Join Us in Advancing Safe Medication Disposal on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

As National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day approaches on October 26, Inmar highlights the importance of safe medication disposal to prevent misuse. Since 2017, Inmar’s Consumer Drug Take-Back Program has collected over 3 million pounds of unused medications. With more than 6,400 collection kiosks nationwide, Inmar continues to provide convenient disposal options, helping reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse and protect communities. Businesses and pharmacies are encouraged to support responsible disposal efforts for a safer, healthier environment.

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How DSCSA Boosts Crisis Resilience: Strengthening Pharmacies and Hospitals

This article explores how the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) enhances crisis resilience for pharmacies and hospitals by improving product traceability. It highlights the critical role DSCSA plays during supply chain disruptions caused by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene, enabling healthcare providers to maintain access to essential medications and ensure patient safety. By leveraging DSCSA’s serialized data and chain of custody insights, pharmacies and hospitals can proactively address challenges and strengthen their operational preparedness.

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FTC versus the PBMs: The Battle to Lower Insulin Prices and Reform PBMs

The FTC has filed a lawsuit against major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), accusing them of inflating insulin prices through anticompetitive practices that harm patients. This legal battle could lead to significant PBM reforms, ensuring fair pricing for essential medications like insulin. The lawsuit highlights the rising cost of insulin, forcing many patients to ration their medication or go without due to high out-of-pocket expenses. If successful, the case could set a new precedent in holding PBMs accountable and improving access to affordable medications for millions of patients.

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Delaying DSCSA Enforcement: The Right Decision for all the Right Reasons

Brian Nightengale, EVP and President of Healthcare at Inmar Intelligence, discusses the FDA’s recent decision to delay DSCSA enforcement. The delay offers pharmaceutical supply chain partners more time to fully achieve compliance and address operational challenges related to electronic interoperability and product traceability. Nightengale praises the decision as a thoughtful and proactive move to prevent disruptions in medication distribution while maintaining focus on patient safety and the integrity of the supply chain. He urges industry stakeholders to continue prioritizing efforts toward full DSCSA compliance.

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You Previously Qualified for a Small Dispenser DSCSA Exemption. Now What?

This article, originally published in Pharmacy Times, explores the DSCSA exemption for small dispensers and outlines their current and future regulatory obligations. It highlights the importance of staying compliant with key DSCSA requirements, including verifying trading partner licenses, maintaining product tracing documentation, and preparing for full electronic interoperability by the 2026 deadline.

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Rethinking Healthcare: Why Pharmacists Should Be Recognized as Providers

The article advocates for recognizing pharmacists as healthcare providers, enabling them to offer more comprehensive care and help address physician shortages, especially in underserved areas. This change would improve patient outcomes and expand healthcare access.

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PBMs on Notice: NYCBS Victory Signals Major Changes Ahead

New York Cancer and Blood Specialists' $22M win against Caremark challenges PBM DIR fees, sparking potential legal and regulatory shifts. While a major victory for pharmacies, eliminating DIR fees could raise Medicare Part D premiums. Legislative and regulatory changes may reshape PBM practices and impact both pharmacies and beneficiaries.

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The Final Stretch: Is Your Pharmacy Ready for DSCSA Compliance?

As the November 27, 2024, deadline for full DSCSA compliance looms, the pharmacy industry finds itself in a critical phase of preparation. The recent NACDS Total Store Expo (TSE) in Boston revealed that many pharmacies are facing significant challenges, with the clock ticking down rapidly.

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Here’s How We Get Private Insurers to Buy In on Value-Based Care

Value-based care is seen as healthcare’s next evolution, prioritizing whole-health outcomes over the usual volume of symptom treatments. This approach has profound implications for cost management, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare quality. However, transitioning from traditional fee-for-service models to value-based care faces challenges, particularly regarding payer motivation and long-term investment. The growing attention around “food as medicine” is part of this, and pharmacists have an opportunity to contribute.

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