The Pharmacy Blog

Missouri's Pseudoephedrine Electronic Logbook Implementation Process

2010-10-19T13:53:00.001-07:00

As the MPA has gone through this whole process of fighting for and against certain legislation in Jefferson City that would hamper or enhance a pharmacy's practice setting in Missouri, we've been interested to hear what our pharmacists, students and techs have to say about this, so give us your thoughts when you get a chance!
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The pseudoephedrine electronic tracking system is due to go into effect by the end of 2010 in every pharmacy in Missouri, as required by law. The new system will take the old manual logbooks out of pharmacies and install a new, streamlined and more handy process to help curb the production of meth drugs around Missouri, a much needed update to a very old and ineffective system.

Over the next year, it will be interesting to see the results of this action in Missouri. The goal, obviously, is to rid our state of drug problems, of which methamphetamine drugs are among the worst. So, as we fight to help protect Missourians and as you fight to provide the best patient care to your patients, let us move forward in this endeavor with a bold perspective! Lets ensure that pharmacists are at the head of this battle, leading the way as one of the most trusted health care providers in America.

Don't forget to let us know what you think here in the comments section below, at our Facebook Fan page or you can email your opinion to our office!

Pharmacists Wanted for Blog Content Submission!

2010-08-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

Are you a pharmacist, pharmacy student, technician, pharmacy owner or work in the pharmacy field?

Are you interested in creating pharmacy specific content for the world to see?

Would you like to be noticed in the pharmacy field throughout Missouri and the U.S. on a recognized pharmacy blog?

Then, you're where you need to be!

The Missouri Pharmacy Association is looking for guest bloggers interested in creating content to post on ThePharmacyBlog.com web blog.

Requirements:

1. That you're a pharmacist, pharmacy owner, student, or technician, or have some experience in the pharmacy field
2. You can provide valuable content that will benefit MPA's members
3. You're interested in pharmacy issues and providing a learning environment for your pharmacy colleagues

If you're interested and fulfill these requirements, we have some incentives!

To find out more information or to submit an article, email the Director of Marketing, Travis Fitzwater, with your questions or blog posts --> Click HERE to email Travis.

What Every Pharmacist Needs to Know About FSA Cards

2010-08-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

By Tom Greenhaw

Flexible spending accounts are designed to give consumers more control over their health care spending, but many consumers and pharmacists find these cards quite confusing. When flexible spending accounts were first initiated, restrictions were put in place to limit the spending on these cards to medical and pharmaceutical items only. Confusion quickly arose because while these restrictions were in place, there was no system to enforce them. In response to this loophole the IRS has put in place guidelines that restrict where FSA cards can be accepted.

If you find that your customers are having trouble using their FSA cards in your pharmacy it is important to take the necessary steps to resolve the problem. FSA customers can be very valuable, and handling them properly is a great way to build customer loyalty and help your store stand out from the competition.

Are FSA Cards Being Declined at Your Pharmacy?
Some pharmacies may find that a large percentage of customer’s use FSA cards. The amount of FSA cards you see at your pharmacy largely depends on how many businesses in your area provide them as a benefit to employees.

In creating the guideline effecting FSA cards, the IRS has made pharmacists responsible for making sure all customer purchases made with the FSA card are legitimate health care expenses. Since July of 2009, pharmacies are required to use an IIAS capable point of sale system that is able to separate health care items from other items in the store. There is one exception to this, which is the so-called “90-percent exemption”. If 90% of your pharmacy’s gross sales are prescriptions or FSA eligible over-the-counter items, you qualify for this exemption.

Why Are FSA Cards Being Declined?
There might be a few reasons that FSA cards are being declined at your pharmacy. First, this IRS guideline went into effect last year, so if you haven’t done anything yet then every FSA card will be declined. Other pharmacies that opted for the “90-percent exemption” are seeing FSA cards decline in certain cases as well. This is because some FSA plan administrators are only authorizing transactions that have come from an approved point of sale system.

If your pharmacy does use an approved point of sale system and you still have FSA cards being declined, there may be a few reasons. In many instances, the reason for the decline is simply because the customer doesn’t have enough money in their account to cover the purchase.

How Can I Accept FSA Cards?
In order to accept FSA cards, your pharmacy needs to either use an approved point of sale system or apply for the “90-percent exemption”. The first step in this process is to become a member of the Special Interest Group for IIAS Standards (SIGIS). SIGIS is the trade organization that was specifically formed to create a standard solution the pharmacy industry could use to meet the requirements laid down by the IRS.

