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Upcoming Events featuring
National CooperativeRx
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WI- National CooperativeRx Annual Member Meeting
April 25, 2012
Madison, WI
CUPA-HR Midwest Regional Conference
Milwaukee, WI
Learn more
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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Eliminating Unnecessary Patient Tests and Treatments Nine physician groups each released a list of 5 common tests and treatments they say are often unnecessary and may even harm patients. Together, these lists contain a total of 45 tests and treatments that could be performed less often and save as much as a third of the $2.6T spent on health care each year in the US. Created by both primary care doctors and specialists, the medical procedures show little evidence of value for certain conditions. For the entire article by Kaiser Health News, click here. The list of medical procedures can be found here.
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Time. A new study revealed that shift work and sleep disturbances lower a person's resting metabolic rate. Even if a person were to keep their diet and exercise habits normal, a lower resting metabolic rate would create weight gain. Disturbed sleep cycles also lowered insulin production, and some participants in the study became pre-diabetic. This study emphasizes the importance of good sleep, and health risks associated with night shifts. (Park, 4/12) Full story
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Reuters. Two drugs produced by the drug company Merck are adding to their lists of side effects the following: having sexual side effects, male infertility and poor semen quality. The two drugs, Proscar (a treatment for an enlarged prostate) and Propecia (for hair loss), both contain the same active ingredient finasteride. (4/12) Full story
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Fox News. Autism research has come a long way since it was first (and incorrectly) associated with childhood vaccines in 1998. Over a decade later, more than $1B has been spent on autism research. Although hard answers still aren't available, progress has been made. Autism is now believed to affect 1 in 88 US children, although it's uncertain whether that number has increased due to better awareness, or if there has been a rise in cases as well. (4/10) Full story
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First Coast News. A drug that has been used to treat diabetes in the UK since 1958 and the US since 1995 might also have some promise as anticancer medication. The drug, metformin, is cheap to produce and generally safe. The possibility of using it as an anticancer drug came after studies showed that diabetes patients taking the drug were found less likely to develop cancer. Metformin is shown to increase the activity of an enzyme involved in tumor suppression as well as lower insulin levels. (Van Hoose, 4/7) Full story
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Fox News. The Food and Drug Administration is asking drug companies to help limit antibiotics given to farm animals. Many farmers administer antibiotics to livestock as a precaution to keep them healthy and gaining weight. However, overuse of antibiotics has contributed to dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria that is harmful to humans. Antibiotic resistance continues to grow as a global concern. (4/11) Full story
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New York Times. Johnson & Johnson has been fined $1.2B by a judge in Arkansas for minimizing or concealing the dangers of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. Johnson & Johnson was found guilty of hiding risks and marketing it as a miracle drug, when in fact it was no more beneficial than generic drugs treating the same illnesses. (Thomas, 4/11) Full story
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