"Behind-the-Counter" Drug Category Being
Considered by FDA
Rockville, MD - The FDA is
considering an official new category of prescription drugs that could be
dispensed without a prescription after consulting with a pharmacist. While a
"behind-the-counter" category may seem new, in actuality there are already
several products being sold only by pharmacists and limited to customers who
show photo identification. These include the emergency contraceptive Plan B
and cold products that contain pseudoephedrine. The FDA said "because
pharmacists have the training and knowledge to provide certain interventions,
they may be able to ensure that patients meet the conditions for use and
educate patients on appropriate use of the [behind-the-counter] drug product."
Medicare Part D Reimbursement Fix a Bit Closer
to Reality
Washington, DC -
Bipartisan support for prompt reimbursement of Medicare Part D prescription
drug claims to community pharmacies continues to gain support in the House of
Representatives. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) reports
that H.R. 1474, the Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Medicare Prescription
Drug Claims Act of 2007, has signed its 220th cosponsor. "Slow
government reimbursements have left some patients without access to their
prescription medications and their community pharmacists, which is a trend
that can be halted by taking corrective action," said Bruce Roberts, NCPA's
executive vice president and CEO.
Illinois Pharmacists Could Settle Birth Control
Lawsuit
Springfield, Ill - An
Illinois legislative panel is reviewing a settlement in reaction to a lawsuit
brought by several pharmacists over a ruling that mandates pharmacists fill
all prescriptions despite personal moral views about the drugs they are
dispensing. The drug currently in question is the emergency contraceptive Plan
B. Under the agreement, Illinois pharmacists who object to dispensing drugs
based on moral views would be allowed to let a pharmacist at another location
instruct a pharmacist at the first location how to fill the prescription. The
compromise would therefore allow a woman to get an emergency contraceptive
filled while not violating any pharmacist's moral convictions.
Independents Continue to Rank High in Patient
Care
Alexandria, VA - According
to the latest data from the annual NCPA-Pfizer Digest, despite
financially hard times, the numbers of niche services offered by independent
community pharmacists increased in 2006. The services include nutrition
counseling, delivery services, compounding, scheduling patient appointments,
and pain management. The survey also uncovered that staffing in independent
pharmacies continued to increase, resulting in a rise in the average number of
full-time pharmacists, part-time pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. The
data also showed that wages for staff pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
rose between 2005 and 2006. In the area of medication adherence, the digest
revealed that one in three independent pharmacists is performing adherence
monitoring as a value-added service for their patients. Over half the
pharmacists polled said they are technologically prepared to receive
electronic prescriptions from providers.