pharmLand

Tricare and Walgreens Can’t Agree on New Deal

2012-01-23T21:51:00.000-06:00

You may have noticed signs in front of Hy-Vee and other local pharmacies, stating they proudly fill Tricare Express Scripts. This is a result of the recent fallout of Walgreens not renewing a three-year contract, which previously allowed them to fill Express Scripts.

The two companies have been trying to come to terms on a new contract since June, 2011; however, Walgreens stated they would rather lose the $5.3 billion in annual revenue than continue to fill unprofitable prescriptions.

“It’s not just the contract rates, but the terms of the contract,” said Michael Polzin, Walgreen’s Divisional Vice President. “Express Scripts wanted to have the sole right to define, what is a generic drug and what's a brand drug and that effects how we get reimbursed for the medication."

Walgreens decision to stop providing Express Scripts has already made a significant impact. Walgreens’ stocks saw first quarter earnings fall more than 4 percent and is down over half a million flu shots from the 5.6 million provided a year ago.

Recent FactSet reports have shown Walgreens with a net income drop of $36 million, even with them holding on to 97 to 99 percent of other health and prescription plans.

Walgreens avoided seeing the bigger picture of losing more sales than Express Scripts alone. This move takes away a whole demographic that would browse aisles while waiting for their prescriptions to be filled. In short, fewer customers equals fewer sales.

A few of the alternatives to filling Tricare Express Scripts at Walgreens includes:

-Major chain pharmacies, such as Walmart or Kmart

-Grocery chains such as Hy-Vee, Schnucks, and Shop ‘n Save

-Some independent pharmacies and chain pharmacies, such as CVS or the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy

-Local hospitals

The decision to drop Express Scripts could further damage Walgreens in the long run, if their plan to purchase Medco Health Solutions Inc. goes through. This other large pharmacy and prescriptions manager could ensure further capital over time.

Kevin Pearia is a communications specialist for Veterans United Home Loans, providing service members with VA home loans and the latest news and information on their benefits.

Ask the Pharmacist Episodes 9 - 13

2012-01-22T20:12:00.000-06:00

I really got to find a job where I get home earlier than 8 at night. Enjoy episodes 9 through 13 of "Ask the Pharmacist".

Stop SOPA/PIPA

2012-01-18T07:52:00.000-06:00

Ask the Pharmacist Episodes 4 - 8

2011-10-02T11:37:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with these - my new day job has me working some long hours. I'll try to post these as they come up.

"Ask the Pharmacist - Episode 3"

2011-09-05T15:07:00.002-05:00

"Ask the Pharmacist - Episode 2"

2011-08-31T06:56:00.000-05:00

"Ask the Pharmacist - Episode 1"

2011-08-03T19:32:00.000-05:00

Drugmonkey unleashes "Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long To Fill" upon the world

2010-11-16T08:07:00.001-06:00

Yes, that is correct. Drugmonkey self-published a little tome known as "Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long To Fill" and you can purchase it here. Why should you purchase it? Because, according to Drugmonkey, "...it's hilarious. Like I've said, most of it is regurgitated blog material, but I don't have to tell you this blog is a goddamn gold mine. All I had to do was get me one of those prospecting pans and stand in the creek for awhile to come up with 201 pages of solid gold."

You can also win a free t-shirt. For more details see Drugmonkey's blog "Your Pharmacist May Hate You."

UPDATE: Now available on Amazon.com.

New Pharmacy Web Show, "Hard to Swallow", needs your support

2010-10-20T06:15:00.000-05:00

Two independent producers have created a series called "Hard to Swallow", which is based on the experiences of working the front counter of a central California retail pharmacy. The creators have completed a pilot and have received enthusiastic support from fans who feel that the pharmacy community is ignored in the media (seriously, pick a medical based drama or comedy and count how many references the pharmacy gets. When we do get a mention, it often is not flattering. I'm thinking of the way the pharmacists and techs are portrayed in House).

They would like to film more episodes, and they are currently raising money to do so. They have put their show on Kickstarter, which is a community fund-raising site. I encourage you to visit the site and make a pledge. If you can't spare the change, please spread the word to others and broaden awareness of this worthy endeavor. You will be supporting both independent film and a better portrayal of our profession.

