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| | Registration is now open for PCMA's Specialty Pharmacy Business Forum!
The SPBF provides individuals and companies in the specialty pharmacy chain of commerce with exceptional educational and business networking opportunities. A unique aspect of the conference is "PCMA-Connect," an online networking community that will give attendees the opportunity to search for, connect, and coordinate meetings with existing and potential business customers and partners. | |
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| Legislative & Regulatory News | | |
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- Fla. anti-biosimilars bill will limit access to lifesaving drugs
A bill approved by a Florida House subcommittee regarding substitution of biosimilar drugs for their brand-name counterparts protects drugmaker profits at the expense of patients and payers, says PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt. Drugmakers "want expensive brand name drugs to be used because they'll profit from that," Merritt said. "When a generic is just as good as a brand, a patient should have access to the more affordable drugs." WWSB-TV (Sarasota, Fla.)
(2/20)     
- Generics lower costs for Medicare beneficiaries in the coverage gap
Medicare Part D enrollees in the coverage gap with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia who had generics-only drug plans had lower total health care costs than those who had no drug coverage, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Managed Care. "These data suggest that no drug coverage in the coverage gap is more expensive than generic drug coverage due to greater nondrug costs," the researchers write. MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/20)
- Medical groups expand list of "overused" tests and meds
The American Academy of Pediatrics formally recommended against prescribing antibiotics for sinusitis, bronchitis or other viral respiratory illnesses, the American Academy of Ophthalmology said antibiotics should not be prescribed for conjunctivitis and the American Geriatrics Society said older type 2 diabetes patients should not use drugs to keep their blood glucose levels within tight limits. The recommendations are part of a broad update to the Choosing Wisely campaign to reduce unneeded medical treatments. Seventeen medical societies updated the list of routine tests and treatments that experts say should be questioned. MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/21), Reuters
(2/21)
- 3-year Medicaid expansion wins support of Fla.'s Scott
Florida Gov. Rick Scott agreed to an expansion of Medicaid, but only for the three years the entire program is covered by federal payments, making him the seventh Republican governor to support the measure under the Affordable Care Act. The decision follows a conditional waiver to privatize Medicaid in the state. "Expanding access to Medicaid access services for three years is a compassionate, common sense step forward," Scott said. Reuters
(2/20), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(2/20)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
--Maria Montessori,
Italian physician and educator
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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:
- Wednesday, February 20, 2013
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Melissa Turner
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
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