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February 11, 2013

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PCMA: State biosimilar laws will raise costs
Enacting laws at the state level that would restrict the substitution of biosimilar drugs would raise costs for patients and employers and compete with forthcoming federal laws, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association says. "Creating a patchwork of dueling state and federal rules would make it harder for pharmacists to know when they can dispense a biosimilar," according to PCMA. "That would raise costs for patients and their employers, who typically cover two-thirds of prescription drug benefit costs." AIS Health/Specialty Pharmacy News (2/8)

PCMA: Biotech manufacturers lobby states to restrict access to biosimilar medications

Anti-biosimilars bills fail in Miss.
Bills that would have restricted pharmacists' ability to substitute biosimilar drugs for brand-name therapies failed to advance out of committees in the Mississippi House and Senate. Pharmalot.com/Pharma Blog (2/8)

Legislative & Regulatory News

Compounding pharmacy illegally sold steroids
Signature Compounding Pharmacy of Orlando, Fla., faces fines of $100,000 for illegal online sales of steroids in New York state. Seventeen people associated with the pharmacy have entered guilty pleas on drug and conspiracy charges since a raid on the pharmacy in 2007. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press (2/8)

PCMA: How independent drugstores that compound drugs can be part of the patient safety solution

Employers prepare to pay more without Medicaid expansion
In states that may not expand their Medicaid programs, employers could be hit with greater health care costs. Employers could shoulder the cost of covering uninsured full-time employees if states fail to extend Medicaid benefits to more people under the Affordable Care Act. The Wall Street Journal (2/10)

More GOP governors might support Medicaid expansion
Decisions by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to back Medicaid expansion could influence other Republican governors. Some GOP governors are supporting parts of the Affordable Care Act as they face the fiscal reality of health care costs. FoxNews.com/The Associated Press (2/10)

PBM Industry News

PBMs help self-insured firms lower health care spending
Employers that self-insure are increasingly turning to pharmacy benefit managers to help keep health care spending in check. Employers are benefiting from well-known PBM savings strategies such as promoting utilization of generic drugs as well as using preferred pharmacy networks and specialty drug programs. Business Insurance (tiered subscription model) (2/10)

Drug Industry Spotlight

Macleods gets FDA nod for generic Actos
Macleods Pharma received FDA approval for its pioglitazone hydrochloride tablets in three strengths: 15 mg, 30 mg and 45 mg. The drug is a generic formulation of the diabetes treatment Actos, made by Takeda. Drug Store News (2/8)

SmartQuote

The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. ... The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them."

--George Bernard Shaw,
Irish playwright

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Charles Cote
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications
(202) 207-3610

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About PCMA

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.


	Recent PCMA SmartBrief Issues: Friday, February 08, 2013 Thursday, February 07, 2013 Wednesday, February 06, 2013 Tuesday, February 05, 2013 Monday, February 04, 2013			Lead Editor: Melissa Turner Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004