US Pharm. 2006;11:6.
Counterfeit Blood Glucose Test Strips
Rockville, MD--The FDA
announced that counterfeit blood glucose test strips are being sold in the
U.S. The strips were supposed to work with the One Touch Brand Blood Glucose
Monitors manufactured by LifeScan, Inc. To date the products and lot numbers
known to be counterfeit include One Touch Basic/Profile test strips
(lot #272894A, 2619932, 2606340, and 2615211) and One Touch Ultra test
strips (lot #2691191 and 2691261). According to the FDA, the counterfeit test
strips could potentially give incorrect blood glucose values that might result
in a patient administering too much or too little insulin.
Midwest Supermarket Chain Offers Free Rx
Program
Grand Rapids, MI-- Meijer,
a supermarket chain operating "supercenters" in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, and Kentucky, launched a "no-strings attached" free prescription
program. The program covers leading oral generic antibiotics with a special
focus on prescriptions most prescribed children. The program is available to
any customer, regardless of insurance or copay.
Medco to Pay Government $155 Million in
Settlement of False Claims Cases
Washington, D.C.--
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Medco Health Solutions, this
nation's second largest pharmacy benefits manager, has agreed to pay the U.S.
government $155 million plus interest to settle allegations of kickbacks and
false claims. The government complaint alleged that the company submitted
false claims for mail order prescription drug services it was required by
contract to provide millions of federal employees, retirees, and their
families. It was further alleged that the company canceled valid prescriptions
it could not fill in a timely manner to avoid paying penalties under the
contract, shorted pills from prescriptions it had already filled, failed to
conduct concurrent drug utilization review, and filled prescriptions with
drugs other than those prescribed by the physician to earn undisclosed rebates
from drug manufacturers.
Wal-Mart Rolls Out $4 Generic Rx Program in 14
States
Bentonville, Ark.
--Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has rolled out its $4 generic prescription program,
which was only being offered in 235 of its Florida pharmacies, to 1,264 stores
in 14 additional states. The states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont.
Kudos from NCPA on TRICARE Decision
Alexandria, Vir.--The
National Community Pharmacists Association applauded the U.S. Congress for its
recent action to preserve prescription drug choice for America's military
families. Congress recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2007. In it are important provisions affecting the TRICARE
program, the Department of Defense's health care program for active duty
military, active duty families, retirees, and their families covering more
than nine million people worldwide. As a result of the act, TRICARE
participants will not to be forced into using mail order facilities instead of
retail pharmacies and will not pay higher copays if they choose to fill their
prescriptions at a retail pharmacy.
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