Senate Passes HR 3240, “Drug Quality and Security Act”

PSM applauds the members of the Senate for passing HR 3204, "Drug Quality and Security Act." The securing of the supply chain through establishing track-and-trace requirements for medicine manufacturers, wholesalers and repackagers will provide Americans with greater security over our prescription drugs.  When the supply chain is breached by someone mistakenly purchasing a substandard drug…

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Interchange 2013 Highlights: Dr. Patrick Lukulay of USP

USP has launched the Center for Pharmaceutical Advancement and Training in Accra, Ghana.Learn more about USP’s efforts to improve the quality of medicines globally at http://www.usp.org/around-world We were most fortunate to have Patrick Lukulay, PhD, Vice President of Global Health Impact Operations for the US Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) as a panelist at this year’s Interchange.…

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Nemlekar P, Shepherd M*, Lawson K, and Rush S. Web-Based Survey to Assess the Perceptions of Managed Care Organization Representatives on Use of Copay Subsidy Coupons for Prescription Drugs. J Manag Care Pharm. 2013;19(8):602-08.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Promotion of prescription drug coupons and vouchers by pharmaceutical manufacturers has increased in recent years. These coupons and vouchers usually subsidize patients’ cost-sharing obligations. In other words, drug companies pay for a patient’s portion of the drug cost, and the remaining cost is paid by the patient and the patient’s health plan. This…

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Will the PSM 2013 Interchange Still Happen During the Government Shutdown?

You can count on it. The criminals who counterfeit drugs and endanger American patients haven’t stopped making and selling fake drugs during the shutdown. There is more need for a counterfeit drug conference now than ever. The 2013 Interchange will include: Patient advocates who represent patients whose lives depend on getting genuine medication Journalists who…

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Keynote Speaker Announced for Counterfeit Drug Conference

The Partnership for Safe Medicines is pleased to announce Deputy Director Ilisa Bernstein as the keynote speaker of the 2013 Interchange on October 24, in Washington, DC. Dr. Ilisa Bernstein is the Deputy Director of Office of Compliance in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She…

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PSM’s Scott LaGanga to Japan Medical Association: Counterfeit Medicines a Global Health Menace

PSM Executive Director Urges Greater International Cooperation in Major Address to the Japan Medical Association TOKYO, JAPAN (September 19, 2013) – Partnership for Safe Medicines Executive Director Scott LaGanga stressed the urgent need for greater global education and collaboration to fight the growing health threat posed by counterfeit and substandard medicines in an address to…

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Shepherd M*. Examination of Why Some Community Pharmacists Do Not Provide 72-Hour Emergency Prescription Drugs to Medicaid Patients When Prior Authorization Is Not Available. J Manag Care Pharm. 2013;19(7):523-33.

BACKGROUND: Existing federal law requires that a 72-hour emergency supply of a prescription drug be dispensed to Medicaid patients when prior authorization (PA) is not available and the medication is needed without delay. The pharmacist’s role is to contact prescribers and inform them that PA is needed. If the prescriber cannot be reached, the pharmacist can dispense a 72-hour emergency supply.

OBJECTIVES: To determine (a) the reasons why some community pharmacy owners/managers, staff pharmacists, and technicians are not compliant with the law; (b) how often the decision is made; and (c) estimate how often pharmacies do not dispense the 72-hour emergency supply when PA is not available.

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