Counterfeit Blood Glucose Test Strips
Rockville, MD - The FDA announced that counterfeit blood glucose test strips are being sold in the U.S. The strips were supposed to work with the One Touch Brand Blood Glucose Monitors manufactured by LifeScan, Inc. To date the products and lot numbers known to be counterfeit include One Touch Basic/Profile test strips (lot #272894A, 2619932, 2606340, and 2615211) and One Touch Ultra test strips (lot #2691191 and 2691261). According to the FDA, the counterfeit test strips could potentially give incorrect blood glucose values that might result in a patient administering too much or too little insulin.

Midwest Supermarket Chain Offers Free Rx Program
Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer, a supermarket chain operating "supercenters" in Michigan Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, launched a "no-strings attached" free prescription program. The program covers leading oral generic antibiotics with a special focus on prescriptions most prescribed children. The program is available to any customer, regardless of insurance or copay.

Medco to Pay Government $155 Million in Settlement of False Claims Cases
Washington, D.C. - According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Medco Health Solutions, this nation's second largest pharmacy benefits manager, has agreed to pay the U.S. government $155 million plus interest to settle allegations of kickbacks and false claims. The government complaint alleged that the company submitted false claims for mail order prescription drug services it was required by contract to provide millions of federal employees, retirees, and their families. It was further alleged that the company canceled valid prescriptions it could not fill in a timely manner to avoid paying penalties under the contract, shorted pills from prescriptions it had already filled, failed to conduct concurrent drug utilization review, and filled prescriptions with drugs other than those prescribed by the physician to earn undisclosed rebates from drug manufacturers.

Wal-Mart Rolls Out $4 Generic Rx Program in 14 States
Bentonville, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has rolled out its $4 generic prescription program, which was only being offered in 235 of its Florida pharmacies, to 1,264 stores in 14 additional states. The states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont.

Kudos from NCPA on TRICARE Decision
Alexandria, Vir. - The National Community Pharmacists Association applauded the U.S. Congress for its recent action to preserve prescription drug choice for America's military families. Congress recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. In it are important provisions affecting the TRICARE program, the Department of Defense's health care program for active duty military, active duty families, retirees, and their families covering more than nine million people worldwide. As a result of the act, TRICARE participants will not to be forced into using mail order facilities instead of retail pharmacies and will not pay higher copays if they choose to fill their prescriptions at a retail pharmacy.