Wal-Mart Expands $4 Generics Program
Bentonville, Ark.--Wal-Mart rolled
out its $4 generic prescription drug program to 11 additional states and added
17 products to the list of drugs already covered. The program is now being
offered in all of its 3,810 pharmacies. According to Bill Simon, Executive
Vice President of Wal-Mart's Professional Services Division, the program now
lists 331 generic drugs available in commonly prescribed dosages for up to a
30-day supply. The $4 generics are not available by mail order, but refills
may be ordered online and by telephone for in-store pickup in selected states.
A press release from Wal-Mart says the chain has seen an increase of 2.1
million new prescriptions filled to date, compared to the same time period
last year. A survey of Florida consumers that was conducted by the National
Community Pharmacists Association revealed that only about 5% of consumers
polled have personally tried to use the program, and about 60% agreed that
Wal-Mart's program did not offer all the cost savings it advertised.
America's Best Health Plans Announced
Washington, D.C.--U.S.
News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance
(NCQA) announced the publication of "America's Best Health Plans," the annual
rankings of commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health maintenance
organizations and point-of-service plans. Topping the lists are Harvard
Pilgrim Health Care (Maine, Massachusetts), Preferred Care (New York), and
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, respectively. The rankings are based
upon a plan's clinical performance, patient experience and satisfaction, and
its NCQA accreditation status. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of
health care organizations, recognizes physicians and physician groups in key
clinical areas, and manages the evolution of HEDIS, the tool used by health
plans to measure and report on their performance. The top 50 commercial and
top 25 Medicare and Medicaid plans can be found online at
www.usnews.com/healthplans.
CVS/pharmacy Launches Online Medicare Part D
Comparison Tool
Woonsocket, R.I.--CVS/pharmacy
announced the launch of a new online tool that should make choosing the right
Medicare prescription drug plan easier for eligible recipients. Accessible
through www.cvs.com and in CVS/pharmacy stores, the chain's Medicare Plan
Comparison Tool will help seniors find the right plan based on their current
medications and the options now available. For example, users of the tool can
indicate their preferences regarding monthly premiums, medications covered in
the "donut hole," and deductibles. The choices can be compared by plan cost or
drug cost.
New COPD Guidelines Released
New York City--The Global
Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) released updated
clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The launch of the guideline document
coincided with National COPD Awareness Month in November. The update includes
state-of-the-art recommendations about COPD pathogenesis, diagnosis, and
pharmacologic treatment. It emphasizes COPD systemic effects and
complications, plus important emerging concepts in the treatment of lung
disease, and continues to stress the importance of reducing exposure to COPD
risk factors, in order to prevent the disease or to slow its progression. The
GOLD guidelines contain evidence-based recommendations for COPD management and
were developed by an international team of pulmonary experts.