On Kickstarter:

On YouTube:

The Irony that is Healthcare

2010-07-06T06:45:00.000-05:00

It’s no secret that a majority of Americans are disillusioned with the healthcare system in our country – they think they are covered only to find out to their shock that they’re rejected by their insurance company because they’re not able to pay their exorbitantly and atrociously hiked premiums. There is no reason provided for the hike, and very often, the supposedly new and improved policy is no better than the one they signed up for and thought they could afford. When you’re dropped because you cannot afford to meet the new premium price, what happens to all the money you have paid your insurance company so far, especially if you haven’t claimed any of it as medical expenses? They don’t return it to you, they don’t offer you a concession based on the fact that you haven’t undergone any form of medical treatment, and they don’t care that you are now left without cover. How fair is this when it’s your money that fills their coffers in the first place?
And even if you could afford to pay the higher premiums, there’s no guarantee that you would be able to afford the kind of healthcare you deserve if and when you fall sick. Many people find that they cannot afford the cost of prescription drugs even though they’re covered by insurance. They’re unable to find generic equivalents and because they don’t qualify for free aid programs like PAP (patient assistance program), they’re left at a loose end. They may resort to buying drugs off the Internet because it’s cheaper even though they cannot verify their authenticity; they may buy fewer pills than required because that’s all they can afford, a move that totally negates the efficacy of the drug, or they may share a prescription with someone else who is sailing in the same boat, again, not the wisest of things to do.
The saddest part of all this is that if you take the effort to stay healthy by doing all the right things like eating healthy food, working out regularly and keeping your weight down, you save yourself from disease and ill-health. But on the downside, you still have to pay your insurance company every month or every year, and that’s literally money down the drain. Isn’t it ironic when you consider the fact that you would prefer to fall sick, just so you could utilize the premiums you’ve paid to your insurance company?
The problem with this country’s healthcare system is that those who can afford healthcare even without insurance are pushing up the cost for ordinary folks who can barely make ends meet. The demand for newer and more innovative medical techniques and drugs sends the cost of healthcare soaring, and with the insurance companies keen to cash in on this, it’s the average Joe who ends up having to choose between eating and a roof over his head and getting quality medical care – isn’t that a delicious irony too?

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Shannon Wills, she writes on the topic of physical therapy assistant schools . She welcomes your comments at her email id: shannonwills23@gmail.com.

Recall on Over-the-Counter Drugs Affirms the Importance of Consumer Vigilance

2010-06-17T07:56:00.000-05:00

When we purchase over-the-counter drugs, we usually do so under the assumption that what we're buying is safe. This is perhaps true of all products on the market. We arrive at the conclusion that since something is packaged, sealed, or labeled, these outward appearances somehow convey an immutable trust. Of course, as smart consumers, we shouldn't allow paranoia to inhibit our need for products that will serve our interests, whether health-related or otherwise.

Just recently, however, the New York Times reported in a June 16th article on the recall of several over-the-counter drugs. While this is only a recent development involving the cancellation of children's liquid Tylenol, over the past year, McNeil Consumer Healthcare has blown the whistle on several faulty drugs, including 11.7 million bottles of Motrin medicines and 6.3 million bottles of Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplets since November of last year. What's more, McNeil recently recalled Benadryl allergy tablets and Extra Strength Tylenol gel pills, all of which were cancelled in its lot stages, before they ever hit the shelves.

The recent recalls have resulted from consumer complaints about moldy-smelling products. While the FDA has singled out a manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico as the probable culprit, Johnson and Johnson, as well as McNeil are both under investigation by the House Committee of Oversight and Government Reform. These investigations are only in their initial stages, so it is yet to be seen how governmental intervention will play out in protecting consumers.

However the investigations turn out, it is important for healthcare consumers, as well as pharmacists, to be always vigilant when handling medicines of all varieties. In an age when more and more of our products are being manufactured offshore, the chances that something will be amiss as they pass through the production chain are greater. It is our responsibility as citizens to be aware of possible glitches, and to report them whenever they occur.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Tim Handorf, who writes on the topics of online college rankings. He welcomes your comments at his email Id: tim.handorf.20@googlemail.com

Best Medical Websites

2010-03-25T11:11:00.000-05:00

The spread of Internet technology has been a boon for the medical field. Thanks to a growing number of sites devoted to medicine and diagnostics, physicians and patients alike now have access to a wealth of medical knowledge. Here are some of the best resources on the Web:

WebMD: This comprehensive guide offers preventive tips as well as ways to self-diagnose ailments. It's also a great source of news and reviews.

Healthline: A repository for many helpful tools, this site can also help you find a nearby doctor. They're also available on Twitter as an extra way to build community.

Mayo Clinic: The world-renowned Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit practice originally founded in Minnesota, offers a fantastic Web site for anyone looking for more information about a given disease. They've also got a great section on drugs and supplements with information about prescription and over-the-counter treatments.

Health Central: In addition to a variety of helpful articles on diseases and diagnoses, Health Central also offers a thriving online community for readers to interact and trade firsthand knowledge of treatment experiences.