To help meet that goal, SIGIS publishes an eligible product list that participating retailers can use to determine which items can be purchased with an FSA card. Additionally, SIGIS also certifies point of sale systems that handle FSA cards properly. If you use a SIGIS certified point of sale system, the software uses this list to determine which items can or cannot go on the customers FSA card.

There is a lot of confusion around what a pharmacy needs to do in order to accept FSA cards. If you’d like to accept FSA cards at your pharmacy, here’s a step-by-step process to follow:

1) Become a SIGIS member. SIGIS membership is important because they will provide you with the FSA eligible product list, as well as put you on the list of certified pharmacies.
2) Determine if you will be using an approved point of sale system, or opting for the “90-percent exemption”. Remember, some FSA cards may still be declined if you opt for the exemption.
3) Complete the proper SIGIS certification form. There are two certification forms, and you’ll determine which one to fill out based on your decision at the previous step.
4) Once your pharmacy is certified, SIGIS will inform Visa, MasterCard, and the various FSA plan administrators. It may take up to two or three weeks for these companies and organizations to place you on their list of certified pharmacies.

Future projections show FSA card usage increasing as more employers offer it as a benefit to their employees. Finding the right solution should be an important business goal for your pharmacy.

Tom Greenhaw is the founder of Cashier Live, a provider of web-based point of sale software for pharmacies. Tom has worked with independent pharmacists for years, and in that time has helped guide over 100 pharmacists through the process of accepting FSA cards. If you’d like to find more information about accepting FSA cards, please visit http://www.cashierlive.com/pharmacy.

Top 5 Reasons to Get Involved With the MPA

2010-08-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

To My Fellow Pharmacy Students (and Pharmacists) – Top 5 Reasons to Get Involved With MPA
By Scott Halvorson

I’m starting my final year of pharmacy school at UMKC which means I’m on the year long pilgrimage of professional rotations in search of the type of pharmacy I’ll practice in.

My first rotation was in Branson, MO. Conveniently, Branson was also the home of the 2010 MPA Annual Convention. This was the second time I’ve been to MPA’s annual convention, and the second time it has far exceeded my expectations. I only wish there were more of my classmates there to share the experience with!

Here are my top five reasons for pharmacy students (and pharmacists who aren’t already involved) to get involved with MPA and that includes attending the MPA Annual Convention.

Top Five Reasons:

1. It’s an Investment in Your Personal Career: Even if you already have a job lined up, chances are, at the convention you’ll meet a future employer, business partner, or fellow pharmacist who has a vision for a pharmacy practice that lines up with yours. I’ve made friends and gained mentors that I will certainly turn to for years to help me grow in the profession

2. MPA is Working Hard So You Can FULLY UTILIZE YOUR SKILL SET: Did you know MPA is rolling out a program that allows you to get paid for your cognitive services? MO-PCN is a project headed by some of the most innovative and influential pharmacists in Missouri, so you can do more than just stand behind the counter! (Click HERE to view the MOPCN website)

3. This is What You Don’t Get in School: MPA is hip and with it when it comes to current trends and the future of what’s happening within pharmacy. This year pharmacy-gadget-guru, Bill Felkey, from Auburn University gave an exciting presentation on how to utilize technology and build an online community to connect with your patients and grow your practice. You earn CE for attending dynamic sessions like this!

4. Networking, Networking, Networking: The crème of the crop of pharmacists and pharmacy owners are at the annual meeting. You’ll have all weekend to learn what they are doing to make their practice exciting and meaningful for themselves, employees and their patients. Hint: They love sharing advice with students.

5. It Really Is Fun: You may have a chance to work on your golf game at the MPA Annual Golf Tournament and you’ll certainly enjoy the sun, shops, and natural beauty of the Convention location.

I left the convention, excited, motivated and equipped with new knowledge, and best of all I left having a network of pharmacists who are working everyday to further the profession for the good of pharmacists and our patients.

Scott Halvorson – UMKC School of Pharmacy
Pharm.D. Candidate May 2011

It's Easy Being Green

2010-04-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

April 21st, 2010
By: Jill Connelly
Gunn & Richards, Inc.
www.Vials.com

This week is the 40th annual Earth Week and whether it is a desire to do their part for the environment or simply to meet customer demands, many pharmacists are looking for ways to “go green.” It can seem like a daunting task but here are some simple ways incorporate green concepts into the pharmacy workplace.

Size Matters
There is one simple way for pharmacies to reduce their plastic consumption: use the smallest size vial needed for a prescription. It’s no surprise that smaller the vial, the less plastic needed for production but the savings is probably more than people realize. For example, an average 13 dram vial uses approximately 30% more plastic to produce than an 8 dram vial. This is not only an eco-friendly step but will save the pharmacy money as well as that same 13 dram vial is approximately 25% more expensive than the 8 dram. Multiply this by the 60,000 prescriptions the average pharmacy fills each year and both the plastic and financial savings are significant. Being green can save some green.

