CEO Message November 30, 2007
Author: Lynn Rolston
FDA Comments Filed
This week, CPhA filed comments with the FDA in support of a new "behind the counter" class of drugs that would be sold only with pharmacist intervention. CPhA has long-standing policy in support of this and we will be working closely with other pharmacy associations at the state and national level to move this opportunity forward. Click here to read CPhA's submission.
CPhA/CSHP Collaborations
On Monday, Mike Negrete, CEO of the Pharmacy Foundation of California, and I met with Dawn Benton, Interim Executive Vice President of CSHP. We continued our ongoing conversations regarding a joint annual meeting in 2010. It was an extremely productive meeting and the numbers we worked out look profitable for all three organizations. We believe this could be an outstanding move forward for pharmacists and student pharmacists throughout the state for networking. Such a meeting would also have major benefits for our sponsors and vendors, who would then be able to present to a much larger audience. We are getting closer...
WesternU Reception
On Tuesday evening, Cathi Lord, Director of Communications, and I attended a WesternU Wine and Cheese reception in which members of CPhA local associations and WesternU student pharmacists had a chance to discuss the importance of direct involvement with the locals. Charlie Brown discussed his long career in Association activity, which started for him while still in school and continues to this day. He has been active in both state and local associations and is a former CPhA president. Karl Hess, a faculty member at WesternU, spoke about the valuable contacts and experiences he has acquired over the past year. Pharmacists from three other locals spoke about their experiences and we all illuminated the many ways in which local activity dovetails with CPhA's actions and those of the national organizations. There was great wine and lively discussion. It was great event and I thank Max Jahng and his team for a great job.
Michael Negrete Heads to Taiwan
On Tuesday, Mike Negrete traveled to Taiwan to speak with Healthcare, Pharmacy and Government leaders about the enhanced role pharmacists can play in delivering quality healthcare. I will provide more detail about this in next week's message when Mike returns.
Medicare Drug Benefit: 2008 California Changes
As the third year of the Medicare drug benefit (Medicare Part D) began on November 15, a new CHCF fact sheet, The Medicare Drug Benefit: Changes in California for 2008, became available that outlines several important changes for California Part D beneficiaries. Click here to view the fact sheet. There are some significant changes that you need to be aware of as you support your patients. One of the largest Part D plans did not meet the benchmark and therefore all of those beneficiaries will need to select a new plan. A second fact sheet from CHCF, with information and analysis of the formulary changes for 2008, will be available in December 2007. We will provide additional information at that time.
CMS to Host Pharmacy Part D Focused Open Door Forum
On December 11, 2007 at 2 p.m. (EST), CMS will host an open door forum with a focus on 2008 Part D preparations, including:
- Vaccine Administration in 2008
- Point of Sale Facilitated Enrollment Process
- Best Available Evidence
- Systems Readiness
- Reminders for pharmacists as we enter the new plan year
There are two ways to participate, in-person or by phone.
1. To participate in person at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, RSVP and Security Clearance is required. RSVP no later than 2:00 PM EST, December 7, 2007. To RSVP, send your name, organization and telephone number to PHARMACYODF-L@cms.hhs.gov. Be sure to include "Pharmacy Pt. D" in the subject line. Upon entry into the building, you will be required to present a government-issued photo I.D., preferably valid driver's license. Please arrive no later than 1:30 PM.
2. To participate by phone: Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 23792628
(Persons participating by phone are not required to RSVP.)
AMP Update
Staff and leadership at CPhA carefully continue to follow all developments on AMP nationwide. We are developing multiple scenario strategies in order to be prepared for all eventualities. We will do everything necessary and possible to mitigate the impact of AMP on California pharmacy. Over the next two months, we will hold a series of strategy meetings so that we have detailed plans in place. If you have any questions, contact me or Kathy Lynch.
Academy News
On Thursday, several members of staff including Paige Talley, Director of Academy Affairs, Veronica Van Orman, Vice President of Community Pharmacy Relations, and I outlined steps toward the new expanded role for Academies within CPhA. You will be receiving news in the coming weeks about your elected academy board, the goals for that board and the communications schedule for 2008. You will also be given an opportunity to provide feedback as to how your academy can better serve your needs. As you may remember, we now have nine academies, which include the Academy of Pharmacy Owners, the Academy of Managed Care, the Academy of Hospital Pharmacists, the Academy of Employee Pharmacists, the Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, the Academy of Long Term Care, the Academy of Pharmacy Technicians and the Academy of Student Pharmacists. Our Academy of Pharmacy Specialties is likely to change in the near future to the Academy of Pharmacy Educators. This academy previously served as something of a catchall and as we created the academies for compounding and managed care it became homogenous and is largely made of faculty and educators today. We are excited about this potential change and over the coming months will be working on this possibility with Nancy DeGuire, the Academy of Pharmacy Specialties Board of Trustees member.
Pharmacists to Take Part in Parade
This weekend, CPhA, along with the Alameda County Pharmacists Association (ACPhA) & Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Operations, is sponsoring a Pharmacy entry in this year's 8th Annual Comcast Oakland Holiday Parade! Billed as "America's Children's Parade," it is touted as the premier children's parade in the West. More than 45 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists, the latter from UCSF, Touro and WesternU, will be participating in the parade, proudly wearing their white coats and carrying a giant balloon. CPhA Treasurer Kenny Scott will be marching with us as well. He will hold the California Pharmacists Association banner with retired pharmacist, John Kurilich from Alameda County. The parade will be recorded and broadcast on public television stations throughout the country. Stay tuned for more details as a media file becomes available to share with you. Participants in the parade may view the side bar information in the Local Associations sections of this message for more details on what to wear, where to park, etc. Good luck to you all!
