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Upcoming Events featuring
National CooperativeRx
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WI- National CooperativeRx Annual Member Meeting
April 25, 2012
Madison, WI
Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference
June 5-8, 2012
Chicago, IL
Learn more
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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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Wrap-up: Annual Member Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska
The Annual Member Meeting for our northern pacific coast members took place yesterday in Anchorage, Alaska. We had our largest turnout for the Alaska meeting yet, and it was a pleasure to spend collective and individual times with our Alaska and Washington cooperative members.
We thank HCCMCA Executive Director Fred Brown for opening up the meeting and his continued partner leadership.
Our keynote speaker Kim Slocum had an energetic presentation regarding Strategic Drug Benefit Design, and we look forward to welcoming him at the Madison meeting.
Other highlights included National CooperativeRx CEO Greg Horstman reviewing the cooperative's solid financial standing, growth accomplishments and positive utilization metrics plans for the future.
Additionally, Cooperative Network CEO Bill Oemichen presented the power of the cooperative business model, and explained both sides of the Drug Patent discussion.
Following Mr. Oemichen was a co-presentation by National CooperativeRx's Wayne Salverda and Sonia Gates from CVS Caremark. Their presentation focused on clinical programs that bend trend and specific metrics, leaving member-groups with the knowledge of what they can do to improve their plans.
Overall, it was a successful meeting with wide and deep overview of the dynamic pharmacy world, good food and great company. We look forward to our next meeting in April.
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Market Watch. Is mental illness a growing issue in the US? Looking at the current statistics, it is. Research also points out that women are far exceeding men in their use of psychotropic medications. 25% of women take at least one psychotropic drug compared to 15% of men. Both sexes are being prescribed more antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety and ADHD drugs. (3/19) Full story
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Reuters. Tuberculosis (TB) is often thought of as an ancient disease, but rates of people with drug-resistant TB are rising. The worldwide rate of TB deaths are 1 death every 2-3 minutes. Because of poor adherence and inappropriate medical practice, specifically in India, antibiotics are becoming less effective. To read about how this is becoming a global concern and reaching first-world cities such as London, click into the link. (Kelland, 3/19) Full story
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MSN. Patients who receive kidney transplants currently have to take pills daily for the rest of their lives to prevent their body from rejecting the donated organ. The drugs can cause side-effects such as fatigue and increased risk for cancer. There are currently experiments aimed at changing the need for anti-rejection drugs by also transplanting some of the donor's immune-producing cells. (Neergaard, 3/20) Full story
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CNN. Statins have been a huge success in lowering bad cholesterol, but there's a new drug creating a stir. Statins can cause toxicity, but the new drug PCSK9 has shown no known side effects in early trials while lowering bad cholesterol by 60 to 65%. (Curley, 3/22) Full story
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Adweek. The consumer advocacy group Community Catalyst is moving forward in their legal battle against 8 large drug manufacturers for their coupon programs. Because drug companies reimburse pharmacies through a closed channel that insurance carriers can't see, the lawsuit charges that it's a form of kickbacks and therefore violates the Robinson-Patman Act. That act "prohibits undisclosed kickbacks to any party that purchases goods that another party must pay for." Drug companies state that they need the income from couponing to keep up a profit while replenishing their pipelines. There were 362 brand-name drugs with coupons at the end of 2011. (Klara, 3/19) Full story
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The Seattle Times. An FDA panel reviewed two different drugs by Merck and GlaxoSmithKline to treat sarcoma, a rare class of tumors. Although neither drug helped patients live longer, the drug by GlaxoSmithKline delayed tumor growth. The panel approved that drug and rejected the drug presented by Merck. (Perrone, 3/20) Full story
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