US Pharm. 2006;7:8.
Alexandria, V.A. – Bruce Roberts, R.Ph., Executive Vice President and CEO of NCPA, reports his organization is making strong headway on an important legislative issue that could have a positive effect on independent pharmacists. There are now more than a hundred cosponsors of the Part D prompt payment legislation, and according to Roberts it is being endorsed in the House. "It's clear that Congress realizes there are flaws in the program that need fixing," he said.
Tallahassee, F.L. – Marlon Honeywell, PharmD, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice at Florida A&M University's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, was named 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year. Dr. Honeywell is also a contributing editor to U.S. Pharmacist. His name has been submitted for participation in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Teachers of the Year program.
New York City – According to a study released by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, pay for pharmacy professionals is increasing at a strong pace. Mercer's 2006 Pharmacy Compensation Survey – Spring Edition uncovered that nationally, staff pharmacists' median total cash compensation (base salary plus bonus) rose by 5.4% to $98,300. Other pharmacy-related jobs also rose by more than 4.2%.
Chicago – The AMA is asking the FDA to establish a waiting period on direct-to- consumer advertising after it approves a new drug. The AMA originally thought a year was an adequate waiting period but ultimately left it up to the FDA to decide. The action was prompted by physician complaints that their patients were demanding inappropriate drugs, driven by the advertisements.
Bethesda, M.D. – The American Society of Health System Pharmacists issued comprehensive recommendations to protect health care workers and patients from exposure to known carcinogens and other hazardous substances. The guidelines can be used to develop and implement safety programs that cover all aspects of the handling of hazardous drugs, from receipt to disposal.
Washington – According to Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about 500,000 fewer Medicare beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage than the federal government originally projected in early June. It was originally reported that 38.7 million people with Medicare have signed on to Part D. The federal government now estimates that about 38.2 million beneficiaries are covered, approximately 89% of the 43 million people who are eligible for the new benefit. According to McClellan, the drop occurred because many of the three million beneficiaries being counted as getting coverage through the Veterans Affairs Department had switched over to a private plan under the Part D, so they were being counted twice.
Deerfield, I.L.
– Walgreens
announced it will merge with Delaware-based Happy Harry's pharmacy chain.
While financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the transaction
includes all 76 Happy Harry's stores in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and
New Jersey, as well as the chain's corporate office and distribution center in
Newark, Delaware. "Its brand reputation and market share is the great base
from which to build our presence there," said Walgreen Co. Chairman and CEO
Dave Bernauer. "These stores are performing well and will benefit us right
from the start."
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