Saturday, May 19, 2012
Various Physician and Pharmacy Systems Go Live on e-Prescribing of Controlled Substances
We are now beginning to see computer systems for prescribers and pharmacy become verified for theelectronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS).
As of this notice, the following systems have completed the process of becomingcertified and audited to connect to the Surescripts network for EPCSpurposes:
- Physician application vendors
- DrFirst
- NewCrop
- NextGen
- RxNT
- Pharmacy application vendors
- Cerner Etreby
- Rite Aid
- SUPERVALU
- Walgreens
Additional vendors are expectedto go live in the near future.
If you do not see your pharmacyvendor listed here, we encourage you to contact your vendor and inform them ofthe physician vendors in your area that are approved for EPCS.
For more information, please click here for the announcement from Surescripts.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Virginia General Assembly Approves 2013-14 Budget
This week, the General Assembly approved the State budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year. All items related to pharmacy have been included in the final budget. Those items are:
- Transparency requirement for future contract administration of the State Employee health insurance program
- Prohibits the establishment of a retail maintenance network for maintenance drugs for the State Employee health insurance program
- Creation of a Medication Therapy Management pilot program for the State Employee health insurance program
- Restoring funding for the Pharmacy Connection program
- Pharmacy Connect provides access to free prescription drugs, for adults without drug coverage, from participating pharmaceutical companies in Southwest Virginia
- Adds behavioral health drugs to the Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL)
- Behavioral health drugs were scheduled to be added to the Medicaid PDL in fiscal year 2014. This amendment adds those drugs to the PDF one year early starting in 2013
Monday, May 14, 2012
CMS Expands Medical Staff Definition to include APRNs, PAs, Pharmacists
On Wednesday, May 9th, CMS released new regulations that introduced a
variety of changes in the hospital and health system setting including
"broadened the concept of “medical staff” and have allowed hospitals the
flexibility to include other
practitioners as eligible candidates for the medical staff with hospital
privileges to practice in the hospital in accordance with State law.
All practitioners will function under the rules of the medical staff.
This change will clearly permit hospitals to allow other practitioners
(e.g. APRNs, PAs, pharmacists) to perform all functions within their
scope of practice. (CMS has) required that the medical staff must
examine the credentials of all eligible candidates (as defined by the
governing body) and then make recommendations for privileges and medical
staff membership to the governing body."
Click here for more information.
Click here for more information.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Fourth DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Collects Record 276 Tons
From the DEA's website: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/takeback_042812.html
May 03 (Washington, D.C.) – The American people have again responded overwhelmingly to the most recent DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. On April 28th, citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,659 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the four Take Back Days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation.
"We are pleased at the response of the American people once again, and we thank them for participating and contributing to the battle against prescription drug abuse,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, who added that 4,268 agencies participated with DEA nationwide in Saturday’s event. “While a uniform system for prescription drug disposal is being finalized, we will continue to sponsor these important take-back opportunities as a service to our communities. Our take-back events highlight the problems related to prescription drug abuse and give our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution. These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our state, federal, local, and tribal partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts on behalf of the American people.”
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Four days after the first Take-Back event in September 2010, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Act.
May 03 (Washington, D.C.) – The American people have again responded overwhelmingly to the most recent DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. On April 28th, citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,659 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the four Take Back Days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation.
"We are pleased at the response of the American people once again, and we thank them for participating and contributing to the battle against prescription drug abuse,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, who added that 4,268 agencies participated with DEA nationwide in Saturday’s event. “While a uniform system for prescription drug disposal is being finalized, we will continue to sponsor these important take-back opportunities as a service to our communities. Our take-back events highlight the problems related to prescription drug abuse and give our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution. These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our state, federal, local, and tribal partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts on behalf of the American people.”
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Four days after the first Take-Back event in September 2010, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Act.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Medicaid Managed Care Pharmacy Resource Guide
The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services' managed care group has created a Pharmacy Resource Guide. Included in the guide is the BIN and PCN number for each of the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
Click here for the Pharmacy Resource Guide.
Click here for the Pharmacy Resource Guide.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Board of Health Professions Scope of Practice Barriers report for Pharmacy - Dates Released
This morning, the Regulations
Committee of the Board of Health Professions met and outlined the
schedule for the Scope of Practice Barriers study for Pharmacy.