The Challenge of Recycling
By its nature, recycling in the pharmacy setting is challenging. Consumers who would like to recycle their used prescription vials can be directed to www.earth911.com. Using the plastic code on the bottom of the vials (usually #5 Polypropylene or #1 PET/PETE) they can locate the nearest recycling center. More and more curbside programs are offering recycling on plastic resins #1-7 and number of community recycling centers is growing daily.

Many pharmacies have asked about use of recycled plastic for the production of prescription packaging. While there are a few options, testing laboratories generally do not recommend the use of recycled plastic resign for pharmaceutical containers as they greatly decrease the likelihood the container will pass the rigorous USP testing requirements.

Proper Disposal
A growing concern is the misuse and disposal of medication. Old and unused medication is ending up in the hands of teenagers and in the country’s landfills. To help battle this growing concern and to coincide with Earth Week, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has launched the “Dispose My Meds” campaign and the www.disposemymeds.org website to help consumers locate pharmacies where they can take their unused and expired medication for proper disposal. Companies such as Guaranteed Returns can provide return services for pharmacies and drug companies to collect and properly dispose of this medication. These types of programs can help keep medication from being misused and out of our country’s landfills and drinking water.

These are just a few steps can that be taking to help green-up the pharmacy workplace. Although they seem rather small, with a combined effort even these small steps can have a big impact.
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Based in Lenexa, Kansas, Gunn & Richards has been providing prescription packaging supplies directly to America’s pharmacies for over 25 years.

Pharmacies and Health Care Reform

2010-04-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

The recent approval of health care legislation by the House of Representatives wrapped a yearlong struggle by the Obama administration to make fundamental changes to the nation's health care systems. Following the legislation's approval, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association applauded the legislation for including many changes that they'd lobbied for inclusion. These included improvements to medication therapy management, a reduction in cuts to Medicaid's pharmacy reimbursement rates, and exemption of pharmacies from durable medical equipment accreditation requirements.

These changes and more have been promoted by pharmacy advocate groups since the beginning of the reform process. The Senate measure was passed in December, with the House approving it this week for the president's signature. Both groups said that maintaining pharmacy's provisions through this process will help pharmacist-patient collaboration in the long run. They lauded the "greater transparency" fostered by the bill and said that though it will take vigilance to ensure that the rest of the process goes smoothly and continues to take pharmacists' concerns into account, the bill's approval is a good first step and will help foster an image of pharmacy's viability as a source of neighborhood health care.

Additional components include: closing a coverage gap for Medicare spenders; an extension of Medicaid that allows for home- or community-based care for disabled citizens who might otherwise need to be institutionalized; a push for reduction in preventable hospital readmissions overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and a pilot program for Medicare payment bundling designed to encourage doctors and other health care providers to better coordinate patient care. The point of all these and more is to allow pharmacies to provide better and more transparent patient care and to act as anchors for community medical treatment. Only time will tell if the new law stands by its promises, but for now, pharmacists have something to hope for.
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This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes on the topics of Nursing Degrees. She welcomes your comments at her email: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

Is the pharmacist shortage over?

2010-02-01T08:27:00.001-08:00

By: David D. Trang, PharmD, MBA
Drug Topics.com (Article used with permission by Dr. Trang)

Events of the past year, as well as my recent attendance at the ASHP mid-year meeting in Las Vegas, have caused me to wonder about the state of the pharmacist shortage in the United States.

I bring to this subject a few different perspectives. In my present capacity as a faculty member at University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy in San Antonio, Texas, I planned the Career Fair/Interview Day for our first graduating class. When I was director of professional recruiting and college relations at Walmart, I was responsible for recruiting and staffing more than 3,600 stores, which gave me a unique opportunity to develop a national perspective on pharmacist staffing. And during my time as a pharmacy district manager, I faced the challenge of recruiting graduates who received offers from just about every company they interviewed with, typically at least five or six. In addition, at that time incentives such as sign-on bonuses and relocation assistance were more widely available.

Companies generally recruited aggressively, on a daily basis as well as at campus interview days. However, at Feik's interview day in October 2009, I did not feel that sense of urgency from employers. Company representatives stated that compared with previous years, fewer employers were attending career fairs. Job offers were much more selective, and some of our students, who had worked with their respective companies for several years, were not offered a position even with their own employers. Sign-on bonuses were available only for select positions, and the interviewing process was much more rigorous.

