Practice Tips

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives passed a bill — dubbed the American Health Care Act — intended to repeal and replace several significant portions of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The measure passed narrowly by 217-213 vote and now moves on to the Senate, where the measure faces “uncertainty” regarding whether it will pass, according to various news reports. All 193 Democrats who voted on the measure voted “no,” along with 20 Republicans.

CHICAGO — An online survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association found Americans are split on whether positive or negative health messages are more likely to help tobacco and nicotine users reduce their use of those substances or quit.

Positive health information about the benefits of quitting was believed to be more likely to help someone reduce use of or quit using tobacco or nicotine by 34% of Americans, while 33% thought health information focused on the harmful effects of tobacco/nicotine is more likely to help.

PATERSON, N.J. — Amneal Biosciences, the exclusive U.S. distributor for Tepadina, on Thursday began shipping the branded thiotepa. The product is available for purchase through major wholesalers and distributors.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Industry veteran Bruce Kneeland is heading to the Last Frontier.

Good Neighbor Pharmacy and PrescribeWellness are co-sponsoring the Eight Great Pharmacies in Alaska road trip, set to take place in June.

Kneeland is working with managers from Good Neighbor Pharmacy, PrescribeWellness, the Alaska State Pharmacy Association and others who know the area to solicit nominations. Kneeland is specifically looking for pharmacies that are doing noteworthy things that help them provide better care while also achieving financial success.

BOISE, Idaho — An Albertsons pharmacy technician has become the first in the nation to administer an immunization to a patient. The new ability for the technician is the product of new law in Idaho brought about by a partnership between Albertsons and Washington State University College of Pharmacy, who worked together to develop the first pilot program to train pharmacy technicians to provide immunizations with permission from the Idaho board of pharmacy.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Dosing, labeling and a seemingly endless range of allergy medication options can make picking the right medicine a complicated task for some parents, according to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the University of Michigan, released Monday.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration approved Neurocrine Biosciences’ Ingrezza (valbenazine) capsules to treat adults with tardive dyskinesia. This is the first drug approved by the FDA for this condition.  

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive involuntary movements, usually of the jaw, lips and tongue, such as grimacing, sticking out the tongue and smacking the lips. Some affected people also experience involuntary movement of the extremities or difficulty breathing.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Although spring has not yet sprung in some areas of the country, it is certain to soon. With warmer weather coming, Meijer pharmacy experts provided allergy tips.