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 TPC Surveys Due
February 15, 2012
It's that time of year again and the Annual User and Organzational Surveys will be e-mailed out soon for easy completion online!
Please have all users of the TPC software complete the User Survey and ONE person from your organization complete the Organizational Survey.
Results are very important as we plan to improve TPC with future enhancements. Your feedback is appreciated! Be on the lookout! |
SAVE-THE-DATES!
 Special Conference Call: Help Save the Health Safety Net!
Don't miss this special conference call on January 11, 2012 at 11:30am! The Governor's proposed budget for the next biennium was released right before Christmas, and it cuts state funding for Virginia's health care safety net in half. That's a loss of $5 million! We need your help to preserve state funding for the work you do.
The call will include a briefing on the specifics of the budget cuts, and what you can do to help get funding restored. You play a vital role in helping your patients obtain needed medicines. We don't want that to stop. Please participate in the call! RSVP for conference call information by January 9th!
Health Care Safety Net Legislative Day
Plan to join health safety net colleagues for Health Care Safety Net Legislative Day in Richmond on January 18, 2012 from 8am-1:30pm! With very serious threats to state funding for the health care safety net, your participation is crucial. Legislators need to hear from you about the increasing numbers of uninsured patients you are serving and the challenges you face in caring for them.
Click here to register!
13th Annual CBI Patient Assistance
and Access Programs Conference
The PAPs will begin to make changes as health reform is implemented and many patients become insured. This year's PAP conference will focus on these changes. If you want to learn more and exchange ideas, the conference will be held March 6-7, 2012 in Baltimore, MD. Click here for information. |
Upcoming TPC Trainings
Beginner
1/25/12-Online
2/9/12-Online
Intermediate/Advanced
1/24/12-Online
3/13/12-Online
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QUARTERLY DATA TRANSFER
The next quarterly report is due January 14th! Remember you have between the 1st and the 14th of January to send your data before the system locks you out. *You must be updated to Version 8.0.0.0 in order to transfer data. REMINDER: All RxRelief Virginia grantees and Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA) members need to transmit data during the 1st week of EVERY month for special reporting needs. |
Quick Links...
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Welcome to The Pharmacy Connection's quarterly e-newsletter! We've got some great information to share in this issue. |
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Version 8.0.0.0 of TPC Now Available
Happy New Year! We hope you have already downloaded the TPC enhancements released last month. If so, you already know that over 35 new features and functionalities have been added to TPC! As requested by you, our TPC users, some of these features include:
- Ability to scan documentation;
- Ability to manage medication routes;
- Link to patient education via Epocrates;
- Online web portal access to PAPs with online reordering;
- New Delivery Status reports;
- and much much more!
We have also added a new report to help you prepare for full implementation of the Affordable Care Act. With the new Patient By Income Level Report, you can now run a list of all patients in each of the following income categories: 0-133%, 134-200%, 201-300%, 301-400%. As Medicaid expands to include many of your patients, and subsidies become available for others to purchase coverage in the exchange, these reports will help you determine the type of insurance, if any, for which each patient is eligible.
If you are currently running version 7.0.0.3, please be sure to update your system to version 8.0.0.0. This can be done by accessing the Utilities menu in TPC and select Check for TPC Updates. Click Check For Updates. Locate the 8000 Standard Updater file and click Update Now. The file will be downloaded and applied behind the scenes. If you have multiple computers, you will need to access the FTP Site Updater folder to download the file and then double-click to manually apply the update. Contact TPC Staff if you need assistance.
TPC has also been certified to operate with Microsoft Word 2010 Business Edition, SQL Server 2008 and Windows 7, 64 bit platform.*
*The full installation package will be available on January 11, 2012. This file is needed for brand new installations and also new machines with Windows 7, 64 bit and Office 2010.
