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Nicole Crisano, PTNN. This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

Laura Joszt, assistant managing editor at The American Journal of Managed Care. Welcome to This Week in Managed Care from the Managed Markets News Network

The battle over rising drug prices has become a full-blown he-said-she-said...Drug companies have pointed the finger at middlemen in the health-care system, saying they not only benefit from rising drug prices but contribute to their increases...Those middlemen — namely, pharmacy benefits managers (or PBMs) — have said the only parties responsible for drugs' list prices are the manufacturers...So who's right?...In a study released today, the PBM lobbying group, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, says an analysis it commissioned revealed no correlation between drug prices and rebates paid back to PBMs...The drug industry's lobby, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America...disagrees...

Nicole Crisano, PTNN. This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

Governor Brian Sandoval's Office announced...that the state will receive a grant of more than $5.6 million to help combat opioid addiction...Nevada has received notice from United States Health and Human Services Secretary...Nevada will receive a $5,663,328 grant to combat opioid addiction. The funding, which is the first of two rounds provided for the 21st Century Cures Act, will be provided through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration…“I would like to thank the Trump Administration, specifically Secretary Price and the members of our federal delegation who supported the 21st Century Cures Act. This funding will provide significant resources aimed at combating the opioid crisis, a sweeping epidemic which is hurting families across Nevada and our nation,” said Governor Brian Sandoval. “Nevada is committed to working collaboratively with medical professionals, stakeholders, and community advocates as we continue to tackle the significant health, social and economic consequences of prescription drug abuse.”

US pharmaceutical companies...are...very vulnerable to increasing political pressure from the Trump Administration. The good news is there are actions these companies can take…

• Pharma’s Vulnerability - Small number of US jobs vs. large US revenues...pharma companies’ largest market and largest profit pool is the US. But only a small percentage of the jobs it offers are in the US. The Trump Administration has already been vocal about returning jobs to the US...Pharmaceutical companies have taken full advantage of offshoring...The Administration can apply pricing pressure in the US, to get these companies to commit to move work back from offshore…
• What Can Pharmaceutical Companies Do In The Face Of This Pressure?...pharmaceutical firms will need to demonstrate substantial job growth in the US...this (is) possible without destroying their margins...Disruptive digital technologies and capabilities are now mature enough to allow them to migrate work from the traditional low-cost labor locations to the US into far more efficient, automated, digital processes.

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

Utah pharmacists will start putting red stickers on bottles of opioids that warn patients about the risk of overdose and addiction as part of a new awareness campaign to combat painkiller abuses and deaths…The Utah Department of Health's month long campaign kicks off Monday and is meant to encourage dialogue between pharmacists and patients about opioid risks…The new initiative is a collaborative effort by the health department, the Utah Pharmacy Association and the Utah Department of Commerce…The red stickers - which read "Caution: Opioid. Risk of Overdose and Addiction" - will prompt patients to ask pharmacists questions about their potentially addictive medications, said Greg Jones, chairman of the Utah Pharmacy Licensing Board...

Nicole Crisano, PTNN. This weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.

Laura Joszt, assistant managing editor at The American Journal of Managed Care. Welcome to This Week in Managed Care from the Managed Markets News Network