News

Hospital pharmacists are on the frontline of intravenous (IV) saline shortages and need to prepare an action plan to ensure patient safety.

Researchers have found a link between women who have taken oral contraceptives and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, this does not mean women should stop taking birth control.

Pharmacy groups, representing more than 100,000 pharmacists in different pharmacy practice settings, have written to CMS Administrator Marilyn B. Tavenner to express their support for the expansion of medication therapy management (MTM) services to Medicare Part D Beneficiaries in the CMS proposal released in early January.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement updating its recommendations for off-label drug use in the pediatric population.

Leaders must take off the blinders and see the need for private sector jobs

Evidence shows that the traditional approach is not effective.

FDA drug approvals for the week ending March 7

Poor antibiotic prescribing practices are putting patients at risk for allergic reactions, super-resistant infections, and deadly diarrhea cause by Clostridium difficile, according to new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Plans have opportunities to bridge the transition for non-grandfathered plans and PCP payments under ACA

Quality and research initiatives in engagement and the value of investment in population health programs will be a focus in 2014.

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that received FDA approval for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in 2010. The mechanism of action includes slowing gastric emptying, increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion, decreasing inappropriate glucagon release, and instilling a feeling of satiety. Liraglutide is administered once daily by subcutaneous injection. Common adverse effects of liraglutide include nausea (28%), diarrhea (17%), vomiting (11%), and constipation (10%).

Patients more than 80 years old are being “over-treated” for stroke prevention and doctors need to actively rethink their priorities and beliefs about stroke prevention, according to a new study published in Evidence Based Medicine.

Stethoscopes can become contaminated with microorganisms following a physical examination and have similar levels of contamination as a physician’s dominant hand, according to a study conducted at a Swiss university teaching hospital in 2009 and published in the March issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

FDA advisors decided against recommending over-the-counter (OTC) marketing approval of Primatene HFA inhaler (Armstrong Pharmaceuticals) for the temporary relief of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma in patients 12 years and older, at last week’s joint meeting of the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee.

Seattle Children’s Hospital has been publicly at odds with insurers over the trend toward narrow networks.

Narrow pharmacy networks are booming

Insurers fight back as three Rs become the pawns of health reform politics

Marketplaces remain strictly focused on connecting the uninsured with coverage

CMS uses a probe and educate strategy during transition

FDA has approved hyaluronic acid (HA) injection (Monovisc, Anika Therapeutics), a single-injection supplement to synovial fluid of the osteoarthritic joint, for the treatment of pain and the improvement of joint mobility in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

FDA actions in brief, breakthrough therapy designations, priority review, fast-track designations, orphan drug designations

While patients may complain about the rising cost of their healthcare, few of them appear willing to do much about it, according to a new survey.

Health management and business updates

Several factors beyond the 45 day notice affect plan outlook

Employers with 50 to 99 workers will have until 2016 before they must offer coverage.

Drug shortages remain a serious problem for patient safety, according to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors.

These approaches exemplify the path health plans need to take for effective consumer centricity.