Wrong Diagnosis: The independently run Wrong Diagnosis is designed to prevent users from jumping to the wrong conclusions about whatever's ailing them. They've got interactive guides for checking your symptoms as well as breakdowns of the most common symptoms and sicknesses people deal with on a daily basis.

National Institutes of Health: A part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH's site is devoted to health breakdowns by age and gender, with extra information available from the government about seasonal maladies like the flu.

Yahoo Health and CNN Health: The health sections of these major news sites offer the latest stories about all aspects of health care and modern living, from preventing sickness to long-term treatments.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes on the topics of Online Nursing Schools . She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

Best iPhone Apps for Pharmacists

2009-10-08T13:50:00.005-05:00

Originally posted by Richard Hembly at Online Education Blog.

Technology is at its peak nowadays. We see new developments in a wide range of technologies every single day. Cell phones have become some of the most updated pieces in today’s society because they are becoming increasingly vital for every day life. In response to this need for advancement, Smartphone companies have created an array of applications to make people’s lives just a little better. The iPhone, an Apple Inc. manufactured multimedia enabled Smartphone, has a variety of special applications available, including some that are specific to people in the pharmaceutical field, even for a pharmacy tech. Let’s take a look at some of those applications and see if they would be beneficial to you.

Go to Online Education Blog to see the recommendations.

2009-10-06T20:36:00.003-05:00

The Gel (Good Experience Live) conference series, a seven-year-old event curated by Mark Hurst, is launching a new healthcare event - Gel Health - a conference focused on the patient experience. Gel Health will be held on Thursday and Friday, October 22 and 23, 2009 at Scandinavia House, Park Avenue and 38th Street in Manhattan.

"In this time of spiraling health care costs, and the national conversation on reform, Gel Health will provide a place to talk about what really matters: the patient," said Mark Hurst.

Over the course of two days a diverse group of speakers will offer over a dozen presentations on the patient experience: who’s improving it, and how? What approaches are being taken in various healthcare disciplines.

Thursday speakers will present 20-minute talks in the theater. Throughout the day, attendees will have many opportunities to meet the speakers, and other attendees, who are the innovators in this growing field of patient-centered healthcare.

Catering on Thursday will be provided by Cleaver Company, a New York-based organic caterer that uses locally sourced, seasonal ingredients for the highest nutritional value and lowest environmental impact.

On Friday, Gel Health will offer attendee-led seminars and workshops for "deep dives" on specific themes and topics from the conference.

Gel Health tickets are available at www.gelconference.com/health for $499 or visit the registration page.

(from the Gel Health News website)

Obesity Leading in Health Care Costs

2009-08-06T21:29:00.004-05:00

With the health-care reform bill looming around the corner, increased attention has been paid to the amount of costs which lead the way within the health industry. The majority of these relates back to the chronic problem of obesity which seems to plague the American population. The United States has already made a name for itself as one of the “larger” Western nations, and with these weight problems come a slew of health issues that stem from obesity. Curing such problems has begun to prove to be a large task for the health care industry as more funds are typically needed to battle the ongoing role obesity has in many serious health problems.
Overall, new studies have indicated that obese Americans spend about 42 percent more on health care than normal-weight Americans. That means they give a lot more work to medical billing workers. This cost has reached epic proportions, with figures nearly $147 billion a year in 2008 alone. While this figure represents only 10 percent of all medical spending, it is still largely disproportionate when considering that obesity can be easily avoided if Americans simply watch what they eat. With the amount of documentaries on Discovery Health and TLC which chronicle the lives of morbidly-obese individuals, it is no surprise that while Americans are well aware of the weight problems in the nation, many are not doing much to prevent this epidemic from spreading. Fast food restaurants have even tried to upgrade their menu in an effort to present healthier alternatives to the calorie-loaded meals which reign within these places. However, with obesity still a prominent issue, it is revealed that obese Americans spend $1,429 more on health care each year than normal-weight Americans.
Most of this spending comes from buying prescription drugs that are needed in order to manage obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. Diabetes is one health problem that is getting rapidly worse as more Americans battle obesity and therefore conditions that run along with it. As technology advances, thereby allowing Americans to do less and less physical activity, the health care bills will only begin to increase as weight gain rises at the same time. In only two decades, Americans are found to consume 250 more calories a day than they did previously, which indicates a rise in eating out as well as a decrease in home-cooked meals. By simply stopping this type of behavior when children are young, rather than opting for the fast-food cheeseburger, we can help decrease the obesity of the next generation and thereby lower health care costs across the nation.

This post was contributed by Jill Gordon, who writes about the LPN nursing schools. She welcomes your feedback at Jill.Gordon@ yahoo.com