Licensing

Generic medications made up 89% of dispensed U.S. prescriptions in 2016, but only 26% of total drug costs. The use of generics brought savings of $253 billion in 2016, bringing the 10-year savings from generics to $1.67 trillion, according to the ninth annual “Generic Access and Savings in the U.S.” report compiled by the QuintilesIMS Institute for the Association for Accessible Medicines (formerly the Generic Pharmaceutical Association).

At RBC 2017, Cardinal Health launched a new program that minimizes the complexities for a retail independent pharmacy to establish a CLIA-waived flu and strep testing service for their patients. The launch of such a service further emphasizes the emerging trend of direct patient-care services being offered in community pharmacy and the consumer-driven demand of accessing convenient healthcare services. For certain screenings, patients will no longer have to make a doctor’s appointment or schedule a visit with their local urgent care clinics.

As independent pharmacies face more margin pressure as payers look to cut costs, there is a new way pharmacists are coming together to get paid for the enhanced services they offer patients every day.

As Cardinal Health RBC 2017 attendees listened at the tradeshow’s Opening Session on Thursday, July 27, the U.S. Senate was taking up the question of healthcare reform — something that Cardinal Health SVP of government relations, Sean Callinicos, highlighted as among the top three legislative issues that will most affect community pharmacists in the coming year. The other top issues for pharmacy that he addressed were increased drug prices and the opioid crisis.

WASHINGTON — PantheRx Specialty Pharmacy, a Pennsylvania-based pharmacy with a focus on rare diseases, has received specialty pharmacy practice accreditation from the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation, the organization announced Monday.

WASHINGTON — The Association for Accessible Medicines has named a new deputy general counsel. Rachel Sher joins the advocacy organization from her role as a senior policy analyst in the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Policy.