $8 billion a year in discounts and fees.

6 Feb 2010

'Doctor Shopping': Data from California's prescription monitoring program

Research presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting provides early published data analyzing information gathered from California's prescription monitoring program, known as the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). The analysis found a two-fold increase in the likelihood of individuals receiving opioids from multiple providers or "doctor shopping" when they were also being simultaneously prescribed a single additional class of a controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or amphetamines.

5 Feb 2010

Report shows more Americans are buying prescription drugs to treat digestive conditions

The number of Americans buying prescription drugs to treat digestive conditions climbed over 50 percent, rising from 18.1 million to 29 million people between 1997 and 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

5 Feb 2010

Shire's clinical study results for treatment of Gaucher disease to be presented at LDN World Symposium

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that data from one of three Phase III clinical trials for velaglucerase alfa, the company's enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in development for the treatment of Type 1 Gaucher disease, will be presented at the Lysosomal Disease Network (LDN) World Symposium, February 10-12, 2010 in Miami, Florida.

4 Feb 2010

LLS increases maximum benefit for myeloma patients to $10,000

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is pleased to announce that, effective Feb. 1, 2010, patients with myeloma and waldenstrom macroglobulinemia will now be able to receive up to $10,000 in support to help offset the costs of prescription drug co-pays and other insurance related expenses.

3 Feb 2010

Louisiana residents can now save money with free prescription drug cards

The Saints are going to the Super Bowl and we couldn't be any happier. We wanted to throw out a small lagniappe for our fellow Louisiana residents and offer the free drug card program titled the WhoDatDrugCard.com . This card is available to all residents and can save you as much as 75% off your medication purchase at over 2,000 pharmacies statewide.

3 Feb 2010

Ohio changes Medicaid drug program, N.C. weighs cuts in Medicaid personal care services

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Ohio's seven Medicaid managed care plans this month will make changes in the prescription drug plans that cover about 1.5 million people, although many of those beneficiaries will not face increased costs.

3 Feb 2010

FDA requests additional data on CMC section of NDA for taliglucerase alfa from Protalix BioTherapeutics

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. announced today that, in connection with the New Drug Application (NDA) filed by the Company in December 2009 for taliglucerase alfa for the treatment of Gaucher disease, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested additional data regarding the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) section of the NDA.

2 Feb 2010

VHGI sells Secure eHealth to WNDM

VirtualHealth Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has completed the sale of secure data and messaging provider, Secure eHealth, LLC, along with certain other technology assets to Wound Management Technologies, Inc. as previously announced in the January 11 press release. In addition to the sale of Secure eHealth, VHGI has also transferred all of the intellectual property assets of the real-time prescription drug monitoring business conducted by its subsidiary, VPS Holdings, LLC to Wound Management.

2 Feb 2010

Humana announces consolidated revenues of $7.63 billion for fourth-quarter 2009

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 (4Q09) of $1.48, as compared to $1.03 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 (4Q08), reflecting lower PDP claim expenses in 4Q09 than in 4Q08.

1 Feb 2010

Governor Otter vows to fight Idaho's health care reform

As members of Congress figure out the next steps to take to tackle health care reform, Idaho's health care woes continue to grow worse by the day. It's time for Idaho's state and federal lawmakers to step up to the plate for Idaho's families, businesses, and retirees to deliver solutions as opposed to more roadblocks to addressing this critical issue.

30 Jan 2010

Collaborative approach will build drug system that works for patients, pharmacies, government

The Alberta Pharmacists' Association (RxA) and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) stated that they strongly support the new pharmacy funding and services model agreement announced today by Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW).

29 Jan 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

DTM programs increase adherence to injectable medications and treatment persistence in MS patients

Enrollment for SCAN Health Plan Arizona exceeds projections in Maricopa County

Elan announces fourth-quarter and full-year financial results ended December 31, 2009

Idaho Health Freedom Act: Passage will lead to loss of $1.6 billion in federal health care funding

CVS Caremark reports fourth-quarter and fiscal 2009 results

HealthSpring reports net income of $38.8M for fourth-quarter 2009

HealthSpring nurse practitioner identifies impending heart attack

URAC seeks public input for Pharmacy Quality Management Accreditation programs

Health bill stall creates uncertainty for drug makers

'Doctor Shopping': Data from California's prescription monitoring program

Report shows more Americans are buying prescription drugs to treat digestive conditions

Shire's clinical study results for treatment of Gaucher disease to be presented at LDN World Symposium

LLS increases maximum benefit for myeloma patients to $10,000

Louisiana residents can now save money with free prescription drug cards

Ohio changes Medicaid drug program, N.C. weighs cuts in Medicaid personal care services

FDA requests additional data on CMC section of NDA for taliglucerase alfa from Protalix BioTherapeutics

VHGI sells Secure eHealth to WNDM

Humana announces consolidated revenues of $7.63 billion for fourth-quarter 2009

Governor Otter vows to fight Idaho's health care reform

Collaborative approach will build drug system that works for patients, pharmacies, government

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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