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A bipartisan Medicare reform bill proposed by senators Bill Frist (R-TN), John Breaux (D-LA) and Bob Kerrey (D-NE) would offer prescription drug benefits along with structural reform of the Medicare program.

Independent pharmacies continued to grow in both overall sales and prescription volume, according to the 1999 NCPA-Searle Digest, which reports 1998 data. The Digest compiles and summarizes comprehensive financial data from independent pharmacies nationwide. Participating pharmacies evaluate their stores' financial performance based on revenues, expenses and other demographic information.

A coalition of Internet pharmacies, federal and state officials, consumer advocacy groups and medical groups met last November to evaluate online pharmacy practices. The group devised an action plan for consumer education, legislation and regulation to protect patients who shop for prescriptions online.

New York-based Pfizer Inc. filed a lawsuit against Warner-Lambert and American Home Products Corp., both based in Philadelphia, on Nov. 23, 1999, alleging that Warner-Lambert breached its contractual obligations to Pfizer outlined in a standstill agreement between Pfizer and Warner-Lambert. The complaint also alleges that American Home Products wrongfully interfered with Pfizer's contractual arrangement with Warner-Lambert by inducing Warner-Lambert's breach.

Avoid high interest and dig out of debt.

Scientists at Philadelphia-based SmithKline Beecham have identified an enzyme that may help drugs target and treat Alzheimer's disease.

In a move that could signal a trend in managed care, UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based UnitedHealth Group, announced that it is doing away with doctor preauthorization for many inpatient hospital procedures.

Mischele Hoffman is humble. With a background that includes 12 years in sales, two years administering a nonprofit organization for people with disabilities and a master's degree in health sciences, not to mention a highly successful year with Eisai Pharmaceuticals, it would be easy for her not to be. But Hoffman's patient-focused approach to selling and the match she's found in a company that also places a high value on patient advocacy has proved to be a good combination.

Try the 'match and move' method.

A letter from the American Medical Association

Prescription drug user fee revenues will be $59 million lower than originally expected over the five years of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act II, the Food and Drug Administration announced.

'Snapshots' of selling environments from other parts of the world.

Novartis became the fifth pharmaceutical company to join the Academic Medicine and Managed Care Forum.

Reps. John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) added their Health Care Quality and Choice Act to the growing list of managed care bills being considered by Congress.

Long-term care executives named Pfizer Inc., New York, the pharmaceutical company that best meets their needs.

The potential for medication mix-ups worries patients most, followed by fear of negative drug interactions and treatment costs.

Total retail prescription drug sales for 1999 are expected to exceed $121.6 billion.

Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a bill that would use market competition to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

Drug benefits for enrollees in Medicare health maintenance organizations vary greatly from plan to plan.

The Food and Drug Administration claims that Glaxo Wellcome's Spanish-language television advertisements for Flonase® (fluticasone) nasal spray, which ran in Puerto Rico in 1998 and 1999, failed to disclose risk information.

For-profit hospitals cost the Medicare program more than not-for-profit hospitals, according to a recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine (vol. 341, no. 6).

The American Heart Association has estimated that patient non-compliance with physician instructions regarding medication use costs the United States $100 billion annually in unnecessary medical costs and lost national productivity.

Classic tips for earning a customer's trust.

FDA regulations violate free speech

Active listening will help you remain focused on your customers, thereby allowing you to uncover their real needs.

Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, has entered into an agreement with Centocor Inc., Malvern, PA, under which the two companies will merge.

PR salutes reps who make a difference.

Congress is considering a bill that would establish an independent review process to consider patent extensions for drugs that spent more time than normal in the FDA review process.