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..doctors receive big money from the pharmaceutical industry is no surprise. The new data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows that such interactions are widespread, with not only doctors, but thousands of dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors....

when options are slim, a continuous balancing act takes place…day between prescribers, payers, manufacturers and specialty pharmacies...By employing a methodology that includes product awareness, formulary understanding, co-pay assistance management and REMS participation, a specialty pharmacy can successfully help patients access high cost specialty therapies.

pharmacists can take the lead in improving care transitions,.. for heart failure patients.
They monitored for compliance with 3 core HF measures:
(1) Did patients receive discharge instructions?
(2) Was left ventricular systolic (LVS) evaluated?
(3) Was an ACE inhibitor or ARB prescribed for LVS dysfunction?

1. No chain pharmacies allowed

2. Generic substitution

3. Non-controlled prescription expiration

4. Prescriptive authority

5. Technician-to-pharmacist ratios

6. No Rx means no pseudoephedrine

State investigation, internal documents and former employees bring to light concerns about shortcomings at Tahoe Pacific Hospital.

-Medical missteps

-Equipment failures

-Untrained staff

-'I ring and ring and ring'

-Not enough nurses

blood cancer treatments carry a high price tag that prevents them from being considered cost effective… drug costs have grown exponentially...new drugs coming to market soon that are almost all priced above $100,000 per year of treatment. This is becoming very unaffordable and unsustainable."

CEO of Avella Specialty Pharmacy Rebecca M. Shanahan, Esq., discusses how specialty pharmacies can best manage the rising cost of specialty drugs to improve outcomes for patients.

Health spending in employer-based market is trending downwards... Growth in health spending is expected to decline slightly in 2016 to 6.5%, a step below the 6.8% trend projected for 2015,...

high-cost medications...will drive up health care inflation…issue of drug pricing presents an opportunity for pharmacists to get more involved with prescribers and patients in promoting cost-effective medication therapy...another reason for pharmacists to become an active part of the health care team.

market for biosimilars could hit $20 billion by the end of the year… biologics currently comprise between 17–20% of the pharmaceutical arena, with a value of nearly $200 billion… biologic drugs may replace 70% of chemical drugs…the 30% to 50% reduction in biosimilar prices when compared with branded biologics may.. generate considerable…savings