After hearing a few months ago about employment challenges for 2009 Rutgers graduates, I followed up with colleagues in the industry to gather more information about the job market. I learned that graduates from pharmacy schools throughout the United States were having difficulty in securing positions. An association leader stated that the pharmacist shortage in hospitals has improved significantly. The director of a national staffing company for hospital pharmacists observed that some hospitals are even laying off pharmacists. Colleagues working for national pharmacy retailers stated that pharmacist openings were at the lowest level they had been in the past decade and that pharmacist salaries had stabilized. Finally, the CEO of a leading national company that posts jobs for pharmacists declared that "the pharmacist shortage is over." It appears that increasing enrollment in pharmacy schools has eased the shortage.

In addition, the economic downturn has impelled some retired pharmacists to reenter the workforce in an effort to augment their retirement income or bolster their savings. I am working now with two pharmacists who came out of retirement this past year; both are over 80 years of age.

Although I am fully aware that there will always be certain areas of the country that face shortages, I do not know whether the national pharmacist shortage is over, since there are unknown factors such as healthcare reform that must be considered. What I do know is that in order to plan appropriately for all stakeholders, we need to quantify the numbers when we talk about a pharmacist shortage.
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David D. Trang, PharmD, MBA, is assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Feik School of Pharmacy, University of the Incarnate Word. He can be reached by e-mail at trang@uiwtx.edu

Missouri Lawmakers Begin Filing Legislation for the 2010 Session

2009-12-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

On December 1st of every year in Missouri, lawmakers begin to file state legislation at the capitol in Jefferson City. Thousands of bills are filed every legislative period (Legislative periods cover 2 legislative sessions, for instance, the 2009 and 2010 sessions are one Legislative period).

The Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) tracks all the legislation that is filed and flags any bill that relates to pharmacy, health care or the insurance fields as well as small business, budgetary and regulatory legislation.

Please continue to stay up to date on what the MPA is watching this year so you can be informed of any actions you can take to help us have another successful legislative session in Jefferson City, MO!

See a list of the recently filed Senate Bills for 2010

See a list of the recently filed House Bills for 2010

Child-Resistant is not Child-Proof

2009-10-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

10/14/2009
Jill Connelly
Gunn & Richards, Inc.
jconnelly@vials.com

We recently received a call from pharmacist who was concerned about the vials her pharmacy was using. She felt the vial was not child-resistant because her 7-year-old son was able to open it. As we explained to her, child-resistant does not mean child-proof. This point was driven home again when last week, MSNBC had a report raising alarm that a group of Kindergartners were able to open child-resistant bottles. Both of these illustrate that there is much confusion over the concept of child-resistance.

What is Child-Resistant?

The Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) of 1970 authorizes the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue requirements that certain household substances including prescriptions be sold in child-resistant packaging. In July 1995, the Commission amended its requirements under the PPPA to change the way packaging is tested with adults and children.

The CPSC testing requires 50 to 200 children between the ages of 42 and 51 months be given bottles and told to open them. After five minutes, the children are given a demonstration on how to open the bottle, told they can use their teeth and are given five more minutes to try. To pass the test, 85 percent of the children must not be able to open the closures before the demonstration, and 80 percent of the children must not be able to open them after the demonstration.

This means that a package can be child-resistant even with up to 20 percent of the children ages 3 ½ to 4 years of age able to open it. Once a child is over age four, the percent able to open it increases rapidly. It should not be surprising to know that most Kindergartners can open child-resistant packaging.

Child-Resistant but not Adult-Resistant

Why don’t manufacturers just make packages harder to open so children simply can’t open them? Unfortunately, there is a fine line between a package a child cannot open yet a senior still can. For this reason the CPSC also recommends testing products with senior adults. For the test, 100 adults ages 50 to 70-years-old are given five minutes to open and properly re-close a child-resistant package, and then given one additional minute to repeat with an identical package. For the product to pass, 90 percent of the adults must be able to open the package and properly re-secure it.

Today’s packaging manufacturers struggle to find a balance between a package a child cannot open and one that grandma can.

No Kids? Still a Danger

Despite the availability of child-resistant caps, there are people who request non-child-resistant caps on their prescriptions. Many prefer the ease of use of these caps and assume that if they don’t have children in their home, it is safe to skip using the child-resistant version but is that true?

A study conducted by the American Association of Poison Control Centers found that 23 percent of the oral prescription drugs that were ingested by children under five belonged to someone who did not live with the child, and 17 percent belonged to a grandparent or great-grandparent. This reminds us that even in homes where no children live, there is a chance of poisoning.

