Pharmacy Technology

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Once again, the Democratic Party and the Obama administration are taking point on a relief plan for long-term or recently unemployed and underemployed Americans hit hard by the recession and the still-dismal job market. But their efforts to extend the program that provides additional emergency Medicaid funding to the states could provide additional relief to pharmacies that serve Medicaid patients, too.

CHICAGO A group that promotes education and awareness around diabetes is calling on the government and private insurers to use diabetes education as a cost-saving strategy.

The American Association of Diabetes Educators hopes to provide diabetes self-management training to patients with prediabetes and recommended that private insurers and Medicare include it as a covered benefit.

CARY, N.C. Generic drug maker Cornerstone Therapeutics has filed for approval of a treatment for cold symptoms, Cornerstone said Thursday.

The drug maker announced the filing of an application with the Food and Drug Administration for CRTX-067 (chlorpheniramine polistirex and hydrocodone polistirex) oral suspension, a generic version of UCB’s Tussionex.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The Senate has passed a measure to extend the federal funding level for state Medicaid programs.

The Senate voted 61-39 for the bill, pushed by the retail pharmacy lobby and an extension of the higher federal medical assistance percentage that was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The House will vote on the measure next week, and both houses must pass the bill in identical form before it goes to president Obama’s desk.