Content about Policy

April 16, 2013
Generic savings and U.S. health policy: Pulling the federal levers at both ends

Does the Obama administration “get it” when it comes to pharmacy’s vital interests and lowering health care costs?

One sometimes wonders. As much as I like the president and many of his ideas and instincts, I’m sometimes stumped by some of the lesser-understood facets of the administration’s health policy, and by the seemingly contradictory sets of priorities promoted by that policy.

Does the Obama administration “get it” when it comes to pharmacy’s vital interests and lowering healthcare costs?

One sometimes wonders. As much as I like the president and many of his ideas and instincts, I’m sometimes stumped by some of the lesser-understood facets of the administration’s health policy, and by the seemingly contradictory sets of priorities promoted by that policy.

August 15, 2012
Watson sues FDA over generic Actos

Watson Pharmaceuticals is suing the Food and Drug Administration, alleging that an agency decision would improperly delay its release of a generic drug for diabetes, the company said Wednesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is suing the Food and Drug Administration, alleging that an agency decision would improperly delay its release of a generic drug for diabetes, the company said Wednesday.

July 5, 2012
FDA gives tentative approval to generic hypertension drug

Actavis has received a preliminary approval for a generic drug for treating high blood pressure, the drug maker said Thursday.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Actavis has received a preliminary approval for a generic drug for treating high blood pressure, the drug maker said Thursday.

April 17, 2012
Study unveils drop in adherence to cardiovascular meds during 'doughnut hole' gap

Medicare Part D beneficiaries with cardiovascular conditions who had no financial assistance during the "doughnut hole" coverage gap were 57% more likely to discontinue their cardiovascular medications than those beneficiaries who had consistent drug coverage, according to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Medicare Part D beneficiaries with cardiovascular conditions who had no financial assistance during the "doughnut hole" coverage gap were 57% more likely to discontinue their cardiovascular medications than those beneficiaries who had consistent drug coverage, according to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

November 4, 2011
Bill to incentivize generic use in Medicaid introduced in Congress

A bill proposed in Congress would give states incentives for using generic drugs through the Medicaid program.

WASHINGTON — A bill proposed in Congress would give states incentives for using generic drugs through the Medicaid program.

October 28, 2011
RAD's latest initiative may help drive growth

The program to offer certain generic drugs virtually for free to Medicare Part D beneficiaries is one of Rite Aid’s many new ways to attract more customers and thus grow its sales and profits, especially in the pharmacy.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The program to offer certain generic drugs virtually for free to Medicare Part D beneficiaries is one of Rite Aid’s many new ways to attract more customers and thus grow its sales and profits, especially in the pharmacy.

(THE NEWS: Rite Aid partners with Envision Insurance Co. to offer Medicare Part D Rx drug plan. For the full story, click here)

October 25, 2011
Rite Aid partners with Envision Insurance to offer Medicare Part D Rx drug plan

Medicare Part D beneficiaries will be able to obtain hundreds of generic drugs without any deductible or co-pay under a new program offered by Rite Aid.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Medicare Part D beneficiaries will be able to obtain hundreds of generic drugs without any deductible or co-pay under a new program offered by Rite Aid.

The retail pharmacy chain announced Tuesday that it had partnered with Envision Insurance Co. to offer a value-focused prescription drug plan for Medicare Part D Open Enrollment 2012. Rite Aid EnvisionRx Plus offers beneficiaries a plan with a $0 deductible and $0 co-pays, including during the coverage gap, also known as the donut hole.

October 24, 2011
Walgreens pharmacists to provide resources to Medicare Part D beneficiaries

Walgreens is continuing to provide resources to Medicare Part D beneficiaries in order to help them better understand their healthcare options.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is continuing to provide resources to Medicare Part D beneficiaries in order to help them better understand their healthcare options.

September 1, 2011
FTC: Authorized generics reduce overall drug prices

Branded drugs sold under their generic names at a reduced price can reduce retail and wholesale drug prices, according to a new report by the Federal Trade Commission.

WASHINGTON — Branded drugs sold under their generic names at a reduced price can reduce retail and wholesale drug prices, according to a new report by the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC report found that when an authorized generic is introduced onto the market, it can lower the expected profits of the generic drug's manufacturer and, over the longer term, affect generic manufacturers' decisions to challenge patents covering branded drugs with low sales, though patent challenges by generic drug makers "remain robust."

August 17, 2011
Study: Medicare 'doughnut hole' can lead to a decrease in medication adherence

Medicare Part D beneficiaries who enter the "doughnut hole," where they have to pay 100% of previously subsidized prescription costs, are twice as likely to discontinue their medications as they are to switch to more affordable or generic medications, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Medicare Part D beneficiaries who enter the "doughnut hole," where they have to pay 100% of previously subsidized prescription costs, are twice as likely to discontinue their medications as they are to switch to more affordable or generic medications, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark.