More than the Cap

There is also a debate about the use of colored prescription vials in green, red, or blue instead of the traditional amber. Some pharmacies want to use a different colored vials to help distinguish themselves from competitors however many feel this is not a safe choice. Traditionally, prescription vials have been amber because it most effectively protects the medication from degradation by UV light (a USP requirement) while still seeing its contents but also because amber vials have come to signify medication. Some believe that use of colored vials makes the package more appealing to children and can increase their curiosity of its contents.

Tips for Pharmacists

There is no arguing that the use of child-resistant packaging has reduced the number of child poisonings. However, we must realize that a child-resistant closure is the last line of defense. Here are some tips that pharmacists can do to help:

• Even the best child-resistant closure is of no use if it is not properly used. Ensure customers know how to properly secure their vials after opening.
• Educate customers that child-resistant does not mean child-proof. Medications should be stored in a secured location outside a child's reach.
• Remind parents to be sure any purses that contain medication are kept out of the reach of children at all times.
• Encourage parents to discuss medication safety with their children.
• For customers that request non-child-resistant closures, verify they fully understand their decision.
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Based in Lenexa, Kansas, Gunn & Richards has been selling prescription packaging supplies directly to America’s pharmacies for over 25 years.

MPA Exclusive Interview with President Paul Perniciaro

2009-09-19T06:40:00.001-07:00

Find the 3 part series of this exclusive interview on MPA's YouTube channel or you can find the videos below. Let us know what you think in the comments section and let us know what role you would like to see pharmacists to play in the future!

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

The MPA on twitter

Pharmacies to Host Seniors Fall Prevention Events Around Missouri

2009-09-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

September 22nd, 2009 is Senior Falls Prevention Day as decreed by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and as such will kickoff the Missouri Pharmacy Association's (MPA) first ever Seniors Fall Prevention Day which will consist of events at 45 pharmacies around the state of Missouri to help educate seniors on the risk of falls and the effects that a fall has on their lives.

Senior falls are responsible for over 43,000 ER visits annually. The MPA and it's members are making an effort to reduce that number in Missouri.

So, come join us around the state of Missouri to help prevent senior falls and the negative effects that come with them.

To see if there is an event near you, go to the MPA's fall prevention web page by clicking HERE.

Pharmacy's View of Health Care Reform

2009-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ask almost anyone and you will find they each have a differing opinion on what should happen with health care reform (HCR). Everybody knows that while the cost of living goes up, the average worker's wage goes down and health care costs continue to sky rocket, something needs to be done to make our health care system more effective and efficient.

Well, it's pharmacy's chance to speak up. What would you like to see happen with health care reform, as a pharmacist, pharmacy owner or pharmacy employee?

Below you will find the opinion of NACDS and NCPA, specifically, what steps need to be taken to make sure that pharmacists are at the table of the HCR conversation.

NACDS Principles of HealthCare Reform

NCPA Recommendations for HealthCare Reform

Missouri Pharmacy Blog Receives Recognition

2009-07-29T13:48:00.001-07:00

Recently, Jill Gordon of NursingSchools.net ranked the Missouri Pharmacy Association's (MPA) blog, The Pharmacy Blog, in "The 100 Best Blogs for Pharmacy Students."

The MPA blog has been online for nearly a year, but this is the first in an expected line of blog recommendations it has received.

The MPA represents pharmacists and pharmacies across the state of Missouri and offers this blog as a service from pharmacists to pharmacists.

New flu resembles feared 1918 virus: study

2009-07-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new H1N1 influenza virus bears a disturbing resemblance to the virus strain that caused the 1918 flu pandemic, with a greater ability to infect the lungs than common seasonal flu viruses, researchers reported on Monday.

Tests in several animals confirmed other studies that have shown the new swine flu strain can spread beyond the upper respiratory tract to go deep into the lungs -- making it more likely to cause pneumonia, the international team said.

In addition, they found that people who survived the 1918 pandemic seem to have extra immune protection against the virus, again confirming the work of other researchers.

Read the FULL STORY.

Missouri Pharmacist Wins the Lottery

2009-06-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Many will enter, few will win; roughly 8 per year to be exact. Those are the odds pharmacist John Markovich went up against when he purchased a ticket to play the Missouri Lottery earlier this week. Markovich was pleasantly shocked when he discovered that his ticket had won the May 16 Missouri Lotto jackpot.

Yesterday, Mr. Markovich was presented with a larger than life check worth $2 million, much better than a tour of Mr. Wonka's super secret candy factory.

Markovich owns and operates City Pharmacy in Slater, MO. Established in 1946 by his father, City Pharmacy has been family owned and operated ever since. John attended pharmacy shool in Creighton University and followed in his father's footsteps.

Most people in his position would immediately quit their 9-5 job and begin vacationing around the world. But Markovich remains committed to his community and his patients. Even today, this jackpot winner can be found behind the counter dispensing medication and advice to patients.