Synergy PowerPoint Presentations
For all parties interested, we have posted a PowerPoint presentation on the CPhA website from Synergy's General Session. Click here to view the CPhA presentation and here to view the PFC presentation. In the next couple of weeks we will also post the notes from all the workshops. We will keep you posted as the CPhA staff and Board incorporate all of this into our 2008 operating plan.
Pharmacy's Very Own Film Festival Needs YOU! Last Chance to Register
While much of the media attention around medication safety focuses on pharmacy errors, experts estimate that a much bigger public health concern is errors related to medication use and monitoring. Getting the public to understand and appreciate the scope and severity of these errors is a critical first step in advancing both public health and pharmacy practice. Now, with the Pharmacy Foundation Film Festival, YOU have a chance to help make this happen. By creating a short film illustrating the tremendous impact medications can have on a person's life when they are used in a safe and effective manner, YOU will provide the Pharmacy Foundation of California with material that supports its efforts to raise awareness and action around this important cause. For more information about this exciting event, please click here, and don't forget to submit your non-binding "Intent to Submit" form by November 30, 2007.
Up Coming CE Programs
On December 12 at Kaiser South in Sacramento, the Sacramento Valley Society of Health-System Pharmacists is hosting a CE program regarding the "Tech Check Tech Law." The program will be presented by a representative of the California State Board of Pharmacy and will provide one hour of Continuing Education credit. The cost is $5 for SVSHP members and $15 for non-members. Register now at http://www.SacValleySHP.org
Additionally, an educational program on "New Options for the Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome," which was originally scheduled for October, has been rescheduled for December 4 at Mason's at the Park Downtown in Sacramento. If you signed up for this program in October, you were given the first opportunity to register for this rescheduled date. A few spots remain, so registration has been reopened for the general membership. NOTE: This program does not provide Continuing Education credit. Register by clicking here.
On January 18 and 19, the Nevada Hepatitis C Task Force, Marin County Pharmacists Association, Pharmacists Planning Services Incorporated and CPhA will host a Family Ski Weekend/CE program on Liver Disease in Reno at the First Annual Hepatitis C Conference. For only $25, attendees will be receive over 12 hours of CE, have the opportunity to hear from nationally-recognized speakers and be able to spend time with family. To register, contact Dave Schieser, 18 Santa Rosa Avenue, Sausalito, CA 94965.
In the News
CPhA member, Fred Mayer, was featured today in a Jewish News Weekly article in which he is acknowledged for his contributions to the profession of pharmacy. In reading the article, you will notice quotes from several other well-known CPhA members, including Bob Gibson and Burt Freeman. Click here to read the full article.
Long time South County pharmacists John McElmoyl (Greenfield Pharmacy) and Jack Franscioni (Soledad Pharmacy) recently received recognition from their alma mater, the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy, for providing pharmaceutical services in California for at least 50 years. Click here to read more.
The December Pharmacist's Letter explains how you can help prevent patients from becoming victims of medical identity theft and what to do if it occurs. This is an important new development that you should be aware of in your practice. The Pharmacist's Letter also provides excellent information on many other topics including:
Question of Week
Lynn,
Victor Law of Alpha Medical Pharmacy would like to ask CPhA the following question:
When we fill prescriptions for Medi-Cal fee for service beneficiaries for Robitussin Plain Syrup, there is a denial code that is required for medical necessity. This has never been required before. Can you contact the State Department of Health Care Services and find out why?
Thank You,
David Fong
UPNI
Answer
Dear David,
Kevin Gorospe, Pharm. D., Chief Pharmacy Policy Branch with DHCS has provided the following information:
This has to do with the first item of the Medi-Cal Bulletin #666 that states:
Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products for Children
To ensure appropriate use in the fee-for-service drug program, effective November 1, 2007, all over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products will be restricted to individuals 2 years of age and older. Prior authorization will be required for individuals under 2 years of age.
A citizen petition was submitted to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of cough and cold products in children under 6 years of age. On August 15, 2007, the FDA issued a statement warning parents about the use of OTC cough and cold products in children. Because children under 2 years of age are the most vulnerable to harm caused by the inappropriate use of oral, OTC cough and cold products, some manufacturers have voluntarily withdrawn OTC oral infant cough and cold products from the marketplace.
Medi-Cal may remove or alter this restriction upon the release of information by the FDA OTC drug advisory committee on those products suitable for use in children under 2 years of age.
These updates are reflected on manual replacement page drugs cdl p3 1 (Part 2).
We did this because we found claims for OTC adult strength products being dispensed to children (even when a pediatric formulation was available). We are looking at the products and will be altering the age restriction to allow for the under age 2 group for those products designed for children. At this point the TAR offices are primarily looking at the product strength and dose to ensure that it appears appropriate for children under age 2. I perceive this is a temporary situation and we will notify providers via a bulletin as we make the changes in age restrictions.
Thank you David for the question, and thank you Kevin for the detailed response.
Sincerely,
Lynn Rolston
Chief Executive Officer
California Pharmacists Association