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Seniors won’t pay more than $2,000 for drugs at the pharmacy starting in January

By PTO Questions posted 12-31-2024
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📢Medicare's new $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs starting in 2025 is a major step toward affordable healthcare for all. A win for patients and access to life-saving medications! 💊 What do you think? CNN- Medicare beneficiaries who take a lot of pricey medications will get a big break in 2025. That’s when the $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for drugs bought at the pharmacy or through mail order takes effect. The limit is one of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act’s most consequential provisions to lower prescription drug prices for Medicare enrollees. The law also instituted a $35 monthly cap on insulin prescriptions, ...
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Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Controversies: Legal Battles Between PBMs and the FTC

By PTO Questions posted 09-27-2024
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Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), the intermediaries between pharmacies, insurers, and drug manufacturers, have long been in the spotlight for their role in shaping the U.S. pharmaceutical market. However, recent legal conflicts have intensified scrutiny on the practices of these powerful entities, particularly CVS Caremark, Express Scripts (owned by Cigna), and Optum Rx (owned by UnitedHealth Group). In September 2024, the ongoing tensions between PBMs and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a peak, with lawsuits flying in both directions. Express Scripts vs. FTC: The Initial Legal Strike The current saga began in July 2024 when the FTC released an ...
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Pharmacy Technicians: Your Fast Track to Becoming a Pharmacist Starts at the UofS England!

By PTO Questions posted 09-13-2024
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The University of Sheffield , located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England , has announced the launch of a groundbreaking Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree, starting in September 2025 . The course is designed to give students a comprehensive scientific foundation while also prioritizing patient care. Students will gain valuable practical experience through placements in community, hospital, and primary care settings across Sheffield. A distinctive feature of the program is the social accountability placement , where students will work with over 130 community partners in the voluntary sector, providing health and wellness activities and addressing broader ...
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Tasmania Introduces Nation-Leading Vaping Reforms to Combat Youth Addiction

By PTO Questions posted 09-06-2024
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In a bold move, the Tasmanian government is set to implement stringent new vaping laws starting October 1, 2024, aimed at addressing the growing public health crisis of nicotine addiction, particularly among young people. These laws are among the toughest in Australia, and they directly challenge the Federal Government’s more lenient stance on vaping regulations. Key Provisions of the New Law Under the new legislation, nicotine-containing vapes will no longer be available for over-the-counter sales. Instead, only individuals aged 18 and above will be able to purchase them, and only with a valid prescription from a doctor. This prescription-only model limits ...
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Pennsylvania Audit Uncovers Widespread PBM Abuses: Urgent Reforms Needed to Protect Taxpayers and Community Pharmacies

By PTO Questions posted 08-30-2024
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Shocking? Not Shocking! State Senator Judy Ward, who represents five rural counties in south-central Pennsylvania, introduced legislation alongside Representative Valerie Gatos to regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the state. This legislation was recently signed into law, aimed at reducing prescription drug costs for all Pennsylvanians. For the past ten months, Auditor General Timothy DeFoor has conducted an audit on how PBMs operate within the Medicaid system and the oversight by the Department of Human Services (DHS). Key Findings of the Audit: Spread Pricing : The audit revealed that PBMs, particularly PerformRx, engaged in "spread ...
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FDA Approves New Novel Drug Lazcluze (Lazertinib) for Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

By PTO Questions posted 08-23-2024
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August 19, 2024 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to a groundbreaking new drug, Lazcluze (lazertinib), for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This novel drug, developed by leading pharmaceutical innovators, represents a significant advancement in the fight against one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer. Breakthrough in Lung Cancer Treatment Non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases, has long posed a significant challenge to oncologists due to its complex nature and resistance to many traditional therapies. Lazcluze (lazertinib) has emerged as a promising ...
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NAPS's Stand on the Abolition of PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGIST TRAINING by PCN, NBTE, and Others

By PTO Questions posted 08-16-2024
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(Nigeria) NAPS (The National Association of Polytechnic Students) leadership supports the resolution reached by the Ministry of Education, NBTE (National Board of Technical Education), and PCN (Pharmacy Council of Nigeria) that allows current students to graduate but discontinues the HND (Higher National Diploma) program (Pharmaceutical Technologist) in favor of the ND (National Diploma) in Pharmacy Technician." The association emphasizes its commitment to protecting the interests of polytechnic students and ensuring they receive quality education. NAPS has condemned and rejected court interference in the ongoing issue of HND Pharmaceutical Technology in ...
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Walgreens Plans to Close Over 2,000 Stores by 2027: What You Need to Know

By PTO Questions posted 08-09-2024
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Walgreens, one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the U.S., is planning to close around 2,150 stores over the next three years. This move will impact up to a quarter of its 8,600 locations across the country. Reasoning Behind the Closures In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal on June 27, Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth outlined the reasoning behind this significant decision. The closures will primarily target stores that are underperforming, located too close to one another, or facing challenges such as high levels of theft. This decision reflects broader shifts in consumer behavior and challenges within the retail pharmacy industry. More ...
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Drug Companies Increased the Prices of Over 700 Medications, Including Ozempic and Mounjaro