Plans for his winnings will eventualy include a trip to the tropics, but like most pharmacists much will depend on finding relief to cover the pharmacy counter while he's away.

To view the Missouri Lottery's press release, click HERE.

The MPA's Weekly Pharmacist Spotlight is on:

John Markovich, Pharmacist
City Pharmacy, Slater
Creighton University, Class of 1981

Q. What does the pharmacy profession mean to you?
A. Service to my community as a part of the medical team and being an active member of the community.

Q. What steps are you taking to adapt to a constantly changing technological and professional environment in pharmacy?
A. Continuing Education and Journals.

Q. What would be one innovative idea you could give other MPA members to help them build their practice?
A. Be very available to your customers, day and night.

Q. What have you enjoyed most about your involvement with the pharmacy profession?
A. The people I've met here in the pharmacy. Never a dull moment!

Congratulations to John Markovich from the Missouri Pharmacy Association!

"Community Pharmacy Heroes Prevent U.S. Swine Flu Epidemic"

2009-05-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

By: Dr. Lawrence "LB" Brown, PharmD, PhD

Imagine that the title of this article was the headline in several U.S. newspapers. Now imagine just how little effort it would take on the part of our Nation’s pharmacists to make this headline a reality.

As many of you know, there has been a recent outbreak of swine flu around the world, with nearly 50 reported cases in the United States at the time of the writing of this article. And with the rapidly increasing number of cases of swine flu internationally, there is a serious concern that this outbreak of swine flu could become a pandemic crisis.

The Center for Disease Control is doing all they can to make citizens aware of how to protect themselves from the spread of virus, as are many news outlets. However, think how much more powerful and effective these efforts could be if pharmacists, in large numbers, jumped in to do their part to keep this outbreak controlled.

It would be hard to argue that pharmacists are not well positioned, within the communities of this nation, to play a bigger role in the public health efforts of our nation’s health care system. Pharmacists are easily accessible, most patients visit the pharmacy at least once a month, and the majority of community pharmacists play the role of patient educator on a daily basis.

So it is not a huge stretch of the imagination that the large workforce of community- embedded pharmacists could easily take on a much larger role to improve the public health of Americans.

We are not talking rocket science, nor pharmaceutical care, or even medication therapy management, we are just talking about pharmacists around the nation providing information to patients to help prevent the continued spread of the virus, and to provide a calming voice for patients who may be extremely worried that the swine flu will hit them next, or that the cough they have is a sure sign that they already have it.

And here are a couple of simple steps that community pharmacists can take to make a small difference that adds up to a huge difference in your communities.

1. Make sure the pharmacy staff washes their hands regularly throughout the day, especially if they are shaking hands with customers or ringing up sales

2. Clean the pharmacy counter, where patients pick up their prescriptions, regularly throughout the day

3. Provide a container of hand sanitizer on the pharmacy counter for your patients’ use

4. Provide a calm and comforting voice for those patients who express concern about the swine flu outbreak

5. Remind patients that hand sanitizers are okay, but regular thorough hand washing throughout the day is the best way to remove any possible virus from their hands

6. Remind patients to cover their nose or mouth when coughing, and to wash their hands afterward

7. Remind patients to stay home if they have flu symptoms, so they don’t spread the flu to others, and to stay home until 2 days after their symptoms go away

8. Remind patients that if they get so sick that they have difficulty breathing, then they should go to the hospital

9. Contact your local public health office to see if there is anything else you could be doing to help the effort to decrease the spread of the swine flu

10. Every year, find a way to increase the number of your patients who get the flu shot

With just these ten easy steps, pharmacists could have a huge impact on limiting the spread of the virus, and could truly become one of the heroes of the health care system. Many of you have previously said that you wanted to become a pharmacist so that you could make a difference. What better way to make a difference in your community than to become more engaged in public health initiatives.

“Community Pharmacy Heroes Prevent U.S. Swine Flu Epidemic”

You all have the power to make this headline a reality!

Dr. Lawrence “LB” Brown, PharmD, PhD is a former APhA Speaker for the House of Delegates. Currently, Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor and Director at the UT Center for Medication Therapy Management for the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.

If you would like to contact Dr. Brown, find his information below:

847 Monroe Ave #205G
Memphis, TN 38103
901-448-1455
LB@utmem.edu

Pseudoephedrine Legislation Gains Statewide Interest

2009-03-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

For those of us in the know in the pharmacy world here in Missouri, a new piece of legislation has come into the lime light. Media coverage, polls and consumers have spent a good deal of time focusing on the issue in recent weeks.

What is the issue, anyway?

