Content about Collaborative Care

WASHINGTON — A consumer group is urging the Food and Drug Administration to review a proprietary point-of-purchase nutrition rating system that it said is "inconsistent with FDA guidance statements and enforcement correspondence, federal nutrition programs and recommendations from the Institute of Medicine."

TAMPA, Fla. — Sam's Club has signed a deal with Triad Retail Media to provide pet care information on its website, Triad said Wednesday.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Specialty pharmacy group purchasing and channel management organization Armada Health Care is moving into a bigger office space, the company said Tuesday.

Armada announced that the new space, two floors up from its current offices at 100 Campus Drive in Florham Park, N.J., is nearly three times larger. The company plans to take possession of the new offices in late June and expects to use it to support its expanded service and technology divisions.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health on Tuesday announced it had agreed to a settlement with the Drug Enforcement Agency that allows the company to bring resolution to ongoing litigation.

NEW YORK — A former football coach is joining an effort to educate men about the risks of a deadly form of skin cancer.

Former National Football League Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher will work with Melanoma Exposed, an educational campaign run by the Melanoma International Foundation, Melanoma Research Alliance, Melanoma Research Foundation and the Skin Cancer Foundation, with sponsorship from drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb, the organizations announced Tuesday.

GURGAON, India — First-quarter consolidated sales for generic drug maker Ranbaxy Labs totaled $736 million, the company reported last week.

The company said the quarter's sales marked a 55% increase over the year-ago period, when sales totaled $474 million. U.S. sales for the company totaled $416 million, up from $170 million in first quarter 2011. Ranbaxy attributed its sales boost to the launch of generic Lipitor (atorvastatin), as well as sales of generic Caduet (amlodipine and atorvastatin).

NEW YORK — Legislation proposed in the House of Representatives would speed up Food and Drug Administration approval of knock-off versions of vaccines and other biologics while requiring the agency to conduct more inspections of drug factories overseas, according to published reports.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the bills, sponsored by Republican Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, would create an expedited FDA approval pathway for follow-on versions of biogenetic medications such as vaccines and drugs made from human tissue and plasma.

ALBANY, N.Y. — With state-led Medicaid redesign and federal healthcare delivery reform under way in New York state, the demand for nurse practitioners, physicians assistants and other healthcare professionals is anticipated to continue to increase, according to a recent report by the Healthcare Association of New York State, which is a statewide hospital and continuing care association.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — 3M on Monday announced the fourth annual Nexcare give program, a nationwide initiative that in partnership with the American Red Cross helps raise awareness around the need for blood donations.

“We are so grateful to all donors for their lifesaving work. Each blood donation can help save up to three lives, so what better way to serve your community than by giving blood regularly,” said Dan Waxman, president of America’s Blood Centers.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — FRS last week launched two ready-to-drink health-and-wellness beverages: Healthy Slim to support weight loss and Healthy Defense for immune system support.

CHICAGO — MinuteClinic, which is owned by CVS Caremark, announced on Monday that it has joined a coalition of organizations dedicated to raising diabetes awareness among families on Chicago's South Side.

The coalition is working with Perspectives Charter School Calumet Campus to educate, screen, diagnose and, if needed, provide follow-up care to any student diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes.

WASHINGTON — The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs to beef up its oversight on Medicare Part D submissions from retail pharmacy, according to an Office of Inspector General report published last week.

The OIG suggested CMS strengthen a MEDIC's ability to track pharmacy billing (MEDICs — Medicare Drug Integrity Contractors — are private organizations who are contracted by CMS to assist in anti-fraud and abuse efforts) and improve compliance plan audits, specifically targeting independent pharmacies and pharmacies in urban locales.