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U.S. pharmacy chains are preparing a big push for flu vaccinations when the season kicks off in October, hoping to curb tens of thousands of serious cases that could coincide with a second wave of coronavirus infections...CVS Health Corp...said it is working to ensure it has vaccine doses available for an anticipated surge in customers seeking shots to protect against seasonal influenza...Rival chain Rite Aid Corp has ordered 40 percent more vaccine doses to meet the expected demand. Walmart Inc and Walgreens Boots Alliance said they also are expecting more Americans to seek these shots...READ MORE

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy issued a new rule that no prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine could be dispensed without a diagnosis, then changed their tune...On March 20...issued a new rule that no prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine or azithromycin could be dispensed without a diagnosis “consistent with evidence for its use.”...Over six weeks after the original rule was published, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy has recently changed its guidance to pharmacists...The website now says, “The rule does not prevent a physician from prescribing one of these drugs for an off-label use. Please note, the intended use for the drug is not required if the practitioner determines the furnishing of this information is not in the best interest of the patient…”READ MORE

A recent study identified pharmacy-level barriers to treatment for opioid use disorder in rural areas, indicating a need for policy changes regarding buprenorphine access and monitoring...The case study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, looked at buprenorphine dispensing practices in 12 rural Kentucky counties across 15 community pharmacies. The investigators aimed to determine whether dispensing patterns were influenced by features of the rural risk environment...“Concerns about exceeding a ‘Drug Enforcement Administration cap’ on opioid dispensing stifled dispensing,” the investigators wrote. The other factors that influenced dispensing were distrust of pharmaceutical companies and prescribers of opioid analgesics and a general stigma against individual who use drugs and/or against the medications to treat substance use disorder...READ MORE

Nearly 90% of community pharmacies will apply for small business federal aid under the CARES Act to help them get through the coronavirus storm, according to a new survey...by the National Community Pharmacists Association...“Pharmacies are ‘essential businesses’ staying open during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep serving their communities, but many are on the brink at the very time they are needed most,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey. “In the 18 months before this crisis, the number of pharmacies had shrunk by over 2,000, mostly due to low reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers...As the pandemic strains neighborhood pharmacies, nearly half of pharmacy owners rank the overall financial health of their business as somewhat poor or very poor, according to the survey...READ MORE

Digital health technology is transforming every aspect of pharmacy practice, whether it deploys robotics to fill prescriptions, uses analytics to track medication data, or offers access to digital therapy. Pharmacists in both the hospital and retail settings are using recently developed technology to prevent adverse drug effects, monitor the use of antibiotics, modify unhealthy behavior, and promote medication adherence...Not only can technology make a pharmacist’s day more efficient by automating repetitive tasks, but new digital health products are providing more insight into data and the opportunity for real-time patient interaction...READ MORE

Monitoring Medication
Digiceuticals and Behavior Modification
Preventing Adverse Effects
Antibiotic Stewardship in Real Time

On Tuesday, May 12, Governor Gavin Newsom granted California’s 47,000 pharmacists the ability to order and administer coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests throughout the state. His current objective is to test 60,000 California residents per day. After receiving a request for this expanded authority for pharmacists from the California Pharmacists Association, Newsom recognized that granting pharmacists the ability to test in the state would make that objective possible...READ MORE

All pharmacy staff—along with everyone entering the pharmacy—should wear face masks, according to new guidance from the CDC...The CDC’s “Guidance for Pharmacists” also says that pharmacies should postpone and reschedule some routine preventive services, such as adult immunizations, since they require face-to-face interaction...This guidance applies to all pharmacy staff to minimize their risk of exposure to the virus and reduce the risk for customers during the COVID-19 pandemic...According to the guidance, pharmacies should:

Implement universal use of face coverings.
Advise staff who are sick to stay home.
Encourage all prescribers to submit prescription orders via telephone or electronically.
Limit direct contact with customers.
Reduce risk during COVID-19 testing.
Maintain social distancing
Ensure that the waiting area is cleaned regularly.
Close self-serve blood pressure units.

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Rapid coronavirus disease 2 (COVID-19) testing, contract tracing, and preparing for vaccines and treatments are the 3 key priorities as the United States reopens, NACDS said in a new report...Pharmacies: A Vital Partner in Reopening America...The organization also urged that additional steps should be taken to ensure that pharmacists and pharmacies are fully utilized to support this national effort...READ MORE

Despite the unprecedented impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the economy and society, its impact on the health plan enterprise appears to be practical and functional rather than strategic and financial. This conclusion comes from a pilot study with health plan decision-makers...“business as usual."...READ MORE

Work Process
Implications for Manufacturers
Expenditures
Pharmacy
Other Key Business Factor Developments
Maintain Commercial Membership
Shift to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act Markets
New Product Launches

Rite Aid continues to expand COVID-19 testing sites with eleven new locations opening Wednesday, April 22, in Delaware, Idaho, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...Now spanning eight states and 24 store locations, all of Rite Aid’s self-testing sites will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week and expect to be able to conduct approximately 200 tests each day through online appointments. In total, Rite Aid will have the capacity to conduct nearly 5,000 tests daily across all locations...READ MORE