The Missouri legislature is considering a couple of bills that would require that pseudoephedrine drugs (common, over the counter, or OTC, cold medicines, mostly) become a Schedule III controlled substance which would mean anyone going into a pharmacy to relieve cold symptoms must have with them a prescription to receive the medication.

Currently, a person in Missouri who desires a cold medication can buy them OTC at a pharmacy without a physicians approval. They must document their purchase within the pharmacy in a "logbook" that is variably checked by law enforcement to track methamphetamine users who have logged their name in other pharmacies.

The problem that law enforcement in Missouri runs into is that many of the methamphetamine labs and methamphetamine users come from individuals who go from pharmacy to pharmacy buying up pseudoephedrine products to create meth products (they call this "smurfing" pharmacies, jumping from one pharmacy to another to buy OTC drugs). The argument for this legislation would be that if you cut off the addicts from the source by requiring a prescription, you will snuff out the problem.

In 2008, the Missouri Legislature and the Governor signed into legislation a bill that would help reduce the problem by implementing a real time, electronic monitoring system used in every pharmacy in the state, similar to the system being used in Oklahoma. This would require that a patient fill out his or her information on an electronic system that would update law enforcement of their purchase immediately if they had purchased pseudoephedrine products in other stores within a relatively short amount of time.

Obviously, methamphetamine and it's precursor drug, pseudoephedrine, are problems in the state of Missouri due to addicts and abusers of the product. But, to require a patient to receive a prescription for a normal, everyday OTC drug would be an unfair burden to the patient and would signify the end of the legislation that was passed just last year but was never given a chance for implementation because money was withheld from the program.

For more information on the issue and news and opinions from across the state, check out the links below:

1. Meth bill passes House committee
2. Editorial on the issue
3. Anti-meth bills too extreme
4. Missouri: Bill would require prescription for Sudafed
5. MO bill would require prescription for Sudafed
6. Anti-meth bill would penalize sick people, burden Doctors
7. Support, but no money for Mo. Anti-meth bill
8. Washington Missouri - Investigator Testifies in Favor of Tougher Anti-Meth Law

Anti-Meth Legislation Gets Unfavorable Reactions

2009-02-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

Currently, there is a bill in the Missouri Senate, SB 160, that would require all over the counter (OTC) medications that include pseudoephedrine as an ingredient to be a prescription only product.

What the bill would effectively establish is putting pseudoephedrine products into the Schedule III category of drugs, making it a controlled substance and requiring that every patient who comes into a pharmacy and desires the effective version of cold medicines (with pseudoephedrine) have a prescription for that medication. Currently, you do not need a prescription to get cold products OTC.

Below is a link to community responses to this legislation:

1. Anti-Meth bills too extreme

Contact ABC’s Good Morning America TODAY!

2009-01-14T15:02:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning, January 14th, 2009, on ABC’s Good Morning America, Mellody Hobson urged viewers to purchase their prescriptions through mail order, repeating the now familiar falsehood that mail order prescriptions are beneficial to patients. We hear this repeated time and time again by so called “experts” despite the evidence that mail order is in fact NOT in the best interest of patients.

As the prescription drug experts, you know the vital role that local community pharmacists play every day in patients’ lives. One on one consultation between the patient and pharmacist improves outcomes and ultimately reduces health care costs. No mail order facility can ever replace the invaluable service you provide each and every day to your patients.

We need you to respond to this “mail order is cheaper” argument that is continually perpetuated on television segments and news articles.

Call the ABC News main line at 212-456-7777 T O D A Y and let them know that Mellody Hobson’s comments on Good Morning America were false: mail order prescriptions are not in the best interest of our nations patients.

ABC News: 212-456-7777

A staff person from ABC News will answer. Tell them your name, location and pharmacy. Below are some talking points for you to use:

1. This morning Mellody Hobson told your viewers that mail order was a way to save money on prescriptions.

2. Patients NEED consultation of their pharmacist and can’t get that through the mail order pharmacy.

3. Weather conditions and long delivery times can have SERIOUS affects on the drugs as well.

4. Mail order could ultimately cost the life of the patient. Is that what GMA is comfortable endorsing?

Pharmacists Must Take Action! Don't Let Washington Change Healthcare Without Pharmacy Input

2008-12-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

For years, pharmacists have been forced to sit in the dark on national health care issues even though year after year pharmacists are voted one of the most trusted sectors of all health professions.

Pharmacists work very hard and very long hours. They see more patients than any other health care professional. And, they are required to be educated and up to date on information in accordance with their profession as required by law and by many other professional standards, not the least of which is their own desire to ensure they know everything they can to help whomever they can.

