Content about Senate

March 15, 2011

Five senators have issued a letter to Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg to expand Americans' access to affordable medications by avoiding the delay of generic drug approvals.

WASHINGTON — Five senators have issued a letter to Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg to expand Americans' access to affordable medications by avoiding the delay of generic drug approvals.

February 11, 2011

Recent restrictions imposed on flexible spending accounts appear to be the first piece of ObamaCare to be challenged by the new Congress.

WASHINGTON — Recent restrictions imposed on flexible spending accounts appear to be the first piece of ObamaCare to be challenged by the new Congress.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., on Thursday respectively introduced The Patients’ Freedom to Choose Act, a bill that would repeal two provisions in the Obama healthcare law that limit a patient’s choice in how to use consumer-directed health savings plans, to the Senate and House of Representatives.

February 11, 2011

The National Community Pharmacists Association has expressed support of legislation that seeks to overturn two provisions in the Obama healthcare law that limit a patient’s choice in how to use consumer-directed health savings plans.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has expressed support of legislation that seeks to overturn two provisions in the Obama healthcare law that limit a patient’s choice in how to use consumer-directed health savings plans.

February 4, 2011

Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., argued before the Senate Thursday around the value that increased access to medication therapy management can deliver to overall health care — that includes cutting into the $290 billion in annual costs associated with medication nonadherence and preventing as many as 89,000 premature deaths.

WASHINGTON — Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., argued before the Senate Thursday around the value that increased access to medication therapy management can deliver to overall health care — that includes cutting into the $290 billion in annual costs associated with medication nonadherence and preventing as many as 89,000 premature deaths.

February 3, 2011

The National Community Pharmacists Association expressed its support of the Senate's decision to repeal the 1099 tax reporting mandate for businesses.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association expressed its support of the Senate's decision to repeal the 1099 tax reporting mandate for businesses.

The Senate announced it passed an amendment that repealed a requirement for businesses to file 1099 forms with the Internal Revenue Service beginning in 2012 any time they spend more than $600 a year with any other business. NCPA EVP and CEO Kathleen Jaeger said that the business tax provision would have shifted community pharmacies focus from "clinical to clerical."

January 14, 2011

The battle for the prescription status of methamphetamine precursor/popular cough-cold ingredient pseudoephedrine now is heating up in Kentucky, just a few days following a Nevada news report that suggested the state will be considering PSE prescription-only requirements just as soon as a bill is introduced by Nevada Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The battle for the prescription status of methamphetamine precursor/popular cough-cold ingredient pseudoephedrine now is heating up in Kentucky, just a few days following a Nevada news report that suggested the state will be considering PSE prescription-only requirements just as soon as a bill is introduced by Nevada Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno.

January 5, 2011

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Congress handed community pharmacies a Christmas present in December, voting to exempt them from burdensome accounting requirements imposed by the Federal Trade Commission.


December 17, 2010

Patent settlements between branded and generic drug companies, sometimes called “pay-for-delay” deals, aren’t going away any time soon.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Patent settlements between branded and generic drug companies, sometimes called “pay-for-delay” deals, aren’t going away any time soon.

(THE NEWS: Report: Banning 'pay for delay' settlements likely won't happen. For the full story, click here)

December 14, 2010

Legislation to ban patent litigation settlements between branded and generic drug companies appears unlikely to find success, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Legislation to ban patent litigation settlements between branded and generic drug companies appears unlikely to find success, according to published reports.

The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, reported on Sunday that language in the Senate appropriations bill that would ban so-called “pay for delay” settlements between drug makers did not appear likely to pass. The newspaper reported that the Senate appeared likely to support a resolution supported by the House that did not contain the language.

December 7, 2010

The results of the 2010 mid-term elections were dramatic, putting the Republican party firmly in control of the House of Representatives. And the GOP’s “Pledge to America” promises big spending and tax cuts, as well as a repeal of the health-reform law, in direct opposition to the goals of the Obama administration and most Democrats. To gauge the election results and what they mean for pharmacy retailing, Drug Store News interviewed Steve Anderson, president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

December 1, 2010

Independent pharmacists are hailing a move in Congress to exempt pharmacies from burdensome accounting requirements imposed by the Federal Trade Commission.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Independent pharmacists are hailing a move in Congress to exempt pharmacies from burdensome accounting requirements imposed by the Federal Trade Commission.

