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When US lawmakers convened a hearing last month to discuss the pricing of prescription drugs, it was the testimony of Martin Shkreli...that garnered the headlines. But the hearing also looked at an issue that...could make drugs more expensive for far more people…The impetus was October’s announcement from Walgreens...that it was buying Rite Aid...Critics said that would create a drugstore duopoly with CVS, the market leader. They didn’t, however, look as hard at another effect of the deal, which likely will bring about the final collapse of the industry tasked with keeping prescription-drug costs under control...Buried inside Rite Aid is a bundle of pharmacy benefit managers...Walgreens says that acquiring Rite Aid’s PBMs would help it compete with arch-rival CVS, which controls a large and extremely profitable PBM called Caremark...combining pharmacies and PBMs under one roof creates a conflict of interest. It can restrict patients’ access to certain prescription drugs, and can prevent independent drugstores from competing fairly for new customers...As "competition decreases,"..."prices are going to increase. That’s what we’re finding now." If Walgreens successfully acquires Rite Aid and its PBMs, one of the industry’s last remaining constraints on drug prices will disappear.

Jon Roth, CEO of the California Pharmacists Association, explains how pharmacists can help prepare their patients for natural disasters.

Benzer Pharmacy, listed in the top 30% of fastest growing companies by Inc. magazine in 2015, announced... that it is looking to expand the reach of its more than 50 locations in nine states by offering a franchise opportunity to independents...Benzer Pharmacy is now offering a franchise opportunity for those looking to start a new pharmacy and a conversion opportunity for pharmacies currently in operation...To thrive in this industry, independent pharmacy owners need to collaborate under one unique yet individual brand...Benzer Specialty Pharmacy offers a hub and spoke specialty model for independent pharmacies. The pharmacy is currently in process of getting accredited with the Accreditation Commission for health Care for specialty pharmacy...

Diversion of controlled substances in the hospital setting can be detected with relative ease using current auditing software. But to confirm and correct diversion calls for close collaboration between pharmacy and nursing...The risks of diversions are not only to our patients, but to our employees and our institutions...Detecting diversion and addressing the problem calls for a collaborative process, with buy-in and investment from all stakeholders. Diversion is not just a pharmacy issue...Uncovering drug diversion clearly needs nursing support...the cost of diversion is more than just the dollar value. There is the erosion of reputation. The perception that diversion is easy at an institution is likely to lead to greater diversion...

...Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services spends $20 billion a year for drugs under Part B, which are those given in doctors’ offices and hospital outpatient centers. Many cancer treatments are provided that way, as are some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, macular degeneration...Under a proposed rule, different methods would be tried in selected geographic areas over a five-year test period. Some of these experiments would begin this year, with others added in 2017...Dubbed "value-based pricing," such largely unproven ideas are the latest tactics being tried to slow growth in prescription drug spending amid rising public alarm about drug prices...The goal is to test whether alternative approaches will lead to better value...There is no perfect payment system, they all have upsides and downsides...What we don’t want to do is create a world where doctors only prescribe the cheapest stuff even if not in the interest of the patient...Here are four concepts the government is investigating:

1. Cut drug reimbursements for doctors and outpatient hospital centers.
2. Level payments.
3. Tie payments to effectiveness.
4. Cut patients’ out-of-pocket costs.

Hoping to save a few bucks on your prescription, or just trying to avoid a trip to the drugstore?...While mail order can be a good option, it can also be a hassle, and savings aren’t guaranteed...using mail order can be easy, it could lead to communication errors or safety problems...The problem...is that medications may not arrive on time, which can be dangerous for people who rely on lifesaving drugs...The opposite problem can happen, too: Mail order pharmacies might auto-renew your prescriptions without confirming you’re still taking a drug or whether your dosage has changed. When possible, pick a service that will alert you before they ship out any medication...Medicare Part D drug plans require mail order pharmacies to get the okay from a patient or caregiver before shipping a new prescription or refill...Whether you shop in store or by mail order, once you find a pharmacy that fits your needs, our medical consultants strongly recommend you fill all your prescriptions there whenever possible. That way one pharmacy has a complete record of what you’re taking and can flag any potentially dangerous interactions. That might not be feasible, say, if you get your blood pressure drug through mail order and your doctor prescribes a post-surgery pain medicine that you need right away. When that happens, let each pharmacy know all the medications you're taking and update them regularly on any changes.

Based on the latest update to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s Manual of Policies and Procedures, the Food and Drug Administration is looking to create more competition among generics — particularly for generics made by a single manufacturer... The updated MAPP outlines situations in which abbreviated new drug applications submitted by generics manufacturers will be eligible for an expedited review process, including submissions related to drug shortages, and legal requirements. Among them is the potential for expedited review for ANDAs related to what the agency calls "sole-source drugs" — drugs whose generic is manufactured by a single company...Submissions for drug products for which there is only approved product listed in the Prescription Drug Product List…of FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations...and for which there are no blocking patents or exclusivities may receive expedited review...

Mike Glaicar, Business Development: Pharmacy Times...(PTNN) This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

Theodore Pikoulas, PharmD, BCPP, the Associate Director of Behavioral Health Pharmacy Programs for Community Care of North Carolina, discusses the roles that pharmacists can play on interdisciplinary health care teams.

Sullivan University College of Pharmacy plans to hold its inaugural Pharmacy Camp for high school students in the classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018 who are interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy. The deadline to apply is April 18...Students will be able to stay on campus and experience the world of pharmacy and college...through classroom and lab activities...The Pharmacy Camp will enable students to experience the true reality, excitement and opportunities of attending college and pursuing a career in pharmacy...