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Upcoming Events featuring
National CooperativeRx
National CooperativeRx Annual Member Meeting April 24, 2013
Madison, WI
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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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Updated Performance Drug List
In our PBM vendor's ongoing effort to assist you in maximizing your health care investment, changes to the CVS Caremark Performance Drug List have been implemented and are effective April 1, 2013.
The latest formulary review process focused on many factors, including:
- Adding products that have demonstrated enhanced clinical efficacy and/or provide more convenient dosage forms.
- Removing products that may require less convenient therapy dosing, may have more side effects, or may cost more when compared to available options on the CVS Caremark Drug List.
The most current PDL is always available from caremark.com; it is found under the link "For Pharmacists and Medical Professionals" in the lower left hand corner of the home page and then under "Drug Lists."
For your convenience, we've also posted it HERE.
As a side note, the cooperative will be closed today, March 29, from 12:00 PM CST until the end of the business day.
Have a great weekend! Your PBM Cooperative
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HealthDay. Do you suffer from seasonal allergies, and feel like they've gotten worse over the past few years? If so, you're probably not imagining it. Experts state that they've seen record levels of pollen lately, and that people in the Midwest are experiencing longer allergy seasons by 6-7 days, and even longer for people residing in the Northeast. (Gordon, 3/28) Full Story
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CNN. A recent article poses the question, "Can you smell obesity?" Research suggests that obesity may be associated with certain populations of microbes in the gut that give off a distinctive gas, and that gas could be detectable on a person's breath. People with higher levels of methane and hydrogen gases in their breath tend to be heavier. (Park, 3/27) Full Story
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Reuters. The FDA approved a new drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) this week, and the drug is expected to become the number 1 oral treatment for the disease. With expected sales of $3B, Tecfidera - produced by Biogen Idec - will hopefully help some of the 2.1M people who suffer from MS worldwide. (Clarke, 3/27) Full Story
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Drug Channels. A grocery chain recently extended its discount program for atorvastatin, the generic version of Lipitor, to continue its current price of $0. This article examines the fact that consumers are becoming more involved in shopping for prescriptions by price, and asks the question of how much counseling is needed by a pharmacist when picking up the average prescription. (Fein, 3/14) Full Story
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Kaiser Health News. One unforeseen industry to benefit from the new health care laws may be temp agencies. With companies concerned about the health care costs of being a direct employer, many organizations are expected to start using temp agencies more heavily. (Hancock, 3/26) Full Story
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Time. The governor of North Dakota is considering 2 bills that would make it more difficult for a woman to receive an abortion. The state currently has only 1 clinic that performs abortions, and the bills would make it illegal for an abortion to be performed due to "any defect, disease or disorder that is inherited genetically," or any physical deformities. (Rochman, 3/26) Full Story
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