April 2006 e-news

m            AvMed Medicare MTM Online Messaging

m            Medisca Compounding Training

m            Communications

m            Medicare Part D Enrollment Deadline

m            SSRI Packaging

AvMed Medicare Part D MTM Online Messaging Now In Place

Messaging is now in place to alert pharmacies of possible opportunities to provide Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services within the AvMed Medicare Part D MTM program. Each time a prescription claim is processed for an AvMed Medicare Part D member, the claims processor will send the following message: “PT OUTCOMES MTM ELIG 515-237-0001”. The message will appear in the “Secondary Message” field. The message is designed to serve as a reminder of the ability to identify, provide, document, and bill for MTM services for AvMed Medicare Part D members. Keep in mind you can earn $10, $20, $30 or more for MTM services you provide. All AvMed Medicare Part D members are eligible for a comprehensive MTM program administered by Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care. For more information, contact PPSC at 1-888-778-9909 or customerservice@ppsconline.com or Outcomes at 1-515-237-0001 or info@getoutcomes.com.

Medisca® Network Inc.  -  Join Us in Florida Special 15% PPSC Discount

The Science of Pharmaceutical Compounding: Pharmacist Training™ is scheduled for April 28 – May 1, 2006. Two-part Certificate Program composed of self-study and live components provide the strong foundation needed to build a successful compounding practice.  Subjects are:

­         Dosage Form & Delivery System Design

­         Excipient Function & Selection

­         Laboratory Procedures & Techniques

­         Technological Applications in Compounding

­         Decision-making for Formula Development

­         Marketing & Sales Approaches

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The Science of Pharmaceutical Compounding: Technician Training is scheduled for May 19 – 21, 2006.  Designed with the pharmacy technician in mind, this Certificate Program establishes the necessary fundamentals of Pharmacy Compounding by placing emphasis on “Laboratory Skill Sets.”  Programs include:

­         Compounding by Chemical Composition

­         Pharmaceutical Calculations

­         Dosage Form Design

­         Excipient Function & Selection

­         Technological Application in Compounding

For more information call 1 (866) 333-7811 or www.medisca.net.

Communications

Be on the lookout for weekly program fax alerts, Pharmacy Select Generic Contract updates bi-weekly, monthly network communications, bi-monthly e-news and monthly newsletters.  PPSC will feature an interview with different pharmacy owners about how they are growing or changing their business.  This is your chance to tell all about your pharmacy success story. A PPSC representative may be contacting you soon.  Please contact PPSC toll-free at 1-888-778-9909 if you have a success story to share with your colleagues.

May 15^th Enrollment Deadline Nears

As the May 15^th deadlines looms near millions of seniors have yet to sign up.  President Bush, trying to gain public interest, urged seniors in the Midwest on Tuesday to sign up before the deadline.  In New York 1.2 million (40% of the state’s seniors) have no drug coverage and have not enrolled.  That’s the most of any state.  Social Security Administration Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart visited a West Palm Beach low-income senior housing development Wednesday to persuade seniors about Medicare Part D.  Many said they were confused by the drug benefit or did not understand how it would help them.  Pharmacists have helped and can continue to play a significant role in helping people understand the benefits of the Medicare Part D program. Thank you for your efforts in helping Medicare beneficiaries and their families.

Industry News  -  SSRI’s Packaging Update

Pharmacists should know that unit-of-use packaging for antidepressants is not a statutory or regulatory requirement. The FDA has not imposed any legally binding rule or otherwise attempted to implement a binding policy that requires unit-of-use packaging for SSRIs. FDA’s Office of New Drugs (OND) first suggested unit-of-use packaging with the goal of ensuring that a Med-Guide is provided to each patient. As a result of industry objections, OND has confirmed that while the FDA encourages unit-of-use packaging, it is not an absolute requirement, and that the FDA is open to other options for distributing the Med-Guides. OND further confirmed that there is no deadline for any manufacturer or distributor to implement unit-of-use packaging, and that the FDA is unlikely to pursue anyone for not implementing such packaging. Rather, given the considerable dissent on the issue, OGD can and will consider alternatives to unit-of-use. In particular, in lieu of unit-of-use packaging, OGD has suggested that generic manufacturers distribute an appropriate amount of Med-Guides with each shipment of product. For example, for a bottle containing 1000 tablets, OGD has suggested that the manufacturer also include one Med-Guide for every 30-60 tablets. According to OGD, this alternative solution permits bulk packaging of antidepressants, but at the same time provides enough Med-Guides for every patient. We hope this addresses your concerns in relation to packaging for antidepressants. The primary goal of the FDA is to ensure that patients receive the Med-Guides with their prescriptions. If the manufacturer provides a sufficient number of Med-Guides and your pharmacy ensures that these Med-Guides are provided to each patient, the particular package size should not impact the patient.