Drug therapy can bring a complexity to a diabetic’s healthcare and every day life as there are many different types of drugs that work in different ways to help keep blood sugar under control.…
New research from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) shows the cost of medication, when administered in a hospital or physician’s office, was much higher than if that same medication was purchased directly by the patient through a specialty pharmacy.
Some specific findings from the research include:
For more information related to this research, please visit https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/new-research-details-prescription-drug-pricing-pain-for-patients-as-average-hospital-prices-are-8-200-higher-than-specialty-pharmacies-per-single-treatment.
On March 29, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first naloxone product available without a prescription. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of and is the standard treatment for opioid overdose. Emergent BioSolutions anticipates its Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride) 4 mg nasal spray will be available for consumers to purchase over-the-counter by August 2023. Pricing information has not yet been released. Currently, prescription versions will remain available through pharmacies (via standing order or co-prescription laws) and other community distribution methods.
For more information visit: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-over-counter-naloxone-nasal-spray
Photo Credit: Giovanni Cancemi - http://stock.adobe.com
In March 2023, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs released a document supporting findings that drug shortages increased by almost 30% between 2021 and 2022. The number of active drug shortages in the U.S. reached a peak of 295 at the end of 2022. In just the last 60 days, two generic manufacturers have left the generic drug market with Akorn Pharmaceuticals filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Eagle Pharmaceuticals withdrawing its only generic product from the market. Furthermore, increases in telehealth services for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have only expanded the shortage of products like immediate-release (IR) amphetamine mixed salts to methylphenidate. If this trend of generic manufacturers leaving the market continues, we could see less opportunity for discounts and increased future drug shortages, leading to an increase in usage of more costly brand name medications.
https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Drug-Shortages-HSGAC-Majority-Staff-Report-2023-03-22.pdf
Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its updated recommendations to immunization schedules for children and adolescents 18 years of age or younger, and for adults 19 years of age or older. These schedules were previously approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in October 2022. With this update, COVID-19 vaccinations were included as part of the routine immunization schedules for both children, adolescents, and adults; however, this does not mean COVID-19 vaccinations will be required by schools or workplaces. School-entry vaccination requirements are determined by state or local jurisdictions. For more information on CDC vaccination schedules, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/
