FDA revokes approval for COVID antibody drug; others remain available … Once-a-week insulin treatment equals daily therapy in diabetes study … Two remedesivir drug combo treatments equally effective, NIH study finds … Bill would expand senior access to community pharmacies, advocates say … Boosters in our future? Drugmakers appear to be planning on it … CDC: Spring flu spike of years past hasn’t happened in 2021
With vaccine approval anticipated shortly, the best communicators will have the smoothest Phase 1 vaccination process, say Omnicare and PharMerica. Community pharmacies have recommendations as well.
Future vaccines will be available to community pharmacies through partnerships with network
administrators, HHS has announced. The public-private collaboration will help cover expected distribution gaps, stakeholders say.
Nursing home and assisted living operators should talk with their existing pharmacy provider about their capability to participate in the federal government’s new COVID-19 vaccine delivery program, advocates say.
A powerful congressman has asked long-term care pharmacists to help monitor and reduce antipsychotic use in nursing homes.
Hydrocodone combination products such as Vicodin will now be in the same, more-restrictive category as OxyContin and fentanyl under the Controlled Substances Act, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Thursday.
As the Baby Boom generation continues to age and move through the healthcare system, there are approximately 10,000 people entering Medicare every day. Additionally, some estimates are that the number of people over 65 will increase by 50% by 2020. However, there is not a linear translation into an increase in the traditional nursing home beds. With patients demanding more options for care, there is an increased focus on treating patients in a variety of non-acute care settings.
A bill proposed in the House of Representatives would increase oversight of compounding pharmacies, which long-term care operators and other healthcare stakeholders called for after last year’s deadly outbreak of meningitis was traced to a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts.
Long-term care pharmacies are struggling with an Affordable Care Act provision related to short-cycle dispensing of brand name oral solid drugs, according to a recent letter from the Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance and the National Community Pharmacists Association.
The National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday called for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect additional data before implementing a rule that would shorten the medication dispensing cycle in long-term care facilities.
