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National CooperativeRx is a not-for-profit coalition founded and owned by plan sponsors to achieve higher value prescription benefits through volume purchasing, clinical solutions, actionable data and unparalleled customer service. For your sales and marketing needs, please contact us at 866-679-9479, extension 223
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Walking Club
Do you work in an office setting where you sit for hours at a time? One of the articles we've highlighted today describes how the average American office worker is at an increased risk for cardiovascular problems. Cardiovascular problems can lead to the need to be on medicine and require extra health care visits.
One way to fight this is to create a walking club. You could organize one at work so that you and your fellow workers get in a few more steps before or after work, or even during your lunch break. An added bonus is that working out with a team will give you a social outlet and an obligation to continue walking.
If you're interested in a little help, My Walking Club is an online site ran by the American Heart Association that will help you set up a club. It also provides walking club resources for you and your team. To visit the site and get signed up, click here.
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Go Upstate. Do you work out vigorously before or after work? A new study showed that even for people who work exercise into their day, if people sit at work for the majority of the day, their cardiovascular health suffers. This article looks at the health risks of a sedentary job and recommends ways to work short periods of activity into your day. (Doughman, 11/1) Full story
If that isn't enough to get you to think about moving a little more often, this article discusses a recent study that revealed too much sitting will increase a person's risk of cancer.
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HealthDay. Polypharmacy, the act of taking more drugs than a person needs, applies to prescription drugs, over-the-counters and dietary supplements. The average American receives 13 prescriptions per year, with the chance of polypharmacy increasing with one's age. Doctors and pharmacists work together to review prescription lists, and researchers are working to combine drugs into one-dose pills. This article gives suggestions on how patients can make sure their drugs don't create more problems than they solve. (Thompson, 11/3) Full story
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Bloomberg. The world's largest drug company, Pfizer, could fall to third place in a few months. Pfizer's biggest drug, Lipitor (used to control cholesterol), goes off patent November 30. Trying to keep some control of the market, Pfizer is attempting to get Lipitor passed as an over-the-counter drug. If passed, you may see it on the shelves in 2013. (Armstrong, 11/1) Full story
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Reuters. In 2012 the use of penalties for employees who are overweight or smoke is predicted to increase to 40% of mid-size and large companies. For example, Wal-Mart will be raising insurance premiums for all smokers. This will most likely effect lower-paid employees the most, who are also the least able to afford it. However, the article states that with the economy as it has been lately, employers are able to be less generous with benefits. (Mincer, 10/31) Full story
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The White House. On Monday, President Obama signed an Executive Order to 'prevent and reduce drug shortages that lead to price gouging.' The average mark-up price by vendors of prescription drugs in high demand is 650%, and many hospitals are finding it difficult to obtain many critical drugs such as cancer treatments. One high blood pressure drug that normally sells for $25.90 was found selling for $1,200. This Order will expand reporting on situations that may lead to shortages and work to investigate illegal price gouging. (Slack, 10/31) Full story
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Business Insurance. 14,800. That's the number of people who died in 2008 from overdosing on opioid pain relievers. The CDC is exploring ways to stop opioids from getting into the wrong hands, while ensuring that patients who need pain relief are able to get it. (Ceniceros, 11/1) Full story
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