Regulatory and Washington

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Healthcare organizations AmerisourceBergen, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Pfizer and Prime Therapeutics on Tuesday joined Walgreens to combat the national opioid abuse crisis by expanding the availability of safe medication disposal kiosks to an additional 900 Walgreens stores near military bases and other areas where the opioid epidemic has challenged communities.

When the expansion is complete, kiosks will be available in approximately 1,500 Walgreens stores nationwide.

WASHINGTON — More than 60 Congressional staffers and guests gathered for the 31st Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus briefing last week to learn more about dietary supplement use and nutrient intakes in U.S. adults, as well as ways to improve nutritional habits and access to products that will help them achieve their health and wellness goals.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — As it continues to expand on its Drug Competition Action Plan, the Food and Drug Administration has outlined new efforts to make it easier for manufacturers to bring complex generics to market. In a post on the FDA’s blog, commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb noted that in many instances complex drugs — which include drugs with complex active ingredients and complex drug-device combination products — do not have generic competitors for various reasons.

WASHINGTON — Earlier this week several Congress leaders introduced HR 3841, the SNAP Vitamin and Mineral Improvement Act of 2017, which allows for the inclusion of a multivitamin under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined the National Foundation for Infectious Disease, along with other public health and medical groups, on Thursday to kick off the 2017-18 flu vaccination campaign.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Retroactive pharmacy payment reductions, a portion of direct and indirect remuneration fees, could cost the federal government $3.4 billion between 2018 and 2027. That’s according to a new study from Wakely Consulting Firm that the National Community Pharmacists Association commissioned and whose results it shared Thursday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Working with international law enforcement agencies and regulators, the Food and Drug Administration recently acted against some 500 websites selling illegal and unapproved versions of such prescription drugs as opioids, epinephrine injections and antibiotics directly to American patients.

PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Thrifty White Pharmacy is making a significant difference in patient lives through its new diabetes care program, which places recipients into a medsync program replete with comprehensive medication therapy management sessions, patient disease management goal setting and follow through. Thrifty White also offers a compliance packaging service, HealthyPack Rx, that helps organize and manage a patient's medication.