Walgreens to provide free hepatitis C tests
Beginning later this summer, the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation and Walgreens will provide free hepatitis C testing at more than 60 of the drug chain’s pharmacies in 12 cities across the country.
Pharmacy
Moose Pharmacy deploys Innovation RxSafe system
Moose Pharmacy has boosted the efficiency of the pharmacy at its Mt. Pleasant, N.C., store with the deployment of an Innovation RxSafe 1800 robotic inventory control system.
Lannett to purchase Silarx Pharmaceuticals
Lannett Co. plans to acquire Silarx Pharmaceuticals Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of liquid generic drug products. Financial terms of the agreement, which includes a related real estate entity, weren’t disclosed.
Endo to acquire Par for $8.05 billion
Endo International PLC plans to buy Par Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc. from TPG Capital North America in a deal valued at $8.05 billion.
Care Pharmacies forms specialty Rx partnership
Care Pharmacies Cooperative Inc. has partnered with Aureus Health Services Inc. to launch the Care Pharmacies Specialty Network.
NCPA lays out community pharmacy legislative agenda
Independent community pharmacists gathered this week at the 2015 National Community Pharmacists Association Annual Legislative Conference to advocate for legislative solutions that preserve patients’ ready access to prescription drugs and pharmacy services.
Walgreens helps Washington state battle pertussis
Walgreens announced that it’s offering pertussis vaccinations at all of its 130 pharmacies in Washington state, which has seen a jump in whooping cough cases this year.
AmerisourceBergen becomes NCPDP Elite Partner
AmerisourceBergen Corp. has joined the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs’ Elite Partner Program.
NCPA: Senate bill would widen Rx access for seniors
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association has endorsed The Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2015 (S. 1190), a Senate bill that would expand the number of pharmacies that could offer discounted co-payments for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
Pharmaceutical companies form Biosimilars Forum
A coalition of 11 biopharmaceutical companies has formed the Biosimilars Forum, described as the first nonprofit organization for expanding patient access to biosimilars in the United States.
Pernix releases Zohydro ER hydrocodone capsules with BeadTek
Pernix Therapeutics Holdings Inc. has rolled out a new formulation of Zohydro Extended-Release Capsules (hydrocodone bitartrate, CII) with BeadTek technology, to U.S. pharmacies. Pernix said Monday that Zohydro ER with BeadTek is available in strengths 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg and 50 mg.
Kmart to implement EQuIPP at pharmacies
Kmart Pharmacy aims to improve tracking of quality performance metrics and enhance patient-centered care and clinical outcomes with the deployment of the EQuIPP information management platform from Pharmacy Quality Solutions (PQS).
ACOs spearhead shift to value-based care
Recently, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced a lofty goal of tying 50% of all traditional Medicare payments to alternative payment models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) or bundled payment arrangements, by the year 2018.
NCPA backs change to TRICARE preferred pharmacy program
The National Community Pharmacists Association has endorsed an amendment from Reps. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) and Rick Larsen (D., Wash.) that aims to improve pharmacy access in a preferred pharmacy pilot program by TRICARE, the U.S. military’s health benefits plan.
Teva among first cleared to launch Abilify generic
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Abilify (aripiprazole), an antipsychotic drug.
Survey: Retail clinic patients may visit doctor’s office less
The convenience of in-store clinics may lead consumers to go to a doctor’s office less when they need primary health care, according to Kalorama Information’s “Retail Clinics 2015” report. The health care market researcher said Tuesday that of 2,000 adults surveyed, 53.