So, the Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA), in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association's (APhA) recent mailings encouraging pharmacists to get in touch with legislators, wants to make sure that law and policy makers hear the voice of pharmacy.

Please see the information below received directly from APhA and use it as a template for your communication with Congressmen, Congresswomen and Senators who will decide what path pharmacy takes in the following years.

If you have any questions about how you can help get the word out about pharmacy, contact the Missouri Pharmacy Association for directives at (573) 636-7522.

Urge Your Legislators to Recognize the Value of Pharmacists' Services

Dear Pharmacist:

We need your help! This week, instead of sending you our regularly scheduled Legislative & Regulatory Update, we are asking for your help to secure a seat for pharmacists at the health care reform debate "table". With several Members of Congress currently drafting their proposals, now is the time for them to hear from you about the valuable role that pharmacists can play in reforming our health care system.

In fact, while one recent health care reform proposal highlighted the need for addressing chronic disease, increasing collaboration, using non-physician providers, and facilitating patient self-empowerment – there was no specific mention of the role of the pharmacist in this 100+ page document. We are also aware that other Members of Congress are drafting health care reform bills based on specific state-based collaborative models that do not include pharmacists.

Please take a few moments to contact your legislators to educate them about the valuable role that pharmacists can play in improving the health of patients and to urge their inclusion of pharmacists services in their proposals.

Action:
Urge your Members of Congress to recognize the role pharmacists can play to help advance their health care reform efforts.
1. Click on the following link to enter the Legislative Action Center: Legislative Action Center
2. Enter your zip-code and click "Go"
3. Edit the pre-written letter as you see fit
4. Enter your name and address and select "Send Message"

Targets:
All Members of Congress.

Sample Letter:
Dear (Name):
I am writing as a pharmacist and constituent about health care reform to encourage you to recognize the critical role that pharmacists can play in improving patient outcomes while reducing overall health care costs.

Like you, pharmacists are interested in shifting our health care system to a quality-based approach, and see patient access to pharmacist-provided patient care services as an absolutely essential step to achieving this objective. These services can help to ensure proper medication use while improving medication adherence, both of which improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce overall health care costs. Such services will empower patients by educating them on their conditions and helping them become active participants in their health care decisions.

As a pharmacist, I am one of the most accessible health care providers. Unfortunately, my medication expertise is one of the most underutilized resources on the health care team. Pharmacists are in the unique position to help physicians with the coordination of care for patients with complex medication regimens, especially for those with chronic illnesses who constitute the bulk of our current health care spending.

As you consider how to improve our nation's health care system, I urge you not to overlook the valuable role that pharmacists can play in improving the health of your constituents. These services are provided to many patients in the private sector and some public programs. Now is the time to provide Medicare beneficiaries access to these necessary services.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I welcome the opportunity to discuss how pharmacists can improve the quality of our health care system services.

A Pharmacists Response to PBM Data-Mining - CVS/Caremark Caught in the Act

2008-11-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

By: Christian Tadrus, Pharm.D., R.Ph.
Moberly, MO

A Pharmacists Response to PBM Data-Mining

This issue of data-mining dispensing data in order to influence prescriber and customer behavior should be on the radar of every pharmacist, pharmaceutical provider and pharmacy organization in the country as the practice brings up a whole host of issues not the least of which is pushing for inappropriate therapeutic switches.

There is also evidence that some PBMs are using this data mining technique to identify expensive specialty and even often inexpensive maintenance medications from claims data and then contacting patients directly with letters suggesting that they begin ordering these medications directly from the PBM-owned mail-order houses often enticing the customer with a very specific cost savings offer if they switch.

Considering that all PBMs such as CVS Caremark require pharmacies to provide patient-specific information in order to pay a claim, this practice might be equated to forcing pharmacists to provide the bullets for the gun with which they will soon be shot.

To read the story this post refers to click here.

Christian Tadrus, Pharm.D., R.Ph.

The Pharmacy Blog!

2008-11-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

The pharmacy blog is brought to you by the Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA).

Due to the high demand for good content in the pharmacy field, the MPA has decided to start a blog "for Pharmacists, by Pharmacists." In this blog you will hear about many opinions, views and thoughts from professionals from around the state of Missouri as well as the nation.

This blog, as mentioned at the bottom of the page, does not necessarily represent the views of the MPA and therefore the articles posted here are from individuals who desire to put forth information they deem helpful for other similarly minded people.

We are glad you came to look at the sight, hopefully you will find the Missouri Pharmacy Association's blog, The Pharmacy Blog, a helpful resource for you and your profession!

For questions and concerns or if you would like to post to this blog and are a member of the MPA as well as a registered pharmacist, please contact Travis Fitzwater via email at travis@morx.com.