Content about healthcare

PARSIPPANY, N.J. —GlaxoSmithKline in April announced the launch of its new Nicorette Mini Lozenge, a smaller smoking cessation lozenge that dissolves three times faster than stop-smoking lozenges currently on the market. The lozenges will be line-priced with existing smoking cessation products and will be sold as three small vials each containing 27 lozenges.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Emergency room visits have been -- and continue to be -- on the rise, and if the recently passed healthcare reform is not coupled with an aggressive game plan to deliver healthcare services to the newly insured, the ER will continue to be the first place many seek care. One way to ease the pressure on overburdened ERs: Establish more retail-based clinics.

Last issue I wrote about the 9-in.-by-12-in. box on my desk, in which I keep my own personal copy of Congress’ Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Lately, I have been pondering something heavier than that 25-lb. box of paper. What would health reform look like if I could light it on fire and start all over again?

I think I would take a page from what works about specialty pharmacy. I was reminded of this as I read the findings from two recent surveys that CVS Caremark released in April, about a week apart from each other, around the topic of adherence.

LANCASTER, Pa. Lancaster General Health, a regional healthcare system, recently opened two retail clinics at Walmart supercenters in Pennsylvania, with a third slated to open in June in a Giant food store.

The first retail location, known as Lancaster General Health WellCare Express, opened on April 26 at the Walmart Supercenter in Parkesburg. The second WellCare Express location opened on May 10 at the Walmart supercenter in Lancaster. On June 14, a third WellCare Express clinic will open in Giant Food in Lititz.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. The Humana Center for Health and Well-Being opened here on May 10, bringing together multiple health-related services for Humana associates in one location, including healthcare services provided by CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic.

CLEVELAND Giant Eagle and University Hospitals last week announced a joint effort to open the first of four walk-in retail health clinics through clinic operator FastCare, located in Giant Eagle supermarkets across northeast Ohio.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Reps. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Mike Rogers, R-Mich, have introduced the Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act, a bill that exempts small pharmacies from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ final competitive bidding program for Medicare Part B durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. With a solid team in place and the strong support of parent company Walgreens, Peter Miller, Take Care Health Systems co-founder, president and CEO, once again is letting his entrepreneurial spirit fly and is preparing to embark on a new journey. Drug Store News has learned that Miller will be leaving Take Care Health Systems at the end of May to pursue a new entrepreneurial venture.