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Upcoming Events featuring
National CooperativeRx
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Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference*
March 18-21, 2012
San Francisco, CA
Learn more
To Register: * Register here and enter the code YNCR * Call the Conference Registrar at 800-864-2063 |
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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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Mark Your Calendars!The National CooperativeRx Annual Meetings are approaching quickly! - March 21-22: National CooperativeRx Annual Member Meeting in Anchorage, AK
- April 25: National CooperativeRx Annual Member Meeting in Madison, WI
Invitations have already gone out for members in the Pacific Northwest to attend the Anchorage meeting, and invitations will be sent next week for members who may wish to attend the Madison meeting. For a sneak peak of our keynote speaker for both meetings, click here to watch a short clip as our speaker discusses the average American health care consumer.
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Healthday. Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are expected to cost the US $200B this year, with Medicare and Medicaid paying for $140B. These figures underline the need the US has for the National Alzheimer's Fund to research and develop better treatment programs. (3/8) Full story
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Time. The FDA has issued a warning letter to the makers of AeroShot, an inhalable caffeine product. The FDA is worried both about safety and its use by children. Consumers put the plastic tube in their mouth and breathe in, and vitamin B and caffeine particles are then released and dissolve. (Jalonick, 3/7) Full story
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Reuters. The FDA will consider a proposal this month regarding whether or not to allow certain prescription drugs to be sold over the counter. Currently diabetes medications and cholesterol lowering drugs are sold by prescription only, but the FDA will be reviewing whether or not consumers are able to assess their own medical need for them. (3/8) Full story
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NY Times. The cost of prescription drugs used most often by older Americans rose 26% between 2005-2009, almost twice the rate of inflation. The AARP studied 514 medications and found that generics dropped 31%, but brand drugs rose 41% and specialty drugs rose 48%. (Thomas, 3/6) Full story
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Associated Press. A consumer group in Boston is suing 8 major drug companies over their coupon programs. The group, Community Catalyst, states "the increasingly common couponing programs appear to save patients money but increase overall health care costs significantly and violate federal bribery laws because they are meant to conceal information about the payments from health insurance plans." (Johnson, 3/8) Full story
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STL Today. The proposed merger between PBM giants Express Scripts and Medco remains under fire. Opposing the merger are large supermarket chains, drug stores, community pharmacists, consumer advocates and antitrust experts. Attorneys general from two dozen states have also raised questions about the merger's effect on consumers. The 2 PBMs remain hopeful that the FTC will approve the merger, and state that combining the companies will bring better pricing to the industry. (Doyle, 2/21) Full story
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