Please use the Annual Survey as an opportunity to address additional features you might like to see in the next version of TPC coming in 2012! |
Important PAP Updates
The FDA has approved the first generic version of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) that became available November 30, 2011. There are currently only 2 makers of atorvastatin: Ranbaxy Laboratories, the first to challenge Pfizer's Lipitor patent, and Watson Pharmaceuticals, which is distributing an "authorized generic" that is actually made by Pfizer. Due to complex drug laws, other generic manufacturers have to wait 180 days (until May 2012) to offer their own generic forms. Atorvastatin will be available in 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg. The drug will be manufacturered by Ohm Laboratories in New Brunswick, NJ.
Pfizer plans to make the brand-name Lipitor competetive since generics are usually much less expensive than brand-name products. Pfizer's Connection to Care PAP program continues to provide Lipitor. There is also the $4 co-pay assistance card. More information on Pfizer's available PAP programs and other medications can be found here.
Sanofi-Aventis has discontinued its PAP program for all medications except Apidra and Lantus. Sanofi-Aventis has also discontinued the bulk assistance program with RxPartnership (RxP), a program that solicits free medications shipped directly to licensed affiliate pharmacies in free clinic or community health center settings. RxP continues to partner with 6 other pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Abbott, Alcon and AstraZeneca. Effective December 31, 2011, Astellas will be responsible for distribution and marketing of VESIcare (used in the treatment of overactive bladder), including the PAP. GSK's Bridges to Access patients currently receiving this product will begin transitioning to Astellas Pharma US, Inc. January 3, 2012. New patients requiring assistance for this product should contact Astellas at 1-800-477-6472. New information will available after the first of the year and TPC will be updated as necessary. Keppra XR is only available to existing patients in UCB's Patient Assistance Program. New patients in need of this medication may be able to obtain the product from RxOutreach. |
TPC User Spotlight
Congratulations to the Arlington Free Clinic (AFC) Pharmacy Program for a recent grant it received from BJ's Charitable Foundation! AFC was awarded $5,000 to purchase generic medications for diabetes, asthma and hypertension and pharmacy supplies like test strips, medication vials/lids and labels. This will help more than 1,700 patients receive essential medications prescribed for chronic conditions.
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Calling All
You "Rx"ceptional Nominees
Nominations are now being accepted through January 31, 2012 for the 2012 You "Rx"ceptional Award. This is an award that is given to a an individual TPC user, who has provided excellent service, commitment and dedication to his/her Medication Assistance Program and its patients. The winner will receive a special You "Rx"ceptional Award at VHCF's Heroes in Health Care celebration.
Find out more or nominate an individual by reviewing the 2012 You "Rx"ceptional Nomination packet and form. |
ASK JULIET & LISA
Some of the most frequently asked technical support questions...
Why are some medications listed in red when searching for a medication to add to a patient's formulary?
A: This means the medication is restricted by the pharmaceutical company to exisiting patients who have previously been enrolled in the particular PAP. New patients are generally not eligible. If you have a new patient that is currently enrolled in the PAP for a restricted medication but is new to your TPC database, contact TPC staff and the medication will be temporarily unrestricted and available to download.
Is there a way to generate multiple medication bottle labels at one time for all medications received within a specified timeframe?
A: Yes! This feature was recently expanded in Version 8.0.0.0. Go to Utilities, Generate Medicine Bottle Labels. Enter a date range for medications received, click Load Patients For Time Frame and select the address to print on labels. You can select all patients or choose specific patients for whom you need labels, specify the quantity of labels needed and set this amount. When the Print Labels button is selected, you will see your medicine bottle labels ready for printing!
Is there a report that will show patient savings based on a 30, 60 and 90 day supplies Average Retail Price?
A: Yes! Go to the Patient Medications/Supplies screen. Select one or more medications and click Formulary Price List. A report will be generated with the patients name, medication name, quantity and frequency of administration, unit price (ARP) and the savings amounts for 30, 60 and 90 day supplies of medication.
Other questions? Check out the Frequently Asked Question section under the Help Menu in TPC. Still can't find the answer you are looking for? Contact Juliet or Lisa. |
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Thank you for reading the Winter edition of Rx Connect!
Sincerely,
TPC Staff |
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