CEO Message January 25, 2008
Author: Lynn Rolston
After the recent news coverage regarding Vytorin and Zetia, Richard K. Murray, Vice President, External Medical and Scientific Affairs, US Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Craig B. Granowitz, Vice President Global Medical Affairs, Schering-Plough, sent out an update letter regarding the products. You can read the letter here.
Alliance for Patient Care Meeting
On Tuesday, I met with Alliance for Patient Care members. I was informed that a new Web site for this group would be available soon at www.allianceforpatientcare.org, where you can view a full list of members. The meeting was held at the California Medical Association headquarters and many patient care advocates and representatives from provider groups were there. We discussed the enormity the 10 percent proposed cuts on the Medi-Cal program would have on providers. Everyone agreed that this approach to managing California’s fiscal crisis would be draconian in terms of public health. As the issue develops, I will provide you with more information about the activities of this group.
Proposed Budget Update
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services met on Wednesday to hear from the Administration and affected parties, regarding the Governor's proposed budget actions. After the Administration made its presentations, approximately 100 individuals testified in opposition to the proposed actions.
Our contract lobbyist, Jim Gross of Nielsen, Merksamer, testified for CPhA. Jim explained what the impact of these cuts would be on access and that pharmacies were dealing with numerous other state and federal actions that threatened the viability of independent pharmacies. Jim noted that the Department of Health Care Services had commissioned a dispensing fee study but has refused to release it, leading us to the conclusion that it must illustrate that an increase is warranted.
Other speakers noted the problems associated with cuts to pharmacies, and all of the comments were well-received by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee took no action, but is expected to do so within the next few weeks. We are formulating an action strategy to involve members in communicating to these decision-makers the devastating impact these cuts would have on pharmacy. We will let you know when the time is right for these communications. Please be ready to act!
E-Pedigree Alternative System
On Tuesday, in preparation for the Board of Pharmacy meeting on Wednesday, John Cronin met with representatives from Aegate, a company from Great Britain. The purpose of the meeting was to show them U.S. pharmacy systems and to discuss whether their system would have any practical system in the California. John was impressed with their system; however, it does not conform to the California law requirements. It is unclear whether the Board or anyone else will pursue this option further.
Board of Pharmacy Meeting Update
Kathy Lynch was in San Diego this week for the Board of Pharmacy meeting. On Wednesday, January 23rd, the Board had a Workgroup on E-Pedigree. There were presentations from various members of the drug distribution chain. Kathy testified and relayed the various hurdles facing pharmacy with respect to the implementation of the electronic pedigree requirements.
The Board of Pharmacy has the authority to extend the implementation date from January 2009 to January 2011. The Board did not vote on extension of the E-Pedigree requirements at the meeting this week. Currently, the next Board meeting is scheduled for April 23-24. Additionally, this week, the Board of Pharmacy added to its Web site questions and answers relating to the California electronic prescription drug pedigree law(s).
On Thursday, the Board held a hearing, which was requested by CPhA, on the proposed compounding regulations. Kathy said there were several compounding pharmacists who provided detailed comments and testimony for the Board. The Board voted to provide the revised compounding regulations for a 15-day comment period and to take up the regulations for a vote at the next Board meeting.
Board of Pharmacy Subscriber Alert
To get fast and up-to-date information from the Board of Pharmacy, please click on the following link http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/online/subscriber_page.shtml and sign up to be on the Board’s email subscriber list. The board uses this subscriber list service to notify anyone who is interested in receiving e-mail alerts about major updates to the board's Web site, for example, when: 1) Regulations are implemented or released for public comment; 2) Board newsletters are published; 3) Agendas about public meetings are released; 4) Questions and answers about new laws are added; 5) Board actions from board meetings are available; and/or 6) Drug recalls have occurred.
