PHARMACIST STEVE

How opioid prescriptions are tracked and monitored by law enforcement and health care providers https://whyy.org/segments/how-opioid-prescriptions-are-tracked-and-monitored-by-law-enforcement-and-health-care-providers/ Medical sociologist Liz Chiarello discusses the effects of prescription drug monitoring programs on both patients and physicians. Associate Professor of Sociology at Saint Louis University, Liz Chiarello, argues that new drug surveillance programs called Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) blur […]

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More Deception from Express Scripts! https://pharmacistactivist.com/2024/September_2024.shtml The lead commentary in the August issue of The Pharmacist Activist was, “Express Scripts Attempts to Change its Identity,” that responds to its full-page advertisement in major newspapers. The PBM has followed that with another full-page ad that continues the deception and lies, but provides no transparency regarding its […]

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Doctors Cut Back on Seeing Medicare Patients as Another Pay Cut Looms Which – how many politicians – are saying that we all need a single healthcare insurance system? Thru the end of Aug, 2024 we have had abt 30 pharmacies closing their doors – for good – every day.  https://www.pharmaciststeve.com/2275-pharmacies-have-closed-so-far-in-2024/  So the PBMs are […]

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FTC Sues Top Pharmacy Benefit Managers Over Insulin Prices https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/washington-watch/112064 The three companies process about 80% of prescriptions in the U.S. The federal government is suing three big pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) over a system of drug rebates that regulators say has made the price of insulin soar for patients with diabetes. Three companies that […]

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I have read some of these small paragraphs several times and I WONDER what the final interpretation of what these small paragraphs are going to end up being what will be applied to many parts of our healthcare system and will that really mean better patient care and outcomes? Why am I skeptical? White House […]

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CVS’ Oak Street Health to pay $60M to settle Medicare Advantage kickback allegations https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/disruptors/cvs-oak-street-health-to-pay-60m-to-settle-medicare-advantage-kickback-allegations.html CVS subsidiary Oak Street Health has agreed to pay $60 million to settle accusations that it violated the False Claims Act by offering kickbacks to third-party insurance agents in return for referring older adults to its primary care clinics. The U.S. […]

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Texas system shutters Medicare Advantage plan https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/texas-system-shutters-medicare-advantage-plan.html Southwestern Health Resources will not offer Medicare Advantage plans in 2025, D Magazine reported Sept. 17.  In emails obtained by D Magazine, the company said it decided to sunset its Medicare Advantage plan because of increasing competition and utilization, and regulatory requirements.  “Medicare Advantage plans continue to face […]

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2275 pharmacies have closed so far in 2024 https://benjaminjolley.substack.com/p/2275-pharmacies-have-closed-so-far “It’s not the way I wanted it to go,” he says sadly. “You do what you’re supposed to do. You go to college, get a doctorate, start a small business in a small town, support the community and it’s not even close to being a viable […]

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