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Community pharmacy, also known as retail pharmacy, is the most common type of pharmacy that allows the public access to their medications and advice about their health. Traditionally known as a chemist, it is the healthcare facility that is responsible for the provision of pharmaceutical service to a specific community group or region.

Calif. Governor signs law for oversight of CT scans; Ariz. man's transplant on hold because of Medicaid cuts; Texas pharmacies sue CVS Caremark

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed tough new legislation tightening oversight of diagnostic CT scans, largely in response to the overdosing of hundreds of patients who underwent brain scans for stroke in 2008 and 2009.

5 Oct 2010

NY Times: DEA crackdown means delays for some patients in need of pain meds

The New York Times: Increased scrutiny by the Drug Enforcement Administration may be causing painful delays for patients who need narcotic drugs. "Roland Lorenz has surgical screws in his back and neck and a pin in his upper leg, and when his pain reared up one recent weekend, he knew he needed something strong.

4 Oct 2010

CVS/pharmacy's fundraising campaign raises $4.1 million for ALS research

In just 21 days, CVS/pharmacy's ninth annual in-store fundraising campaign to support the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) brought in $4.1 million. The funds raised by the campaign will be donated to the Boston-based ALS Therapy Alliance (ATA) to support the funding of new clinical research aimed at developing new therapies for ALS patients and focused on the ultimate goal of finding a cure for ALS.

1 Oct 2010

BUSM to create Center for Health Insurance Reform, Cardiovascular Outcomes and Disparities

Boston Medical Center (BMC) has been awarded a four year, $5.7 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for investigators from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) to create the Center for Health Insurance Reform, Cardiovascular Outcomes and Disparities.

1 Oct 2010

New co-branded Medicare Part D prescription drug plan from Humana and Walmart

Today, Humana Inc. announced an innovative Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, co-branded with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., that can provide significant savings on monthly plan premiums and prescription medicine copayments and cost-shares for Medicare beneficiaries, including seniors and people with disabilities.

1 Oct 2010

First nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program launched

Walgreens has launched the first ongoing, nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program, a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused or expired medications.

1 Oct 2010

Antiretroviral therapy does not reduce risk of HIV transmission

For married couples in which one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative, antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to the uninfected partner, according to a study from China in the October issue of JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

1 Oct 2010

APhA urges consumers to discuss proper medication usage with pharmacists

In honor of American Pharmacists Month, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) encourages consumers to hold an open dialogue with their pharmacists about a growing problem in the United States, the proper usage of and adherence to medications.

1 Oct 2010

Cardium expands wound healing and tissue regeneration portfolio

Cardium Therapeutics announced that it has gained exclusive access to commercial development rights for certain novel supramacromolecular polymer complexes enabling regulatable and localized topical delivery of nitric oxide for prolonged periods of one to three weeks, to broaden and expand the Company's wound healing and tissue regeneration portfolio.

30 Sep 2010

NABP seeks to educate public about rogue Internet drug outlets, counterfeit medications

Earlier this year, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) was introduced to the AWARxE campaign, which was created and implemented by the Minnesota Pharmacists Foundation in 2007. Moved by the power of the campaign, NABP obtained the AWARxE program so that its message could be shared on a national level.

30 Sep 2010

UNC scientists receive grant to develop targeted delivery system for pancreatic cancer

A team of UNC scientists has received a five-year $2,308,800 grant from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships to address the critical need for early diagnosis of and more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer.

30 Sep 2010

Centric Health acquires two pharmacies on Southlake Regional Health Centre campus in Ontario

Centric Health Corporation, Canada's leading diversified healthcare company, today announced that it has acquired, in partnership, two pharmacies located on the Southlake Regional Health Centre campus in Newmarket, Ontario.

29 Sep 2010

HHS Secretary announces $320M ACA grants to strengthen health care workforce

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $320 million in grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to strengthen the health care workforce. Of those grants, $253 million will go to improve and expand the primary care workforce under the Prevention and Public Health Fund of the Affordable Care Act.

29 Sep 2010

Most men unaware of breast cancer risk

A study, published in the October issue of the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), revealed that nearly 80% of men are unaware of their breast cancer risk despite having a family history of the disease. One hundred percent of respondents also reported that their healthcare provider did not discuss the disease with them.

29 Sep 2010

Florida likely to seek waiver on medical loss ratio; Ariz. cuts back Medicaid benefits

The Hill Healthwatch: "Florida's 14-member insurance advisory board has unanimously passed a resolution to seek a waiver from the health law's medical loss ratio. An official with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation tells The Hill that the board's vote means it's a 'done deal' that the state will formally seek some kind of waiver but the board is gathering public input through Oct. 8.

29 Sep 2010

New Formulary Forum reports market growth of immune biologics

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that the market growth of immune biologics will come from the expansion of indications for immune biologics in response to limited off-label use and competition for preferred status.

28 Sep 2010

PharMerica signs asset purchase agreement to acquire Chem Rx Corporation

PharMerica Corporation, a national provider of institutional pharmacy and hospital pharmacy management services, today announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Chem Rx Corporation for $70.6 million.

28 Sep 2010

Conmed Healthcare signs full-service agreement with City of Virginia Beach

Conmed Healthcare Management, Inc, a leading full service provider of correctional facility healthcare services to county and municipal detention centers, today announced that it has signed a full-service agreement with the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, for an initial three-year term with options for two one-year extensions at the City's option.

28 Sep 2010

Onconova Therapeutics to present Ex-RAD radioprotectant data at RRS Annual Meeting

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. is presenting new data in five posters and an oral presentation this week summarizing several studies with the company's radioprotectant Ex-RAD- at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society (RRS), September 25-29 in Maui, Hawaii.

28 Sep 2010

Chem Rx reaches asset purchase agreement with PharMerica

Chem Rx Corporation, the third largest long-term care pharmacy in the United States, today announced that it has reached a "stalking horse" asset purchase agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of the company to PharMerica Corporation, an industry-leading pharmaceutical services company serving residents in long-term facilities and settings.

27 Sep 2010