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| Legislative & Regulatory News | | |
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- Few compounding pharmacies are accredited
Only about 2% of compounding pharmacies in the U.S. have received accreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, which conducts on-site inspections of facilities and provides voluntary accreditation. Critics say the lack of oversight puts consumers at risk and the board is no substitute for the FDA. The Washington Post
(10/18)     
- Medical groups suggest reforms on physician payment
The American Medical Association along with more than 100 additional medical groups representing states and specialties sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee outlining principles the societies said are needed to craft a new Medicare physician payment system. Initial steps include repeal of the sustainable growth rate formula followed by a series of reforms on delivery system, payment updates and physician rewards, the groups stated. Bloomberg BNA (free content)/Health Care Daily Report
(10/17)
- Survey: Most seniors report satisfaction with Medicare coverage
About 90% of Americans 65 and older said they are at least somewhat satisfied with their Medicare coverage, with 61% willing to pay 5% more to maintain their existing coverage and nearly a third who would pay an extra 20%, an Allsup survey found. The survey also found that 88% of seniors are taking generic drugs or are open to using them. Twenty-two percent said they have changed Medicare plans to hold down costs. National Underwriter Life & Health
(10/17)
| PBM Industry News | | |
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- PBMs can help reduce overtreatment, wasteful spending
A recent Consumer Reports column cited overtreatment as a primary driver of wasteful health care spending, which includes different doctors prescribing the same medication for a single patient. Pharmacy benefit managers can spot duplicate prescriptions and help control wasteful spending, David Williams writes. Health Business Blog
(10/17)
| Drug Industry Spotlight | | |
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- Actavis CEO: Biologic-drug makers will compete on biosimilars
Manufacturers of brand-name biologic drugs are likely to be the same ones making less-expensive biosimilar drugs, at least initially, outgoing Actavis CEO Claudio Albrecht said. After the FDA establishes a regulatory path for biosimilars, large generic-drug-makers such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Mylan and Watson will dominate the market, Albrecht predicted. Reuters
(10/19)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Not all those who wander are lost."
--J.R.R. Tolkien,
British writer, poet, philologist and professor
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| About PCMA |
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PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune
500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D. PCMA is dedicated to enhancing the proven tools and techniques pioneered by PBMs that generate savings and access for consumers and payors.
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| | Recent PCMA SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, October 18, 2012
- Wednesday, October 17, 2012
- Tuesday, October 16, 2012
- Monday, October 15, 2012
- Friday, October 12, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Melissa Turner
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
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