November 30, 2010

The Senate on Tuesday afforded the Food and Drug Administration new powers in regulating food, according to published reports, with the passing of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 73-25 (with two abstentions).

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday afforded the Food and Drug Administration new powers in regulating food, according to published reports, with the passing of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 73-25 (with two abstentions).

The legislation would grant the FDA new powers to recall foods and increase inspections.

October 20, 2010

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores emphasized the importance of pharmacy-patient interaction at this...

WASHINGTON The National Association of Chain Drug Stores emphasized the importance of pharmacy-patient interaction at this year's Senate Health Fair, held last week in Washington, D.C.

September 29, 2010

Two groups representing the nation's pharmacies lauded the passage of the Secure and Responsible Drug...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Two groups representing the nation's pharmacies lauded the passage of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act by the Senate and House of Representatives.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association announced their support of the bill, which fosters collaboration between pharmacies, consumers and law enforcement for the safe disposal of unused drugs. The National Community Pharmacist Association developed its own voluntary prescription drug-disposal program, called Dispose My Meds.

September 26, 2010

As I write this column, it’s the final Super Tuesday primaries in eight states, including...

As I write this column, it’s the final Super Tuesday primaries in eight states, including here in New York, before the big mid-term elections in November. And if the Sunday morning news shows are right, the Democrats are in for a spanking. Given the present state of the economy, the stagnant job market and the American electorate’s need to find someone to blame, it’s really kind of inevitable.

September 26, 2010

Speaking with one voice, the nation’s largest chain and independent pharmacy groups gave a thumbs-up...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Speaking with one voice, the nation’s largest chain and independent pharmacy groups gave a thumbs-up Monday to recent efforts by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., to preserve the right of military members and their dependents to obtain their prescriptions through a retail pharmacy without penalty.

September 26, 2010

For all its successes, the generic drug industry has had a lot to worry about...

September 22, 2010

A group representing the nation's independent pharmacies heralded two pieces of legislation that pertain to...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. A group representing the nation's independent pharmacies heralded two pieces of legislation that pertain to the safe disposal of prescription drugs.

The National Community Pharmacists Association announced its support of legislative efforts made by the House of Representatives and the Senate, which passed their respective drug disposal bills Wednesday and last month. NCPA also added that it was “a giant step forward to allow for controlled substances, which had previously been precluded from any disposal programs, to be included.”

September 20, 2010

A coalition of lobbying groups urged the Senate on Monday to review and pass pending...

WASHINGTON A coalition of lobbying groups urged the Senate on Monday to review and pass pending food safety legislation before November elections.

The Food Marketing Institute, which backed the bipartisan bill, issued a statement Monday that the organization was "disappointed" that the Senate elected not to review the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act before the midterm elections. The bill passed in the House of Representatives last year.

 

September 12, 2010

This year’s third annual Retail Clinician Education Congress, which was held at the whimsically themed...

September 9, 2010

The Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus, in cooperation with two trade associations representing the dietary supplement...

August 9, 2010

Moving rapidly to ward off at least one financial threat to millions of Americans and...

August 5, 2010

Once again, the Democratic Party and the Obama administration are taking point on a relief...

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Once again, the Democratic Party and the Obama administration are taking point on a relief plan for long-term or recently unemployed and underemployed Americans hit hard by the recession and the still-dismal job market. But their efforts to extend the program that provides additional emergency Medicaid funding to the states could provide additional relief to pharmacies that serve Medicaid patients, too.

August 5, 2010

This year's third annual Retail Clinician Education Congress, hosted by Retail Clinician magazine in conjunction...

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT This year's third annual Retail Clinician Education Congress, hosted by Retail Clinician magazine in conjunction with the Convenient Care Association, was pivotal, as the event attracted nearly 500 nurse practitioners and was held during the first official National Convention Care Clinic Week, which was created to support the goals and ideals of raising awareness for the need of accessible, cost-effective, quality healthcare options in the United States. To top it off, Lt. Col. Corina M. Barrow, Army Nurse Corps, Nurse Corps Detailee for Sen.

August 4, 2010

The passage of drug-disposal legislation has drawn a response from an organization representing the nation's...