- Purdue Pharma rejects request from New Hampshire attorney general for information on suspected diversion of OxyContin (latimes.com)
The top law enforcement official in New Hampshire...accused the manufacturer of OxyContin...of stonewalling demands for information the company collects about suspected criminal trafficking of its painkiller..."They are just refusing to turn over documents," state Atty. Gen. Joseph Foster said of drugmaker Purdue Pharma..."On one hand, they tell us they have nothing to hide and they are doing everything appropriately, but then why are they fighting so hard not to turn over this information?"…In refusing to comply with the...subpoena, Purdue cited longstanding objections to the state’s use of a private law firm in an ongoing investigation of the company and other opioid makers…company lawyers have said Purdue is willing to provide records to the attorney general and his lawyers, but on the condition they not share them with the private attorneys, who they have suggested have a financial incentive to wrest multimillion-dollar judgments from the company in civil suits.
- The co-pay card debate simmers, as payers push back (mmm-online.com)
Any program that puts more greenbacks in patients' pockets in this post-recession economy has to be viewed as a good one, right? Alas, it depends on the person you ask...Devised to shoulder some of the cost burden of prescription drugs, manufacturer co-pay card programs have been tied to improved adherence rates and reduced barriers to the discounted medications. At the same time, payers — insurers and PBMs alike — are crying foul...While some industry veterans sing the praises of co-pay assistance programs, others are eager for a more evenhanded and efficient solution that will achieve the same degree of cost savings. In fact, the co-pay card appears to be stirring the controversy pot more than ever. Indeed, the question seems to have become: What will make it boil over?
- Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Sold as Counterfeits in Deadly New Trend (realclearhealth.com)
In March and April, 56 people in the Sacramento area were hospitalized after taking Norco brand hydrocodone pills. Fifteen died...But, as we discovered, these pills were not pharmaceutical hydrocodone at all. They were counterfeits containing fentanyl that were purchased on the street. Fentanyl is an opioid far more powerful than hydrocodone...the distribution of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has risen to unprecedented levels...These...substances are generally formulated to look like others drugs – heroin or oxycodone tablets…These entirely synthetic, illicitly made "designer drugs" are designed to work on the same receptors in the body as drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine or heroin. The adulteration of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and street drugs with synthetic opioids is arguably the most worrying new trend...
- Illinois attorney general sues Insys over fentanyl drug marketing (reuters.com)
Illinois' attorney general...sued Insys Therapeutics Inc, accusing it of deceptively marketing and selling an addictive fentanyl-based medication, intended to treat cancer pain, to doctors for off-label uses...The lawsuit...comes as Insys faces a number of state and investigations involving its drug Subsys (fentanyl sublingual) as U.S. authorities seek to combat a national opioid abuse epidemic...This drug company's desire for increased profits led it to disregard patients' health and push addictive opioids for non-FDA approved purposes…the lawsuit seeks to bar Insys from selling its products in Illinois and impose financial penalties on the company...
- Walgreens to partner with pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics (reuters.com)
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc said it would partner with pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics to reduce drug procurement costs...The companies will combine their central specialty pharmacy and mail order service businesses and introduce a new retail pharmacy network that will give Prime Therapeutics' customers access to Walgreens' pharmacy network...Walgreens...already has partnerships with PBMs such as Express Scripts Holding Co...and UnitedHealth Group Inc's OptumRx...Walgreens is also in talks to acquire Rite Aid Corp, which will give it ownership of Rite Aid's PBM, EnvisionRx...
- Sandoval’s prescription drug abuse summit begins Wednesday (reviewjournal.com)Drug summit develops blueprint to combat opioid abuse in Nevada (reviewjournal.com)
Gov. Brian Sandoval has called physicians, politicians and law enforcement officials to a summit meeting this week to address the national opioid epidemic’s impact on Nevada...The Prescription Drug Abuse Summit...at the MGM Grand will focus on issues that include oversight of pain management clinics, physicians’ drug prescription practices and alternatives to opioid medications..."Nevada has established policies that have become national models in prescription drug monitoring and ongoing coordination between the public and private sector. I am proud of what we have accomplished, but there is more work to be done," Sandoval said...Featured speakers at the summit will include U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin…
- Parents remain leery of schools that require HPV vaccination (statnews.com)
...the HPV vaccine is still a hard sell...A new study (funded by Merck, which sells the Gardasil HPV vaccine) finds that only 21 percent of parents believe that a law requiring vaccination for attending school is a good idea, and 54 percent disagreed with the notion of such a requirement for school entry altogether. What might make them change their minds? Well, 57 percent reported that they could live with the requirement, but only if there is an opt-out provision... the vaccines have been plagued by numerous reports of side effects. The issue prompted European regulators to investigate although they did not find evidence the vaccines cause chronic pain or dizziness. Earlier this month, meanwhile, 63 young women in Japan filed a class-action lawsuit seeking $9 million in compensation from the central government and the manufacturers over side effects, pain in various parts of their bodies, difficulty walking, and impaired eyesight…
- California court hangs out a welcome sign: Drug makers can be sued here (statnews.com)
In a closely watched decision, the California Supreme Court ruled 4-3...that hundreds of out-of-state residents had the right to sue Bristol-Myers Squibb in the state court system over side effects caused by one of its drugs...At issue was the question of jurisdiction, which can be used to determine where a lawsuit may be filed. This particular ruling clarified the extent to which the drug maker needed to have a presence in California in order to be sued by people from Texas, Ohio, and 33 other states, who claim they were harmed by the Plavix blood thinner...Although Bristol-Myers may not be headquartered in California, the court determined the company conducts enough business — sales, marketing, distribution, and R&D — for state courts to serve as a venue for lawsuits filed by out-of-state residents...the ruling applies only to this particular case, the court may have hung a welcome sign that invites still more people from around the country to file lawsuits in California against drug makers...That’s because California state courts are seen as more hospitable to people who bring lawsuits against drug makers...
- $7.5M donation to pave way for Renown pediatrics residency program (rgj.com)
A multi-million-dollar foundation donation...is not only the largest gift in the history of Renown Health but will also pave the way for a pediatrics residency program at the Reno regional medical center...The William N. Pennington Foundation donated $7.5 million to Renown Children’s Hospital to bolster pediatric care staffing...The money will be used to bring in several pediatrics specialists...a pediatric emergency medicine physician, with a pediatric neurologist and pulmonologist...Being able to establish a residency program with the University of Nevada School of Medicine...is also an important addition to the community...the university will be able to apply for a pediatrics residency program within 24 to 36 months. With Northern Nevada seeing huge growth once again as well as a corresponding increase in patient demand for services, access to healthcare remains a key problem for the area...
- This Week in Managed Care: August 27, 2016 (ajmc.com)
Sara Belanger with The American Journal of Managed Care. Welcome to This Week in Managed Care from the Managed Markets News Network...