GPhA’s huge bills introduced

You need to read Greg Reybold’s legislative update for week 5 of the session. The two major bills we’re supporting were introduced, and they can be game changers for the profession.

The most notable parts of these bills:

• They would prohibit PBM “steering” patients to their own pharmacies.
• They would prohibit PBM-owned pharmacies from accepting “steered” patients.
• They would prohibit insurance companies and PBMs from poaching patient information from their pharmacies for profit.
• They would strengthen the law that limits the use of mail-order pharmacies.
• They would limit delays from prior authorization.
• They would require PBMs to pass along rebate savings to patients.

And more. Click here to read Greg’s full update, which includes info on other health-related bills.

Are CDC’s criteria too lax?

The CDC has “opioid overutilization criteria” that’s used to help spot potential opioid abusers. But one researcher ran the numbers to see how accurate those criteria were.

What she found: In each of three six-month cycles, less than one percent of patients met that overutilization criteria.

But over those 18 months, the actual proportion of patients who were diagnosed with opioid use disorder (or who overdosed) “increased from 3.91% in the first cycle to 7.55% in the last.”

So it seems that either the mark was set too high, or prescription data isn’t a great way to intercept abusers.

Drop and give me 40

Researchers found that the risk of cardiovascular events “was 96 percent lower among men who could do 40 or more push-ups during timed tests compared to the men who could do fewer than 10.”

Compounders: Changes to the 503A bulks list

The FDA has finalized a rule giving info on several bulk drug substances that compounders (who aren’t registered as outsourcing facilities) can and cannot use.

There are six bulk drug substances that now can be used by non-outsourcing compounders, and four that cannot.

Six bulk drug substances that are ON the 503A bulks list:

• Brilliant Blue G, also known as Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250.
• Cantharidin (for topical use only)
• Diphenylcyclopropenone (for topical use only)
• N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (for topical use only)
• Squaric acid dibutyl ester (for topical use only)
• Thymol iodide (for topical use only)

Four substances that are OFF the 503A bulks list:

• Oxitriptan
• Piracetam
• Silver Protein Mild
• Tranilast

The final rule goes into effect on March 21. Click here for details from the FDA including a link to the final rule

This again

The flu is still widespread. That is all.