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Tweaking the system...Nevada’s legislative audit division issued nine recommendations for the state’s medical marijuana program:

• Better verification of authenticity of physicians who recommend marijuana
• More monitoring of physicians who write those recommendations
• Ensure patients reason’s for growing at home are legitimate
• Eliminate the background check for medical marijuana card applicants
• Develop controls so dispensaries do not sell to patients with expired cards
• Better safeguard sensitive information
• Develop a cleaner and more organized record keeping system

A report from the University of Nevada...shows Elko County is struggling to meet all the health care needs of its residents...Dr. John Packham presented the findings to the county’s Health Board...Packham says Elko County has "about a third of the providers for mental health as compared to the state average." He says other rural areas have seen these provider shortages but they’re more severe in Elko County due to the county’s population growth...the county is unique in that it has a younger population and doesn’t have some of the same health issues as other rural countries...According to the report, about 25 percent of the county’s population was on Medicaid and Medicare last year.

Nevadans dismayed by soaring drug prices told lawmakers...the state should take unprecedented action to curb costs...A coalition of hotel and casino owners, union leaders and Democratic lawmakers are attempting to mandate pharmaceutical companies refund people for overpriced American insulin...The bill targets diabetes medications...would require drugmakers to reimburse Nevada patients and insurers for what they pay above the highest price in other developed countries for the same prescriptions. Drugmakers would also have to reimburse people if American insulin prices increase more than inflation would suggest they should...Senate Bill 265 would require manufacturers to disclose the costs of all research, materials, manufacturing and administrative expenses that go into producing drugs for diabetics. Additionally, it would force them to notify government health agencies and insurance companies 90 days before they increase prices above the preceding year’s inflation rate...Nevada’s proposal would also have the state license all pharmaceutical sales representatives...Implementing that program in Nevada would cost about $350,000 and upkeep would cost $125,000 annually after that, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services...

Elko County encourages residents to thank their health care provider...County commissioners proclaimed March 30 as Health Professional Recognition Day...Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi requested the proclamation..."Really and truly the health care professional, with the shortage that we see throughout the nation, can go anywhere they want to," he said. "They are a highly sought after resource, yet the people that we have here choose to be here and provide services. They are loyal, hardworking men and women who dedicate their lives to helping people feel better and provide excellent treatment. I think it’s really fitting that we take an opportunity to just pause and reflect for a moment about their contribution to our community, and just say thank you. Another big part of recruitment, in my mind, is retention. I think if the health care field understands that we appreciate them, I think that is a small step that goes a long way."

An expanded and more robust partnership might be on the horizon for UNLV and the Cleveland Clinic..."We’re definitely in talks with them about what we can do, and how much more we would like to do," said Barbara Atkinson, dean of UNLV’s new medical school. "It’s a great opportunity for both sides. There are some real synergies there."...Atkinson said she would like to see medical students rotate through the Cleveland Clinic’s neurology program...The talks will continue April 27…

There are a lot of health insurance bills at state legislature this session, as there is great concern about what will happen if Congress does "Repeal and Replace" ObamaCare...After 7 years of the Affordable Care Act, we’re all kind of used to the bill that has provided subsidized insurance to about 80,000 Nevadans and expanded Medicaid coverage to about 300,000...Chair of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee, Mike Sprinkle of Sparks, has a bill that would remove the income limits on the state’s Medicaid program and open it up to Nevadans who want to buy. People would be able to buy insurance on the Silver State exchange for a certain amount, while current Medicaid recipients could continue to receive government assistance through the program...I was opposed to expanding Medicaid in Nevada, as I was concerned about the cost to taxpayers. But maybe its expansion is actually helping lower costs for all of us. I’m not totally sold, but I’m more open to ideas like Assemblyman Sprinkle’s after a few years of seeing it actually enacted...By doing what is "morally" right — helping low-income and working class families access healthcare — may turn out to be fiscally right. But if you disagree, bring it on!

Businesses with 50 or more employees would have to provide paid sick leave under a bill heard...by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Labor and Energy...Under Senate Bill 196 sponsored by Democratic Majority Leader Aaron Ford of Las Vegas, workers would earn one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked, and could access the benefit after being on the job 90 days...An employer could limit accrual to 48 hours per year, and cap usage at 24 hours per year. The time could also be used to care for a child, a relative or attend medical appointments...There are exceptions for temporary employees, construction workers, and employees covered under bargaining agreements. It also exempts religious organizations, nonprofits and private membership clubs from compliance...The bill was opposed by the Las Vegas Metro, Henderson and Reno-Sparks chambers of commerce, who complained the requirement would be onerous for small businesses and lead to increased costs and paperwork...Paul Moradkhan of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce said many members already offer paid leave and they worry about the “cumulative effect” of bills being considered in the Legislature will have on their businesses.

• Newsletter Goes Electronic
• More on Opiate Addiction
• DEA Changes Registration Renewal Process
• ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment for Community/Ambulatory Pharmacy
• CDC Publishes Resource to Foster Use of JCPP Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process
• FDA Issues Final Guidance on Repackaging Drugs by Pharmacies and Registered
• Outsourcing Facilities
• CriticalPoint Launches QP503A CertificationProgram for Sterile Compounding in 2017
• PTCB Suspends Implementation of Planned 2020 Accredited Education Requirement for Pharmacy Technicians
• ASOP Global Spreads Awareness About Illegal Online Drug Sellers and Counterfeit Medications
• New Interactive Map Tracks Pharmacist Vaccination Laws
• PMP Data Submission Accuracy
• Attention Pharmacy Managers!

A Bay Area startup guru (Shawn Kernes, chief technology officer, StubHub) is gearing up to launch an on-demand mental health care app to reduce the cost and increase the availability of therapy across the country — and he's doing it from South Lake Tahoe...Enter: Larkr, an app designed to connect patients with certified mental health care professionals through video chat...There are 50 million people in the U.S. that are in need of some level of mental health care, and only about 20 million of them are actually receiving it...And in small towns with limited resources, it's even more difficult to find a practitioner when you need one...not to mention the cost when you do...By removing some of the costs associated with therapy, like office space and answering services, Larkr charges $85 for a 50-minute session and offers a simplified process through the app for submitting for reimbursement from insurance companies...Clients can book recurring appointments, get reminders for appointments, and have video therapy sessions from anywhere there is internet access...South Lake Tahoe is also a perfect example of the type of town that needs a service like Larkr...Kernes has plans to secure a physical office in South Lake Tahoe and hire a larger team as the startup progresses. The beta launch of the Larkr iPhone app is scheduled for July, with the full launch of the iPhone and Android apps slated for September...

Dr. Henri Wetselaar, MD, 93, and David A. Litwin, 58, were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of oxycodone and other controlled substances, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada…Wetselaar was a Nevada physician practicing as a specialist in pain management. Litwin was...his medical assistant...(they) conspired with each other and local drug dealers to distribute the prescription drugs in and around Las Vegas. Wetselaar prescribed large amounts of...oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax and Soma, to persons for no legitimate medical purpose...Wetselaar and Litwin were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances,...distribution of controlled substances,...money laundering and structuring of money transactions.