July 19, 2011
Affordable Medicines Utilization Act of 2011 encourages use of generic drugs

New bipartisan legislation introduced to the Senate last week seeks to offer states incentives to use generic drugs by allowing states to temporarily keep a portion of the savings.

WASHINGTON — New bipartisan legislation introduced to the Senate last week seeks to offer states incentives to use generic drugs by allowing states to temporarily keep a portion of the savings.

Senators Scott Brown, R-Mass.; Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; and John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced the Affordable Medicines Utilization Act of 2011, saying that the bill would encourage states to take advantage of cost-saving generic drugs.

April 27, 2011
DEA kicks off second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting its second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this weekend, the agency said.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting its second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this weekend, the agency said.

March 31, 2011
NCPA: Florida bill sacrifices indie pharmacy in war on drugs

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday spoke out against a Florida bill sponsored by state Rep. Rob Schenck, R-District 44, which would restrict the dispensing of controlled substances on Schedule II and III to publicly traded pharmacy chains and pharmacies that have more than $100 million in taxable revenues, or only those independent community pharmacies that have been in business more than 10 years.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday spoke out against a Florida bill sponsored by state Rep. Rob Schenck, R-District 44, which would restrict the dispensing of controlled substances on Schedule II and III to publicly traded pharmacy chains and pharmacies that have more than $100 million in taxable revenues, or only those independent community pharmacies that have been in business more than 10 years.

March 31, 2011
Report: Generic utilization can save Medicaid millions

The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research on Monday published a working paper that identified $329 million in overspending as a result of underutilization of generics.

WASHINGTON — The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research on Monday published a working paper that identified $329 million in overspending as a result of underutilization of generics.

As total spending on 20 medicines with generic equivalents totaled approximately $1.5 billion, AEI concluded Medicaid overspent by 22% ($1.5 billion versus $1.17 billion) on these pharmaceuticals.

March 28, 2011
Report: State Medicaid programs can reap savings with increase in generic drug use

Ten states could reap significant savings by increasing the use of generic drugs in their state Medicaid programs, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said Monday in response to a report by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

WASHINGTON — Ten states could reap significant savings by increasing the use of generic drugs in their state Medicaid programs, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said Monday in response to a report by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

The report, “Overspending on Multi-Source Drugs in Medicaid,” by Alex Brill, identified states that overspend the most on their Medicaid programs, with California, Texas and Georgia topping the list.

December 10, 2010
Poll: Medicare Part D beneficiaries unaware of measures to close 'doughnut hole'

Most beneficiaries of the Medicare Part D program are unaware of new measures to close the so-called “donut hole” coverage gap, according to a recent poll.

WASHINGTON — Most beneficiaries of the Medicare Part D program are unaware of new measures to close the so-called “doughnut hole” coverage gap, according to a recent poll.

August 9, 2010
Antibiotic use increases among elderly patients enrolled in Medicare Part D, study finds

As elderly patients have found improved coverage of prescription drugs after enrolling in Medicare Part...

July 6, 2010
Caraco begins shipment of generic Optivar

Generic drug maker Caraco Pharmaceutical Labs has begun shipping azelastine ophthalmic solution in the 0.05%...

June 24, 2010
Dietary supplement industry gets its due with GMP requirements

The dietary supplement industry is free at last from any major news organization making any...

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The dietary supplement industry is free at last from any major news organization making any kind of assertion that the industry is “unregulated.”

(THE NEWS: CRN: Dietary supplement manufacturers must be GMP-compliant. For the full story, click here)

May 16, 2010
Senate mulls plan to curb drug abuse

The long-standing war on drug abuse may soon be fought neighborhood by neighborhood....

March 4, 2010
Report: Office of Generic Drugs head steps down

The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s generic drug division is stepping down to...

January 31, 2010
ECRM Generics 2010

With the defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley by Republican Scott Brown in the race to fill the seat of late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, and the loss of the Democrats’ filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, the healthcare-reform bill stands on a knife’s edge. And how will pharmacies be reimbursed for dispensing generic drugs to Medicaid and Medicare patients if a health overhaul bill fails to pass? These topics, along with the issue of patent settlements vexing the branded and generic drug industries and a new GAO study showing that drug costs are soaring, are explored in depth in the latest installment of the ECRM Generics report.

With the defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley by Republican Scott Brown in the race to fill the seat of late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, and the loss of the Democrats’ filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, the healthcare-reform bill stands on a knife’s edge. And how will pharmacies be reimbursed for dispensing generic drugs to Medicaid and Medicare patients if a health overhaul bill fails to pass?

January 31, 2010
FDA seeks budget increase from Obama administration

The Food and Drug Administration hopes to “transform” its oversight of medical product and food...