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Wal-Mart Expands $4 Generics
Program
Bentonville, Ark
.--Wal-Mart rolled out its $4 generic prescription drug program to 11
additional states and added 17 products to the list of drugs already covered.
The program is now being offered in all of its 3,810 pharmacies. According to
Bill Simon, Executive Vice President of Wal-Mart's Professional Services
Division, the program now lists 331 generic drugs available in commonly
prescribed dosages for up to a 30-day supply. The $4 generics are not
available by mail order, but refills may be ordered online and by telephone
for in-store pickup in selected states. A press release from Wal-Mart says the
chain has seen an increase of 2.1 million new prescriptions filled to date,
compared to the same time period last year. A survey of Florida consumers that
was conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association revealed that
only about 5% of consumers polled have personally tried to use the program,
and about 60% agreed that Wal-Mart's program did not offer all the cost
savings it advertised.
America's Best Health Plans
Announced
Washington, D.C.
--U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for
Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced the publication of "America's Best Health
Plans," the annual rankings of commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health
maintenance organizations and point-of-service plans. Topping the lists are
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Maine, Massachusetts), Preferred Care (New York),
and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, respectively. The rankings are
based upon a plan's clinical performance, patient experience and satisfaction,
and its NCQA accreditation status. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range
of health care organizations, recognizes physicians and physician groups in
key clinical areas, and manages the evolution of HEDIS, the tool used by
health plans to measure and report on their performance. The top 50 commercial
and top 25 Medicare and Medicaid plans can be found online at
www.usnews.com/healthplans.
CVS/pharmacy Launches
Online Medicare Part D Comparison Tool
Woonsocket, R.I.
--CVS/pharmacy announced the launch of a new online tool that should make
choosing the right Medicare prescription drug plan easier for eligible
recipients. Accessible through www.cvs.com and in CVS/pharmacy stores, the
chain's Medicare Plan Comparison Tool will help seniors find the right plan
based on their current medications and the options now available. For example,
users of the tool can indicate their preferences regarding monthly premiums,
medications covered in the "donut hole," and deductibles. The choices can be
compared by plan cost or drug cost.
New COPD Guidelines
Released
New York City--
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) released
updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The launch of the guideline
document coincided with National COPD Awareness Month in November. The update
includes state-of-the-art recommendations about COPD pathogenesis, diagnosis,
and pharmacologic treatment. It emphasizes COPD systemic effects and
complications, plus important emerging concepts in the treatment of lung
disease, and continues to stress the importance of reducing exposure to COPD
risk factors, in order to prevent the disease or to slow its progression. The
GOLD guidelines contain evidence-based recommendations for COPD management and
were developed by an international team of pulmonary experts.
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