AMP Lawsuit Update
Earlier this week, the Bush Administration filed a response to the NCPA lawsuit (11-7-07) on the AMP rule. They answered the complaint and denied all of NCPA’s allegations. John Rector, NCPA General Counsel, stated the following:
“they could have filed a motion to dismiss and requested an expedited hearing process. They could have appealed the injunction (12-19-07) although they have another month before their opportunity to appeal is lost. The next typical step would be a scheduling conference for the court and parties to plan next steps in the litigation. Judge Lamberth is not likely to schedule the conference until sometime after the full period allowed for the Administration’s right to appeal has elapsed in mid-Feb 2008. The date that the judge would eventually select is subject to his own very busy schedule. Time is on our side and it appears that the Administration is in no rush to legally address the problems inherent in its 7-17-07 AMP rule. These developments allow more time for the government affairs team to achieve Congressional relief, not from the 7-17-07 rule, but from the DRA law that President Bush signed two years ago.”
CPhA will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Outlook Reminder
Good news, our Outlook online registration is now fully functioning. However, if you experience any problems, we have staff members standing by to assist you. Please call CPhA at 916-779-1400 during regular business hours or you may call Theresa Andrews at 916-337-8877 anytime. Don’t miss this great conference planned for you in Sacramento on February 7 – 10.
Outcomes at Outlook 2008 – MTM Opportunities
Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care® (Outcomes®) will be in attendance at Outlook 2008 to discuss 2008 MTM Opportunities with California pharmacists. They will offer four (4) face-to-face, pharmacist-provided MTM programs in California. Over 2 million patients nationwide are eligible for Outcomes MTM services. Each of these patients represents an opportunity for local independent, chain, health-system, or consultant pharmacy providers to:
- Generate high-margin, non-dispensing revenue
- Build patient loyalty
- Enhance professional satisfaction
- Grow your MTM practice
To learn more about how your pharmacy can work with Outcomes, be sure to visit Booth 117 in the Outlook Exhibit Hall. If you are interested in an individual appointment during the conference, please click here.
HOD Policy Review for Student Delegates
Theresa Andrews traveled to the University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, the University of California, San Francisco and Loma Linda University to review the 2007 policy committee reports as well as procedures for the House of Delegates in order to prepare student delegates for Outlook 2008. She reports that the students were very enthusiastic and will be extremely prepared to participate in this year’s HOD sessions. Theresa will be visiting other schools of pharmacy in the coming week.
Student Sponsorships
40 student pharmacists still need sponsorships. Even if you are not attending Outlook, you can still sponsor a student. Please contact Theresa Andrews at tandrews@cpha.com for more information.
FDA Toll-Free Number
The FDA has a new toll-free number available for reporting adverse events on labeling. The toll-free number is 1-800-FDA-1088.
Update on Medicare/Medi-Cal for 2008
On Monday, January 28, CPhA President Paul Lofholm, CMS’ Lucy Saldana and other notable speakers will be presenting at the Medicare/Medi-Cal Update meeting. This will be a very informative meeting that you won’t want to miss. Event details:
When: Monday, January 28, 2008
(held during the SF International Gift Show, Jan. 26-29, 2008)
Where: Moscone Center, West Mezzanine Level
Room 274-276
San Francisco, CA
Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. (breakfast included)
Two (2) hours ACPE continuing education on Medicare. Fee: $30. for accreditation; otherwise, no charge to attend.
Question of the Week
Dear Lynn,
Regarding any upcoming meetings with the Governor about the 10% cuts he is "requesting/requiring" in order to balance the budget deficit. This may not be what he wants to hear, but regarding the practice of pharmacy and Medi-Cal, we have been underpaid for what it costs to fill prescriptions for the Medi-Cal Program since its inception! Therefore, we have been already subsidizing the State's Budget "indirectly" for decades. Look elsewhere for budget cuts and not us. If you have the name, e-mail or street address, of the responsible person in the Governor's office pertaining to this issue, please e-mail it to me so I can send off a letter.
Thanks much,
Stephen Rosati
Answer
Dear Stephen,
I have received many comments and requests like yours. Please be assured that CPhA will maintain an unwavering position that these cuts are not appropriate for pharmacy for the reasons you and others state. As I mentioned earlier in this message, we are formulating an action plan to most powerfully and appropriately deliver comments like yours to the right people in Sacramento. Please stand ready to execute this plan as soon as we roll it out. Thanks for the question.
Sincerely,
Lynn Rolston
Chief Executive Officer
California Pharmacists Association