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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Pharmaceutical companies are increasing the price of over 700 medications, including the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro. The average price increase at the beginning of the year was about 4.5%. This shows a slightly slower pace compared with the five prior years when drug prices rose about 5% each year on average. Part of the major increases are Ozempic and Mounjaro, two drugs that belong to a class of medications called GLP-1 agonists. These drugs help diabetics regulate their blood sugar. However, they've also been found to be effective weight-loss drugs, making non-diabetics seek out the drugs to slim down. As a result, these drugs ...
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Safety Labelling Changes for Opioid Pain Medicines Approved by FDA

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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FDA announced the final approval and implementation of labelling changes to address the opioid crisis and also to urge health care professionals to practice patient safety when prescribing opioid analgesic products. FDA informed application holders of the safety labelling updates for opioid drugs (both immediate release (IR) and extended release (ER) or long acting (LA) . The required safety labeling updates, originally listed in an April 2023 Drug Safety Communication , include the addition of language stating: the risk of overdose increases as the dosage increases for all opioid pain medicines; IR opioids should ...
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PSNZ to Train More Than 200 Pharmacy Accuracy Checking Technicians (PACT) Over Next 2.5 Years With New Te Whatu Ora Funds

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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After signing a new training agreement with Te Whatu Ora, the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) will offer up to 205 sponsored Pharmacy Accuracy Checking Technician (PACT) placements over the next 2.5 years. Professor Braund, the president of PSNZ says having more than 200 extra PACTs will benefit the whole community pharmacy workforce and support more efficient dispensaries, by providing a career pathway for pharmacy technicians and enabling pharmacists to focus on other aspects of their health professional role. “This is a win/win situation for community-based pharmacists and technicians and will help reduce the pressures that exist due to the ...
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Technicians in UK to be Given a Larger Role in Pharmacy

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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To increase access to primary care and expand the use of pharmacy staff, the United Kingdom government has launched a new consultation. The changes include empowering pharmacists to authorize registered pharmacy technicians to do things that would otherwise need to be done by, or under the supervision of pharmacists. For example, the handling of prescription-only medicines is solely a pharmacist's responsibility or carried out by a pharmacy technician under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. The new proposals would allow pharmacists to delegate more to pharmacy technicians and have more to spend on delivering patient care. Under this new system, ...
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RFPT Nigeria Leadership Advocates for Certifications for Advanced Pharmacy Technician

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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The leader of the Reformed Forum of Pharmacy Technicians In Nigeria, (RFPTN) calls for the certification of pharmacy technicians in some areas. According to their recent press release on their site, the leadership said "Pharmacy technicians can do more than just work behind the counter" and that they are capable of taking on more advanced roles. Pharmacy technicians can work in hospitals, specialty clinics, outpatient care centers, long-term care facilities, specialty pharmacies, online/mail-order pharmacies, research labs, pharmaceutical companies, colleges of health sciences & technology, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical industries, Pharmacy ...
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Nova Scotia Expands its Immigration Program to Fill Pharmacy and Paramedic Jobs

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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As part of its efforts to address the shortage of health workers, Nova Scotia is expanding a fast-track immigration program to include international students. Health Minister Michelle Thompson and Advanced Education Minister Brian Wong announced Friday that the government is adding students in those two fields to its "international graduates in demand" stream. "This program fills critical labour needs and streamlines the process of obtaining permanent residency for international students," Wong said at a news conference in Halifax. "We want them to stay here after they graduate." The province is allowed to nominate immigration candidates for federal ...
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The Pharmacy Guild – A Voice For Pharmacy Professionals

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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Sequel to the walkout organized by employers, supporters, and IAM healthcare last week to Unionize pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The walkout is geared towards helping pharmacy staff unionize to address what many employees call unsafe staffing levels and increasing workloads throughout the industry, including major drugstore chains such as Walgreens and CVS. Instead of this, the leading activists and influencers behind the popular Pharmacy-related social media communities; The Accidental Pharmacist, #PizzaIsNotWorking, and RxComedy, are coming together to support the launch of a new worker empowerment project called The Pharmacy Guild. They ...
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National Push to Unionize Pharmacists and Technicians Launched By Pharmacy Walkout Organizers

By PTO Questions posted 04-30-2024
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National Push to Unionize Pharmacists and Technicians Launched By Pharmacy Walkout Organizers Organizers of the walkout and IAM Healthcare have partnered to help pharmacy workers unionize to address what employees call unsafe working conditions among major drugstore chains such as Walgreens and CVS. There is no union representation for those pharmacists and technicians in those chains, while pharmacy staff from some grocery retailers such as Krog do. A small number of employees and supporters picketed outside the headquarters of drugstore chain Walgreens during a three-day walkout by pharmacists in Deerfield, Illinois. On Wednesday, organizers ...
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