Content about Health

NEW ORLEANS — Moving, in its own words, “beyond e-prescribing,” paperless platform provider Surescripts has begun expanding its nationwide e-prescribing network to allow doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals to exchange all types of clinical information.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In an effort to help seniors navigate changes in Medicare Part D plans, Walgreens is offering a free plan comparison report to make it easier for Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers to determine how much money can be saved under different plans.

Open enrollment for Medicare Part D drug plans began Monday, and enrollees have until Dec. 31 to review their coverage options for 2011.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Joining the International Diabetes Federation to raise awareness about the chronic disease, the American Diabetes Association is celebrating World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14.

This year's World Diabetes Day theme is diabetes education and prevention, and this year's slogan is "Let's Take Control of Diabetes. Now." The campaign highlights diabetes symptoms and prevention measures, the American Diabetes Association said.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Retail pharmacies scored a big victory in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule, which puts the kibosh on pricing policies that would have severely affected retail pharmacies' ability to make money from generic drugs, and thus forced them to turn away Medicaid patients.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — There currently are about 1,200 retail clinics and more than 100,000 certified immunizing pharmacists. Expect those numbers to rise steadily as other employers looks to mimic Citi's free flu shot card program -- and you can bet they will.

(THE NEWS: Citi's flu care card pushes employers toward lower-cost retail channels. For the full story, click here)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association heralded the withdrawal of two provisions from the Medicaid program that would have had retail pharmacies selling generic drugs at a loss.

LAKE MARY, Fla. A specialty pharmacy provider and a manufacturer will collaborate to provide treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Axium Healthcare Pharmacy and Firma Medical announced the partnership Wednesday where by Axium’s erectile dysfunction line of injectable compounded pharmaceuticals will be marketed to Firma’s physician and patient customers around the country. The companies said the deal would give Axium broader distribution while increasing the number of treatment options for Firma’s customers.

WASHINGTON The CRN Foundation, the educational nonprofit affiliate of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, on Wednesday elected four board members.

The CRN Foundation Board elected Karen Todd, director of marketing at Kyowa Hakko, as chair; Jim Flaherty, SVP marketing and advertising at NBTY, as vice chair; Marjorie Fine, EVP, general counsel and secretary at Shaklee, as treasurer; and Judy Blatman, SVP communications of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, as secretary. 

WASHINGTON Save Flexible Spending Plans — a national grassroots advocacy organization sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation — on Thursday called on the new leaders in Congress to follow through on their campaign promises and fix problems with the healthcare-reform law, including the removal of to-be-imposed restrictions on employer-provided flexible spending accounts.

CINCINNATI Even during a time when consumers are cutting back on healthcare expenditures, the probiotics category has continued to grow, according to Procter & Gamble, which announced Wednesday that its Align probiotic has become the most recommended among gastroenterologists.

BELLEVUE, Wash. Drugstore.com on Tuesday released a statement reminding flexible spending account participants that they need to use the money left in their accounts by the end of the year or they will lose it.