HCC Pharmacy Business Solutions

Bermudan Pharmacists Assure Customers: "Your Prescription Drugs are Safe"

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Over the last month, pharmacists in Bermuda have become increasingly aware of customers’ concerns over the drugs that they are receiving from the pharmacies. This could be because of recent changes in Bermuda regulations, which allow medicines to be imported to Bermuda from a wider variety of countries. Many customers were expressing concerns over generic drugs that were being brought in from

Program Would Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, the term “drug abuse” has been reframed. Originally referring only to those drugs that could be found on the streets, drug abuse now also includes drugs found everyday in your medicine cabinet. Because of this, pharmacies and doctors offices are becoming more prominent sources of the problem.Between 2007 and 2010, the rate of admissions into treatment programs for

Pharmacy Data-Mining

2011-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Supreme Court struck down a case that would have made it illegal for data-mining companies to sell physician’s prescribing information to pharmaceutical manufactures for use in marketing. While you would think this would be considered a win for the majority of the pharmaceutical industry, some independent pharmacists say they are against the use of physician data mining.There are

Protecting the Neighborhood Pharmacist

2011-08-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Across the seas in Tel Aviv, a debate is heating up over pharmacists’ rights. The Ministry of Health recently claimed that a private pharmacy in the Israeli city was providing customers with drugs that did not meet the ministry standards, shocking its customers. The story of the pharmacy in Tel Aviv brings up questions about pharmacists, family physicians, and drug companies that span not only

Proposed Pharmacy Bill Could be Big Win for Small Pharmacies

2011-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, US Representative Tom Marino held a press conference in order to introduce legislation that could be considered a big victory for small, independent pharmacies. The HR-1946 bill empowers independent pharmacies in negotiations with pharmacy benefit managers so that they can negotiate the most important terms that affect prescription drug prices that most consumers and insurers are

Technology Advances Give You Deals on Prescription Drugs

2011-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

More and more pharmacy customers around the nation are taking advantage of Zip-Price, a process available online through ZipcodeMeds, searches discounted prescription prices at neighborhood retail pharmacies. Zip-Price uses a multi-pronged price search that examines both published discount lists and unpublished secondary deals. It also can generate customized price requests that will pop up on

Links Found Between High-Dose Simvastatin and Myopathy

2011-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, Merck announced that it would be making changes to the prescribing information for its drugs Zocor (simvastatin) and Vytorin (ezetimine/simvastatin) after recent studies linked it to an increased risk of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis. The increased risk of myopathy was found in those who were using simvastatin 80 mg compared with both lower doses of the drug and other similarly

Pharmacies Increase Popularity in Flu Vaccination

2011-07-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

During the 2010-2011 flu season, there was a rise of supermarkets and pharmacies as a popular place to receive flu vaccinations. A report by the CDC in Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report stated that while nearly 40% of adults still received their vaccinations at a doctor’s office, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other similar stores came in second with over 18% of the vaccinations being held

Drug Shortages

2011-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

It seems that drug shortages have been getting worse and worse over the last couple years, and there is no end in sight. Drug shortages are caused by a number of factors, including slow production of less-profitable generics, the consolidation of pharmaceutical companies, snags in manufacturing and crackdowns in regulations on companies. The University of Utah’s Drug Information service has

Verizon Apps Help Find Cheapest Meds

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions have teamed up to provide a mobile application for BlackBerry and Android smart phones though its V Cast apps to help their users locate the best lowest-cost prescription drugs.Medco Health Solutions provides pharmacy services to more than 65 million customers. In order to access the smart phone application, users must first register at the

FDA Pulls Avandia from Shelves

2011-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last month, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced that starting in November 2011 the diabetes drug Avandia would no longer be sold at retail pharmacies. This is because the controversial drug poses an increased risk of cardiovascular issues to its patients. For those who have safely used the drug in the past, they can enroll in the Avandia-Rosiglitazone Medicines Access

Pharmacies Advertising on Google

2011-06-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

Google has been warned, but have you? Online pharmaceutical sales is big business – research firm eMarketer estimates that pharmacy advertising generates a revenue of around $1 billion for search engines. It is quick and easy to find the drugs you might need online, but some of these online pharmacies are questionable. A study done by the National

