Tennessee Bill Would Allow Non-Patient-Specific Compounding During Drug Shortages
Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation that would enable compounding pharmacies to create medicines without patient-specific prescriptions during drug shortages and other times when a product is not commercially available. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile (R) and Representative David Shepard (D), has already passed the state’s Senate and is still being debated in the […]
Read More ›UPS Forfeits Shipping Profits from Illegal Online Drug Sellers
United Parcel Service (UPS) agreed to forfeit $40 million in payments received from online entities illegally selling and distributing prescription drug products. UPS and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California entered a non-prosecution agreement that also included the company’s commitment to develop a compliance program to ensure that illegal online […]
Read More ›FDA Calls for Legislation to Allow Federal Oversight of Entities Compounding Non-Patient-Specific Drugs
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called for the development of legislation to establish appropriate, minimum federal standards for entities engaged in the compounding of non-patient-specific sterile drugs for interstate distribution, states FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD. In an FDA blog article, Commissioner Hamburg affirms the need for traditional pharmacy compounding in which the […]
Read More ›NABP Comments on FDA Drug Shortages Strategic Plan Stress Ensuring Safety When Non-Approved Drugs Are Used
To protect the public health, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should carefully consider using the exercise of enforcement discretion during drug shortages, urges NABP. The statement was part of the Association’s comments submitted to FDA in response to the establishment of the FDA Drug Shortages Task Force and Strategic Plan. In the comments, NABP also […]
Read More ›FDA Continues Inspections of Facilities Compounding Sterile Injectable Drugs
Inspections of 30 entities engaged in compounding are underway by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors as part of the agency’s response to the 2012 meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated compounded injectable drugs. Facilities in 11 states have been inspected to date, and the agency plans to continue inspections over the next couple of months. […]
Read More ›Pennsylvania Legislators Consider Bill to Establish Expanded State PMP
Aimed to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion, legislation that would establish an expanded PMP in Pennsylvania is under consideration by state lawmakers. House Bill 317, introduced by state Representative Gene DiGirolamo, would establish the Pharmaceutical Accountability Monitoring System (PAMS) for tracking prescription controlled substance (CS) medications dispensed in the state. PAMS is intended to […]
Read More ›Bill to Expand Pharmacists’ Authorization to Vaccinate Passes Wyoming Senate
Pharmacists’ authority to vaccinate may be expanded in Wyoming under a bill (HB 94) that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and administer immunizations for individuals age seven and older. The bill specifies that to ensure patient safety and confidentially, immunizations must be administered in a private space and dedicated to the administration of immunizations. Pharmacists […]
Read More ›Federal Legislation to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse Introduced to Senate
Aimed to address prescription drug misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths, the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (SB 348) was reintroduced in the United States Senate by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV). The bill includes a number of provisions aimed to prevent diversion and abuse and foster safe use of […]
Read More ›California Bill Would Implement Stricter Requirements for Pharmacies Compounding Sterile Drugs
Pharmacies compounding sterile drug products for dispensing to patients in California would be required to obtain a license to engage in that practice under a bill (SB 294) introduced to the state’s senate on February 19, 2013. Under the bill, both resident and nonresident pharmacies that compound sterile products for dispensing or shipment into the […]
Read More ›Oklahoma Legislation Would Bring PBMs Under Board of Pharmacy Regulation
Aimed to protect public health, a bill introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature would bring pharmacy benefit managers under the regulation of the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy. State representative David Derby, the bill’s sponsor, stated that the “bill is about compliance and safety” and noted that provisions would help to ensure that drugs are stored […]
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