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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.

Mission Health System to implement RIVA

Mission Health System in Asheville, North Carolina has ordered a RIVA System (Robotic Intravenous Automation) - a self-contained unit for filling IV syringes and bags - from Intelligent Hospital Systems (IH Systems). The Mission Health System, which includes the Memorial and St. Joseph's campuses, will be using the RIVA System on their off-site pharmacy for both centers.

16 Dec 2009

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that 70 percent of surveyed pharmacy directors expect to cover Pfizer's tanezumab if it is approved for the treatment of chronic pain. Tanezumab, which is expected to be the first biologic approved for chronic pain and is administered intravenously under medical supervision, will likely be covered as a medical benefit rather than a pharmacy benefit according to surveyed pharmacy directors.

16 Dec 2009

CDHPs deliver quality and accessible health coverage at lower costs

As overall medical costs continue to increase by double digits annually, medical costs for individuals in account-based consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) went down 26% over four years, while levels of care for their preventive medicine, chronic disease management and evidence-based treatments were higher than their counterparts in traditional PPO and HMO health plans, according to a new multi-year study of health care claims experience of 655,000 CIGNA customers.

16 Dec 2009

Magellan Health Services announces projected 2010 revenue and earnings growth

Magellan Health Services, Inc. today announced that, for 2010, it expects to generate net revenue in the range of $3.0 billion to $3.2 billion, net income in the range of $95.5 million to $115.0 million, and earnings per share in the range of $2.73 to $3.29 on a diluted basis.

15 Dec 2009

Freie Universität professor receives ERC grant for bacterial biofilm formation study

Prof. Dr. Regine Hengge at the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy at Freie Universität Berlin has been awarded funding from the European Research Council (ERC) for her research project to investigate the formation of bacterial biofilms. Hengge will receive an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant in an amount of up to two million euros.

15 Dec 2009

Beneficiaries may need to pay coinsurance for orally delivered oncology drugs, says new report

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that over the next five years, a greater percentage of health plans will transition orally delivered oncology drugs from a copayment structure to a reimbursement model that incorporates a coinsurance payment, thereby shifting more costs onto patients. Copayments represent a set dollar amount associated with a pharmacy benefit while coinsurance represents a percentage of cost that must be paid by the beneficiary.

15 Dec 2009

Anthem Blue Cross to receive Tri-County Commercial contract renewal award

Anthem Blue Cross announced today that the California Department of Health Care Services intends to award Anthem the Tri-County Commercial contract renewal to provide Medi-Cal benefits to residents in the Fresno, Kings and Madera Counties.

15 Dec 2009

Mediware Information Systems acquires two software companies

Mediware Information Systems, Inc. announced today that it has finalized the acquisitions of Healthcare Automation Inc. (HAI) and Advantage Reimbursement Inc. (ARI), which provides software and outsourcing solutions for home health providers.

15 Dec 2009

Manchester Pharmaceuticals' Chenodal now available for patients suffering from gallstones

Manchester Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(TM) announced today the availability of Chenodal(TM) 250 mg (chenodiol tablets). On October 22, 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Chenodal, an important therapy for patients suffering from gallstones in whom surgery poses an unacceptable health risk due to disease or advanced age.

15 Dec 2009

Study shows elderly blacks more likely to skip medication compared to white counterparts

Older adults experience a number of medication-related problems, including under treatment, suboptimal drugs, suboptimal dosing, and non-adherence, which can have negative effects on their quality of life. Now new research, from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that blacks have more medication-related problems than whites, and non-adherence to medical regimens is a particular issue for this group.

15 Dec 2009

ZYPREXA RELPREVV approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ZYPREXA RELPREVV (olanzapine) For Extended Release Injectable Suspension for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults, Eli Lilly and Company announced today.

14 Dec 2009

Synexus organises conference to raise awareness of the role of clinical research in drug development

Synexus in Poland organised the first ‘Importance of Clinical Trials in Medical Practice’ conference last week, in conjunction with Wroclaw Medical University. The event, targeting senior medical professionals, aimed to raise awareness of the role of clinical research in drug development and the importance of the business to Poland.

From AES - Accelerated Enrollment Solutions 14 Dec 2009

Loophole in Senate bill would let insurers cap payments for costly diseases

The Associated Press: "A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer, prompting a rebuke from patient advocates." An earlier version of the bill in a Senate committee forbid the practice, but a tweak would allow limits so long as they aren't "unreasonable" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/11).

13 Dec 2009

Illinois prepares to implement medical error reporting law

Illinois prepares to implement a medical reporting law while CVS receives a contract to provide $1 billion in pharmacy benefits in Texas.

12 Dec 2009

Prescription Solutions achieves overall generic prescription drug penetration rate of 68.8 percent

Prescription Solutions, a leading pharmacy benefits management (PBM) organization and a UnitedHealth Group company, has achieved an industry-leading overall generic prescription drug penetration rate of 68.8 percent year-to-date for 2009.

11 Dec 2009

CIGNA unveils new program to predict short-term disability

The average disability absence costs $35,000 in lost productivity per employee, according to the Integrated Benefits Institute. CIGNA today unveils a glimpse into the future– a new program that uses data analysis to predict the likelihood of a short-term disability.

11 Dec 2009

HSA survey reveals drug cost inflation in workers’ compensation is up by 7.5%

Drug cost inflation in workers’ compensation is up 7.5 percent according to Health Strategy Associates’ (HSA) Sixth Annual Survey of Prescription Drug Management in Workers’ Compensation.

10 Dec 2009

$1 billion drug benefits contract to CVS Caremark: TRS urged to examine further before voting

Controversy has erupted around the Board of the Teacher Retirement System’s plan to vote on a $1 billion drug benefits contract on Thursday. CVS Caremark, a pharmacy benefits manager that also owns the country’s largest drugstore chain, currently contracts with TRS to provide drug benefits for retirees.

10 Dec 2009

RushCard introduces free prescription drug discount program

While lawmakers debate over proposals to make healthcare more affordable, RushCard is doing its part to lessen the burden for its cardholders by introducing a free prescription drug discount program.

10 Dec 2009

Courtney Gamston wins the inaugural 2009 Facts & Comparisons Enhancement Scholarship

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Courtney Gamston of Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy is the winner of the inaugural 2009 Facts & Comparisons® Enhancement Scholarship.

10 Dec 2009

Pharmacy News and Research

Further Reading

Mission Health System to implement RIVA

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

CDHPs deliver quality and accessible health coverage at lower costs

Magellan Health Services announces projected 2010 revenue and earnings growth

Freie Universität professor receives ERC grant for bacterial biofilm formation study

Beneficiaries may need to pay coinsurance for orally delivered oncology drugs, says new report

Anthem Blue Cross to receive Tri-County Commercial contract renewal award

Mediware Information Systems acquires two software companies

Manchester Pharmaceuticals' Chenodal now available for patients suffering from gallstones

Study shows elderly blacks more likely to skip medication compared to white counterparts

ZYPREXA RELPREVV approved by FDA

Synexus organises conference to raise awareness of the role of clinical research in drug development

Loophole in Senate bill would let insurers cap payments for costly diseases

Illinois prepares to implement medical error reporting law

Prescription Solutions achieves overall generic prescription drug penetration rate of 68.8 percent

CIGNA unveils new program to predict short-term disability

HSA survey reveals drug cost inflation in workers’ compensation is up by 7.5%

$1 billion drug benefits contract to CVS Caremark: TRS urged to examine further before voting

RushCard introduces free prescription drug discount program

Courtney Gamston wins the inaugural 2009 Facts & Comparisons Enhancement Scholarship

Drug Discovery - Second Edition eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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