GLG News by Medicare Experts

A fifth Cardinal Health (CAH) location is now under investigation for allegedly failing to report “suspicious orders” of controlled substances from its Findlay, OH, warehouse. Cardinal Health has requested a hearing before the pharmacy board, so I presume nothing will happen until then. Penalties could...

While no more would argue that control of systolic hypertension is crucial to preventing the consequences of hypertension such as congestive heart failure, MI's, left ventricular hyperthrophy, stroke and kidney failure there are other factors that are associated with these disease states. One of these...

The FDA -- likely with encouragement of King Pharmaceuticals -- has ordered ZymoGenetics to cease dissemination of materials that cite "a significantly lower incidence of antibody formation compared to the commercially available bovine thrombin product [Thrombin-JMI]." "This statement is false or misleading...

Ranking doctors and hospitals will certainly move the most profitable patients able to afford commercial health insurance AND travel.  Medical Providers who help set their (local) standards to affect real outcomes reporting regular consumers can understand will increase their market share. ...

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) latest expansion of its generic drug program represents more of the same despite the company's promise on Friday to make a “major health care announcement.” Nonetheless, the company’s latest comments shed additional light on the true economics of the program. Here are some high...

It is well known that millions of people in the US suffer from osteoporosis which leads directly to debilitating fractures.   Early diagnosis of osteoporosis and low bone mass will help prevent chronic pain and loss of independence.  Once diagnosed, treatment is readily available and...

George Barrett, the new CEO of Cardinal Health’s (CAH) Healthcare Supply Chain Services division, was refreshingly blunt in describing the need to “turnaround” the drug distribution business on last Thursday’s earning conference call.  He described the company’s market share challenges with independent...

McKesson (MCK) announced a settlement with the DEA that temporarily suspends distribution of two controlled substances from two of its distribution centers. I presume that McKesson has learned some lessons from Cardinal Health’s (CAH) troubles so the marketplace impact should be less severe.  

The Heparin contamination has pushed the security of America’s pharmaceutical supply chain to the forefront of the news. I’m not yet sure how politician’s newfound involvement in the topic will play out. America needs to harmonize its own internal standards for the pharmaceutical supply chain, but politicians’...

There are some new developments for Average Manufacturer Price (AMP), although the situation has now devolved into a somewhat arcane legal battle. Unless there is a legislative fix (unlikely), then I expect that Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will punt this issue to the next administration...