Community Pharmacists Help Save Money and Improve Health

2011-05-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Currently, in the United States, community pharmacies employ over 315,000 people, and of that group, 63,000 of them are pharmacists. Additionally, community pharmacies are responsible for the dispensing of somewhere around 40 percent of all retail drugs and prescriptions. These are neighborhood pharmacists who have a substantial hand in our local healthcare systems, and recently, they’ve begun

Amendments Expected to House Bill 7095

2011-05-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

House Bill 7095 has recently been passed by the Florida House and is on its way to the Senate. But it isn’t expected to pass right away. There is a bill that is favored by the Senate that some think might lead to an amendment to the HB 7095. Once it has been amended with provisions from the Senate Bill 818, it will be sent back once again for Florida House approval. The questions on everyone’s

Tornadoes Destroy Alabama Medicine Supplies

2011-05-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Alabama pharmacists benefited from the issues dealt with during Hurricane Katrina and had a plan in place to help those who need daily medication after the deadly tornadoes that decimated the state. With their medicine supplies swept away and destroyed, victims who survived and require their regular, chronic and prescription medicines are struggling to find a helping hand. But methods have been

Billing Shift to Veteran's Third Party Presciptions

2011-05-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

A new process is being put into effect by the Department of Veteran Affairs that will alter billing for third party insurers. While the shift won’t change the Veteran’s co-pay, it will affect the billing process associated with outpatient prescription medications for conditions that are not related to the Veteran’s military service.In other words, if the Veteran requires medication for a

Express Scripts says 3.6% Rise in Drug Spending Last Year

2011-04-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

According to an annual drug trend report put together by Express Scripts, there was a 3.6% overall spending increase on pharmaceutical drugs last year. It may seem like a lot, but compared to a 6.4% increase from the year before, many believe healthcare costs are finally ebbing. Less money is being put into promoting ineffective drugs, while less money is necessary for the truly beneficial drugs

College of Pharmacy to Open at UGA & Phoebe

2011-04-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

A beautiful new clinical campus opened up this month after leaders of the UGA and Albany’s Phoebe Putney Hospital teamed up to improve healthcare in the region. The motion will provide better medical education and increase pharmacy management in the greater Albany area.The partnership between the hospital and the College of Pharmacy was established with the intent of bettering the currently

High Blood Pressure Not Being Treated Effectively

2011-03-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

According to CDC Vital Signs, one third of American adults who suffer from high cholesterol and 50% of those same patients are not receiving effective treatment. But how could that be? The majority of individuals with high blood pressure or high cholesterol have access to effective medical support at a lower than average cost, but many aren’t taking advantage of it.Cardiovascular disease is one

Cooperation between Medical and Pharmacy Benefits - Lowers Costs and Improves Health

2011-03-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

A study by CIGNA in cooperation with HealthPartners showed that people who bundle their medical and pharmacy benefits and are supplied by only one healthcare company are more likely to improve their overall health and lower their yearly medical bills.CIGNA indicated that one of the best and only ways to lower the cost of health care is to work against bad health. By keeping people healthy and

Help for the Common Cold - Try Zinc

2011-03-07T12:44:00.001-08:00

Although there is no cure for the common cold, there can be a way to help manage it. If taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, Zinc lozenge or syrup will help reduce the severity and duration of the common cold. It is generally thought that Zinc will hold back rhinoviral replication giving your body’s immune system a better chance of fighting it off.A recent study published in Cochran

FDA Approves Abstral to Stop Misuse

2011-02-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

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Promising Multiyear Advances in Health-Systems

2011-02-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

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Blood Pressure Monitor Released for iDevices

2011-02-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

New Medicare Gap Coverage Discount Program from CMS

2011-01-20T05:29:00.000-08:00

One of the main provisions of the Affordable Care Act that kicked off on the first of January when Medicare recipients who received Part D but do not benefit from the low-income grant “Extra Help” started to receive a discount of 50% under the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program with the purchase of applicable drugs. Seniors benefiting from Medicare also were granted a 7% bump up in coverage