Content about Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Unnecessary spending related to medications totaled nearly half a trillion dollars last year, and much of that was in the poorest states in the country, according to pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

ESI said the country wasted $418 billion on bad medication-related decisions, including $55.8 billion spent on higher-priced medications when cheaper alternatives were available; and $269.4 billion went to expenses related to poor medication adherence.

ORLANDO, Fla. — According to an independent research firm, a recent pilot program to address awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse in teens showed 75% of all respondents were more aware of the dangers of misusing and abusing prescription drugs after participating in the educational program.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association re-elected its chairman from last year and appointed a new board of directors for 2013 whose members run from A to Z — as in Amneal to Zydus.

"We are grateful for the vision and support of the 2012 board of directors, and we are excited to move ahead with our chairman and our 2013 board," GPhA president and CEO Ralph Neas said. "In a time of enormous change and growth for our industry, leadership is critical."

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The leader of pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics will be the keynote speaker at a specialty pharmacy conference Thursday.

Prime said president and CEO Eric Elliott would deliver the keynote speech, titled "Specialty Pharmacy Benefit - The Employer's Perspective" at the first annual Therigy Specialty Pharmacy Leadership Congress in Orlando, Fla.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The specialty pharmacy operated by Omnicare Specialty Care Group has been added to the limited distribution network for a drug used to treat a hereditary degenerative disorder.

Omnicare said Friday that Lundbeck had added Advanced Care Scripts to its network for Xenaziner (tetrabenazine). The drug is used to treat involuntary movements known as chorea associated with Huntington's disease. Chroea affects about 90% of people with Huntington's and is considered a hallmark of the disease, according to studies.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Customers, vendors and industry analysts were among the more than 300 people who took part in seminars to showcase pharmacy technology maker QS/1's line of software products for independent and small-chain pharmacies and home medical equipment providers.

Calling its 2012 Customer Conference a "success," QS/1 said its next conference would take place in Asheville, N.C., in May 2013 rather than July 2013.

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association has a new president-elect, the group said Thursday.

The APhA announced the election of Matthew Osterhaus, who will succeed Steven Simenson at the conclusion of the 2014 APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Fla., on March 31, 2014. Osterhaus is the co-owner of Osterhaus Pharmacy in Maquoketa, Iowa, and an APhA trustee.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Cardinal Health on Thursday kicked off its Retail Business Conference, the company’s annual trade show for independent pharmacies catering to more than 7,000 attendees.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and MAITLAND, Fla. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has announced that it is partnering with Florida Hospital Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group affiliated with Florida Hospital, in a clinical affiliation that expands access to healthcare services in central Florida.

Under the agreement, FHMG physicians will serve as medical directors for 12 MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Orlando and the surrounding counties of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Global Market Development Center on Tuesday announced the introduction of Telepresence service as part of its 42nd GMDC General Merchandise Conference to be held in Orlando, Fla., June 1 to 5. According to the association, the introduction of Telepresence will extend the reach of GMDC’s usual physical meetings to incorporate virtual connections to company headquarters or even more remote locations, such as home offices or those traveling who rely on tablet technology.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Walgreens and Car Charging Group on Monday announced the expansion of EV charging services to 13 Walgreens locations in Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.

"Walgreens dedication to the EV movement is unmatched by any other major retailer," Car Charging Group CEO Michael Farkas said. "Walgreens commitment to providing EV charging services to its customers nationwide is a testament to its support of environmental sustainability and of electric vehicle use."

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Food Marketing Institute and Global Market Development Center on Tuesday announced plans for the two associations to partner in offering a comprehensive conference in 2013 focused on health, beauty and wellness. The announcement was made at the FMI's Health and Wellness Conference here.