US Pharm. 2008;33(8):14.

Florida to Adopt Pharmacy Technician Rules
Tallahassee, FL -- Joining nearly 40 other states that mandate a mix of registration, certification, and training, Florida has passed legislation requiring registration for the state's estimated 40,000 to 60,000 pharmacy technicians. The action, which requires the Florida Board of Pharmacy to adopt registration rules by 2010, reflects the increasing trend of having pharmacy technicians handle such tasks as typing prescriptions, counting pills, and filling drug vials. Michael McQuone, executive vice president of the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, views the new legislation as "an important new safety measure." Walgreens had opposed earlier versions of the legislation, but the company believes that its own training program, already approved by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, will meet the new Florida requirement. CVS spokesman Michael DeAngelis said that the company was actively involved in the negotiation process and helped craft the language of the final bill "to ensure that…the state board of pharmacy would have the power to approve our technician training program, a program that has been approved by many other state boards."

 

Bush Administration Settles Medicare Part D Suit
San Francisco, CA -- The Bush Administration has agreed to make significant changes to its administration of the prescription drug benefit in response to the Medicare Part D class action lawsuit Situ v. Leavitt. The suit, filed in 2006 by the National Senior Citizens Law Center and the Center for Medicare Advocacy against Michael Leavitt, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, argued that the Bush Administration failed to provide sufficient protections for low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The suit was brought on behalf of 6.2 million "dual eligible" Medicare beneficiaries--persons who are elderly and/or disabled and very poor. The plaintiffs argued that the Medicare Part D program is poorly managed and, as a result, created ongoing barriers for this population to obtain medications.

Cholesterol Drugs for Kids?
Elk Grove Village, IL -- Some children should be given cholesterol drugs to guard against future heart problems, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP recommends cholesterol screening for children and adolescents with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease. It also recommends screening patients whose family history is unknown and those who have heart disease risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Cholesterol screening, says the academy, should take place after age 2 but no later than age 10. Cholesterol-reducing medications should be considered for children older than 8 who have high LDL concentrations. The AAP also recommends reduced-fat dairy products, such as two percent milk, for overweight or obese children as young as age 1.

New Pharmacy School Receives Approval
New York, NY -- The New York State Education Department has approved Touro College of Pharmacy's Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, paving the way for this fall's inaugural class. In addition, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education has granted the college Pre-candidate Status. The modern facility will be located in New York City's Harlem community. Interested applicants should send an e-mail to: info.pharmacy@touro.edu with "Program Details" in the subject line. Updates with news of the college will be available at www.touro.edu/pharmacy.

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