PHARMACIST STEVE

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Columns/At-Large/36496?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&xid=NL_DHE_2012-12-18&eun=g578717d0r&userid=578717&email=steve@steveariens.com&mu_id=5705800 From the article: In 2012, Massachusetts enacted a law intended to not allow healthcare cost inflation to exceed the inflation of the remainder of the economy. It would appear that it is not about how well a care is provided but what the  aggregate health expenditures are …  I am still trying to figure […]

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http://www.todaysworkplace.org/2012/12/18/walmart-tells-workers-who-ask-about-unions-that-benefits-and-vacation-might-go-away/ From the article: Walmart staves off unionization attempts in its stores by telling workers who ask about forming a union that they may lose benefits and vacation time, a potential violation of American labor law Such tactics may not be illegal by themselves because they can be seen as predicting outcomes rather than threatening them, The Nation’s […]

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Have we moved from $4 Rx and Free Rx.. to now discounting insurance copays? Do you want a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs with your script? Kroger Offers $4 Co-pay on Blood Glucose Test Strips For the millions of people with diabetes that must test their blood glucose on a daily basis, the […]

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These are the words that I heard from President Obama last night when he addressed the residents of Newtown, CT in regards to having too many of these violent incidents. I remember from my logic class in college … the Prof saying “never say never and never say always.. because someone will always prove you […]

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http://www.medpagetoday.com/Washington-Watch/Reform/36459?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&xid=NL_DHE_2012-12-15&eun=g578717d0r&userid=578717&email=steve@steveariens.com&mu_id=5705800 According to this article only 17 states have agreed to create their own insurance exchange… which was the “backbone” to Obamacare.. Now the Feds are obligated by the ACA law to create these insurance exchanges in these states. Meaning that the Feds will have their hands in the health insurance of the majority of […]

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I have recently seen a lot of  pharmacy employees – particularly RPH’s – have been fired on the first perceived mis-step and then almost universally they are denied unemployment. When I was in  business, it was a known fact that unless you had given the employee at least two warning that their job was at […]

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They claim that there are always three sides to every story – yours, mine and THE TRUTH http://abcnews.go.com/Business/calif-walmart-pharmacist-fired-praying-customer/story?id=17944168#.UM0H3XfNlS0 From the article: A former pharmacist at a Walmart in California said she was fired by the retail giant because of her Christian beliefs. Now she is suing for religious discrimination, saying the store claimed to have […]

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/13/medical-companies-brace-for-devastating-obamacare-tax-prepare-for-layoffs/ As of Jan 1, 2013 all companies that manufacturer “medical products” will have to pay a 2.3% tax on GROSS SALES. For many companies, particularly small and/or start ups,  this could be > 50% of their net profits. In the case of start ups .. could be adding an additional cost when they are […]

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  http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/willingboro/medco-plant-lays-off-at-willingboro-site/article_bb716780-a43c-5ad3-8fcf-14a2c326abce.html http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/07/a-former-medco-pharmacist-is-on-a-hunger-strike   From the article: Pharmacist complained to Medco managers that a new policy requiring pharmacists to process at least 45 to 55 prescriptions an hour was “unreasonably high” and led to a growing number of errors that placed patients in jeopardy. “After the merger, we assessed the operational needs, and we wanted […]

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NABP Leads the Charge as States Tighten Ranks Around Compounding Pharmacies  http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/12/12/4480369/nabp-leads-the-charge-as-states.html#storylink=cpy To bad the NABP and the other BOP’s are not taking a interest in other issues in retail/community pharmacy that is killing/harming patients.. like staff  – especially RPH’s – working without any breaks, working 12-14 hr days… often many in  row, under staffing, […]

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