A team of public interest groups recently completed a comparison of drug prices across the state of New York.  The study focused on the consumer price for ten of the most popular drugs available. The research concluded that the prices for prescription drugs vary dramatically by location and provider.

In one county in New York, for example, the same Nexium capsules were found to range in price from $171.69 to $309.65. The New York Public Interest Research group added that the part of the problem is that many consumers are not aware that prices on prescriptions fluctuate by provider. Many believe that prices are the same everywhere and do not take to time to compare. The concern is that consumers may be less likely to fill and continue taking prescriptions if the costs are dramatically inflated by retailers. Read the rest of this entry »

Walgreens lost a recent appeal to overturn a decision that awarded $33 million to the family of a woman who died because of an improperly filled prescription.

In 2002, Beth Hippely was prescribed the blood thinner Warfarin to help treat her breast cancer. The prescription that she was given was approximately 10 times the level prescribed. The jury in the original case found that the mix up was the cause of a cerebral hemorrhage that left her permanently disabled and in physical pain. She later died at the age of 46.

The appeals court upheld the original decision that found Walgreens liable and leveled the large payoff to the family. Walgreens would not comment on the case.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587762,00.html

A Montgomery, Alabama jury last month leveled a $2.5 million fine over an incorrectly filled prescription from 2006. Reva Tosh was accidently given the steroid Decadron in place of the pain medication for her rheumatoid arthritis.

Ms. Tosh took high doses of the steroid for 28 days after which she developed Cushing’s syndrome.  She suffered from mental disorders as well as physical problems that eventually confined her to a wheelchair. Her attorney maintained that the primary issue in the case was weather the ailments she suffered were due to the Cushing’s or a result of the rheumatoid arthritis that was the cause of her original prescription for pain medication.

The jury found that the Cushing’s was the cause of her current conditions and awarded Ms. Tosh $2 million for her injuries and suffering. They also awarded her husband $500,000 for the loss of his wife’s companionship.

http://www.elfpublications.com/new/news.htm

An advisory panel for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has voted to amend the recommendations for flu shots to everyone over 6 months of age. The CDC expects to implement the panel’s recommendation for the 2010-2011 flu season.

Health care analysts believe that part of the reason more people don’t get the shots is tied to uncertainty about who should be getting them. The move is intended to reduce any confusion about who should get the shots and encourage all age groups to seek out the vaccines. Records show that about 50 percent of the recommended groups have received the flu shot in the past.

The recommendations will still exclude babies under 6 months of age as well as seniors with egg allergies and some with chronic conditions that might increase the risk of complications from the vaccine. While the move is expected to increase demand for vaccines, the CDC is confident that the availability for the upcoming season is secure and will be sufficient to cover the increase.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180511.php

The New York Times reported recently that a government report has suggested a link between Avandia and an increased risk of heart attacks and heart failure. Avandia, used to treat type 2 diabetes, was linked to just over 300 deaths during the third quarter of 2009 alone.

GlaxoSmithKline, who makes Avandia, has stated that they have done extensive research on the drug and have reached the conclusion that it does not damage the heart or lead to any increase in heart attacks. Sales of the drug have decreased since 2007 when an independent panel suggested the possibility that it might contribute to heart damage. Despite those findings, the FDA decided to allow the drug to remain on the market.

The authors of the current government study have suggested that the drug be removed from the market. The FDA also cites several conflicting studies that make conclusions about any possible link between Avandia and heart trouble difficult to discern. The main concern of the government will remain whether or not GlaxoSmightKline has been up front with the possible dangers of the drug. No word has yet been issued about the future of the drug and its availability.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/health/policy/20avandia.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th

A Massachusetts study recently found that 22 to 28 percent of medication prescriptions go unfilled by patients. The study examined electronic prescription records in two heath plans as well as pharmacy claims to check which prescriptions were filled. All patients in the study did have medical insurance.

The findings noted that 22 percent of the total of all the prescriptions went unfilled. When narrowed to only include brand new prescriptions 28 percent went unfilled. The most likely to not be picked up were pain medications with medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol also having high unfilled rates.

Researchers suggest that despite health care insurance the high cost of co-pays or out of plan prescriptions might be a problem. Others may not be filling prescriptions for chronic conditions if they don’t have outward symptoms and are not clear about the function of the medication. Researchers suggest that doctors and pharmacists work together to clearly educate patients about the need for beginning and continuing medication for chronic conditions.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61G3QX20100217

Surescripts electronic prescriptions implemented an overall rate reduction for their services in January of this year. The reduction is an attempt to encourage smaller pharmacies and physician groups to use electronic prescription services. The drop is estimated at a 10-15% reduction for smaller independent pharmacies. The amount of the decrease varies slightly depending on the type of software that is being used.

The service is already free for physicians and other prescribers but the company estimates that fewer than 25% of small offices make use of electronic prescriptions. Larger companies with in house IT departments have already made the switch but the majority of prescriptions are written by independent physicians and staffs. Read the rest of this entry »

Jonathan Medina, a former Connecticut pharmacist, was recently sentenced to probation after creating an online sex posting for a customer that he had an argument with.  Medina said that the day had been very busy and he was overwhelmed by it all when the woman began an argument with him about her prescription at the CVS pharmacy where he worked.

After the woman left, Medina logged on to Craigslist and posted a sex ad for “Kinky Brenda looking for a good time.” He admitted guilt to misdemeanor harassment and a felony computer crime. Court records report the woman saying she received 25 phone calls and one person arrived at her home in response to the Craigslist post.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584055,00.html

The debate about morning after contraception is unlikely to be resolved soon. Court cases are still pending for pharmacists who object to selling the morning after pill because they believe it to conflict with their religious and/or ethical beliefs. In the mean time, a new morning after pill has been made available in Europe that is said to have a better track record for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex.

So far only available in Europe and by prescription, the new drug, ellaOne, appears to be longer lasting and more effective than the currently available Plan B birth control. In a recent study of 1700 women half were given Plan B and the other half ellaOne after having unprotected sex. The study found that the instance of pregnancy in the Plan B group was 2.6 percent while the rate in the ellaOne group was 1.8 percent. Read the rest of this entry »

With the health care debate on hold for the time being drug makers are facing the uncertainty of the impact that the lack of reform will have on their collective futures.  As part of the expectation that a health care bill would pass, pharmaceutical companies agreed to provide the government $80 billion in rebates over a period of ten years to help fund reform. With the legislation stalled the future of those rebates remains unclear.

In addition, drug companies face the possibility that with the new budget the government may now attempt to collect taxes on patents and overseas assets. The pharmaceutical companies would be hard hit with such a tax at the same time they are facing uncertainty in medication sales. Read the rest of this entry »