Georgia hospitals hit with Medicare penalties

One in four Georgia hospitals will be penalized by Medicare for safety issues. For some (e.g., St. Mary’s in Athens) it’s the first time being penalized . For others (e.g., Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah) it’s the fifth year in a row. Per Georgia Health News:

The Georgia hospitals facing pay reductions include some of the largest and best known. They include Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta; AU Medical Center in Augusta; Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah; Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta; Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus; and Coliseum Northside Hospital in Macon.

The good news? Last year it was 35 percent of the state’s hospitals being penalized.

House approves limited marijuana oil production

The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow limited production and distribution of low-THC oil from marijuana plants within the state. As the AJC explains:

Georgia has allowed patients suffering from severe seizures, deadly cancers and other illnesses to use medical marijuana oil since 2015. But it’s against the law to grow, buy, sell or transport the drug, leaving patients no permissible method of obtaining it.

Georgians demand chance to switch insurers

A group of Georgians has filed a class-action suit against Anthem, claiming the insurer misrepresented its network — saying (among other things) that it would cover care at WellStar facilities; the company never reached an agreement with WellStar.

Because of that (and other reasons), the plaintiffs are demanding the right to switch insurers even though open enrollment has ended.

Put your money where your mouth is

Drug companies: You know, we could lower costs if we didn’t have to pay discounts to PBMs.

U.S. Senator Mike Braun: Great! Let’s ban those discounts, shall we? (“Braun’s bill would ban rebates in all private plans, including employer-sponsored ones.”

PBMs, not surprisingly, don’t like the idea.

FDA approves nasal ketamine

The headline says it all: The FDA has approved the first version of the fast-acting antidepressant ketamine for people with treatment-resistant depression.

“The recommended course of the newly approved drug is twice a week, for four weeks, with boosters as needed, along with one of the commonly used oral antidepressants.”

Virtual lobbying, NACDS style

Want to send a message about DIR reform, provider status, and other pro-pharmacy policies? Lucky for you, the good folks at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores have a way to do it without leaving your desk: the Virtual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill. Click the link, give the site some basic info about where you live, and you can customize a message that will be sent right to your U.S. congressfolk.

Frankie* say relax!

Pharmacy technician was ranked the #9 least stressful job by CareerCast. Pharmacist wasn’t in either the top or bottom 10 (the whole list isn’t available).

Because we know you’re interested, the least stressful overall job is apparently diagnostic medical sonographer, followed by compliance officer.

* I’ll take ’80s Pop Music References for $400, Alex.

The long(ish) read: quitting antidepressants

Do it slowly. “Mustering solid evidence, two psychiatrists have denounced their field’s standard guidelines for how best to wean patients from depression medications.”