Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Pharmacy / Pharmacist News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/pharmacy/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114220.php The Company Chemists Association (CCA) greeted the launch of the Department of Health's primary and community care strategy as part of the NHS Review. Rob Darracott, CCA CEO states: "This strategy reinforces Department of Health commitment to a customer (patient) focussed approach in primary care. It also clearly signals that Government wants to create a market in primary and community care to drive innovation and choice. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114108.php An asthma-management study published in today's edition of the Medical Journal of Australia highlights the valuable role pharmacists can play in primary health care and chronic disease self-management, according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA). An abstract of the study Data-mining of medication records to improve asthma management, conducted by the University of Tasmania's School of Pharmacy, can be Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114072.php Today, a state court denied eight retail pharmacies' motion to stop the ten percent Medi-Cal provider cuts. The pharmacies sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) from Sacramento Superior Court against the California Department of Health Care Services and its director Sandra Shewry to block the cuts from being implemented. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113996.php ASHP played a key role in a recent national conference to discuss solutions and best practices for improving medication access, use and safety for patients in rural healthcare settings. The Society was a co-sponsor of the 2008 National Conference on Medication Access, Use and Safety in Rural America with the National Rural Health Association and University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy PREPP Institute in Minneapolis. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113992.php ASHP met recently with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to explore new opportunities for collaboration as NABP launches several task forces to improve the quality of patient care and medication safety. An ASHP staff expert will serve on the NABP's new Task Force on Standardized Pharmacy Technician Education. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113990.php ASHP continues to seek relief from a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) requirement that hospital outpatient departments report National Drug Code (NDC) numbers on single-source drugs and 20 multiple-source drugs when submitting Medicaid claims. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113906.php Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) had June sales of $4,810,100,000, an increase of 9.9 percent from $4,378,540,000 for the same month in 2007. Sales in comparable stores (those open at least a year) rose 3.4 percent, while comparable store front-end sales increased 3.5 percent. June front-end sales were helped in part by strong sales of promotional products, consumables and gift cards. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113765.php A non-profit group in the US claims that most sunscreens either don't work or are hazardous to health, but the sunscreen industry rejects the charge. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) said their investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreens showed that 4 out of 5 of them either don't adequately protect against damaging UV radiation or contain potentially hazardous chemicals. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113730.php The NPA has told PCTs planning new GP-led health centers to consider the impact on community pharmacy before rolling out plans for changes to their primary care infrastructure. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113708.php The NHS celebrates its diamond anniversary on Saturday 5 July. Since its inception in 1948 pharmacists have evolved to become an integral part of the healthcare team. To mark this special occasion, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has launched a web video reflecting on the history of pharmacy and its development over the last six decades. Before the NHS was established, a visit to the doctor was a costly exercise for patients. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113707.php The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has announced plans to restructure its internal directorates in order to help prepare the way for the new professional body and General Pharmaceutical Council. The changes are being introduced following consultation with staff and will see the Society's functions divided into three main areas to cover professional services, publishing and professional regulation. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113690.php The NPA welcomes the assertion in the Next Stage Review that "pharmacies have a key role to play as providers of prevention services" mirroring the statements in the recently published pharmacy White Paper. John Turk, NPA Chief Executive comments: "The Report is yet another call for pharmacy to take centre stage in public health, but we know from experience that words from the centre do not necessarily translate into action on the ground. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113032.php The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the leading national program that has certified more than 300,000 pharmacy technicians, is pleased to support and congratulate the Florida House of Representatives and Governor Charlie Crist for passing legislation requiring new standards for pharmacy technicians. PTCB is proud to have certified 15,000 pharmacy technicians in Florida to date and looks forward to working with more pharmacy technicians and their employers. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112901.php A new law requiring pharmacy technicians in Florida to be registered with the board of pharmacy and complete an approved training program was signed this week by Gov. Charlie Crist, thanks to the efforts of the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP). Under the law, technicians must register with the Florida Board of Pharmacy by 2010. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112882.php The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) commends Representatives Bart Stupak (D-MI), Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) for introducing bipartisan legislation (H.R. 6353) to combat illegal online sales of prescription medicines. "HDMA believes that prescription medicines should only be dispensed by legal, licensed pharmacies to patients with legitimate medical needs," said Scott Melville, HDMA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112834.php Online-based care from a pharmacist helped people control their high blood pressure more than twice as well as people who did not have the additional resources, according to a study published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.For the three-year study, 778 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112865.php The NPA's member event in Hendon, London attracted an attendance of 70 NPA members. The purpose of the NPA event was to provide practical advice and information on how to maximise profitability. The event also provided an opportunity for members to view NPA support materials and tools that are included in their membership fee. Additionally NPA senior staff were on hand to answer any questions the audience had. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112863.php The CCA welcomed the Department of Health and Association of Public Health Observatories announcement that they would be providing every local authority and region with additional information to help them to monitor health inequalities. Georgina Craig, Commissioning Lead for the CCA comments: "Addressing health inequalities remains a pressing priority for NHS commissioners. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112727.php The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Careers Service attended the second Examine Your Future careers fair on 20 June, organised jointly by NHS Careers and UCAS. Held at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, the event was specifically targeted at year-11 and -12 students with a strong interest in science and medicine. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112664.php Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) says the state could save $95 million annually under a plan to centralize Medicaid prescription drug purchasing within the state Department of Public Welfare, but state Republicans say those savings would be offset by hidden expenses in the plan, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112712.php HDMA applauds House and Ways Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) for including vital provisions in House legislation that will help ensure that thousands of retail pharmacies can continue to serve Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide. These provisions postpone the use of AMP data until October 1, 2009. HDMA urges Members of the Senate include similar provisions in companion legislation being considered now. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112711.php HDMA applauds House and Ways Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) for including vital provisions in House legislation that will help ensure that thousands of retail pharmacies can continue to serve Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide. These provisions postpone the use of AMP data until October 1, 2009. HDMA urges Members of the Senate include similar provisions in companion legislation being considered now. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112685.php The U.S. House of Representatives voted 355 to 59 in favor of H.R. 6331, which represents a veto-proof majority. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112641.php A new study of state-subsidized pharmacy assistance programs showed that providing prescription drug coverage for low-income seniors reduces Medicaid and Medicare costs. Moreover, needy seniors enrolled in the programs were able to cut their dose skimping and nursing home admissions in half, according to the Brandeis University research. In 2002, Illinois and Wisconsin implemented state pharmacy assistance programs with joint federal funding. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112635.php Adding even minimal copayments to Medicaid prescription drug plans leads to reductions in medication use by patients with chronic diseases, reports a study in the June issue of Medical Care. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.