- July 13th – First draft of study to Regulations Committee and posted for the public
- July 23rd – Public Hearing on the study
- Middle of August – Second draft of study will be presented to the Committee
- September 17th – Regulations Committee to finalize study and recommendations
- October 2nd – Board of Health Professions to vote on final study and recommendations
This schedule could change slightly. VPhA will provide information on the work of the committee when it is available.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Virginia General Assembly: Governor McDonnell Approves Pharmacy Items in Budget
Today, Governor McDonnell's amendments to the 2012-14 state budget
were released to the public. VPhA is pleased to report that the
pharmacy items that were passed by the General Assembly remain standing
following the Governor's amendments. Those items are:
- Transparency requirement for future contract administration of the State Employee health insurance program
- Prohibits the establishment of a retail maintenance network for maintenance drugs for the State Employee health insurance program
- Creation of a Medication Therapy Management pilot program for the State Employee health insurance program
Of
note, there was an amendment introduced by Governor McDonnell in the
Transparency language that clarified how pharmaceutical rebates are
reported. We expect the General Assembly to pass this amendment. VPhA
would like to point out that in the "Explanation" section of this
amendment, the following comment was made: "the financial information that will be collected will be extremely beneficial to the Commonwealth."
The Governor also introduced two additional amendments relating to pharmacy. They are:
The Governor also introduced two additional amendments relating to pharmacy. They are:
- Restoring funding for the Pharmacy Connection program
- Pharmacy Connect provides access to free prescription drugs, for adults without drug coverage, from participating pharmaceutical companies in Southwest Virginia
- Adds behavioral health drugs to the Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL)
- Behavioral health drugs were scheduled to be added to the Medicaid PDL in fiscal year 2014. This amendment adds those drugs to the PDF one year early starting in 2013
The
General Assembly will now come back into session on Monday, May 14th to
review and accept or reject amendments proposed by the Governor. As
stated above, VPhA is expecting that these amendments will pass the
General Assembly and we will let you know the final vote on May 14th.
Friday, May 4, 2012
VPhA partners with Konvoke, an online peer review website for all pharmacy related technology, products, and services
The Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA) and Konvoke, Inc. have announced an agreement to create a benefit to support the awareness and growth of both member organizations.
VPhA and Konvoke, Inc. share a common vision to use www.konvoke.com to educate their members about current pharmacy technology, products and services, while also providing a venue for members to write their own product reviews.
“A web-based community forum for pharmacy professionals to provide feedback on their vendor experiences is vital for today’s decision makers,” said Konvoke’s V.P. of Sales and Operations John Grove. “Our relationship with VPhA solidifies our commitment to continue to provide this free service to our members.”
“VPhA is always looking to provide additional benefits to our members,” said Tim Musselman, VPhA Executive Director. “Our partnership with Konvoke will offer our members the ability to review products and services through expanding connections with other pharmacy professionals.”
About Konvoke
Konvoke, Inc. (www.konvoke.com) is an online peer review website for all pharmacy related technology, products, and services. Konvoke facilitates communication between pharmacy professionals across the country and provides a forum where they can share their experiences with vendors and their products. Review content on Konvoke is 100% controlled by its members. Membership is FREE!
The value that Konvoke provides to its members as a resource for product information is directly proportional to the amount of members that utilize the site and the content they provide. Konvoke utilizes several avenues for membership marketing and growth, including tradeshows, advertising, member promotions, social media, word-of-mouth, and relationships with Pharmacy Associations. Pharmacy Associations play an important role in providing information and services to their members. A partnership with Konvoke can play a key role in providing product information to association members.
VPhA and Konvoke, Inc. share a common vision to use www.konvoke.com to educate their members about current pharmacy technology, products and services, while also providing a venue for members to write their own product reviews.
“A web-based community forum for pharmacy professionals to provide feedback on their vendor experiences is vital for today’s decision makers,” said Konvoke’s V.P. of Sales and Operations John Grove. “Our relationship with VPhA solidifies our commitment to continue to provide this free service to our members.”
“VPhA is always looking to provide additional benefits to our members,” said Tim Musselman, VPhA Executive Director. “Our partnership with Konvoke will offer our members the ability to review products and services through expanding connections with other pharmacy professionals.”
About Konvoke
Konvoke, Inc. (www.konvoke.com) is an online peer review website for all pharmacy related technology, products, and services. Konvoke facilitates communication between pharmacy professionals across the country and provides a forum where they can share their experiences with vendors and their products. Review content on Konvoke is 100% controlled by its members. Membership is FREE!
The value that Konvoke provides to its members as a resource for product information is directly proportional to the amount of members that utilize the site and the content they provide. Konvoke utilizes several avenues for membership marketing and growth, including tradeshows, advertising, member promotions, social media, word-of-mouth, and relationships with Pharmacy Associations. Pharmacy Associations play an important role in providing information and services to their members. A partnership with Konvoke can play a key role in providing product information to association members.
Register Today for the 131st Annual Convention - August 5-8 in Virginia Beach
Join us August 5-8, 2012 for VPhA's 131st Annual Convention. The meeting will be hosted at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel in Virginia Beach. Attendees will have the ability to obtain 18 hours of live CE for pharmacists and technicians, network with old friends as well as new friends, and enjoy entertaining events such as Dancing and Dice and the 7th annual NASPA/NMA Student Pharmacist Self-Care championship.
Click here for more information
Click here for more information
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