A federal jury in Seattle recently awarded $5.8 million to a Tacoma-based pharmaceutical sales representative. She said her employer fired her to retaliate for her refusing to push a product’s off-label uses and for filing an ethics complaint with the company. Also, in Arizona and Florida, two former employees of another drug company recently filed …
Continue reading “Salespeople sue drug companies for whistleblower retaliation”
Physicians and pharmacists may share the same goal of helping people live longer and better lives. But two recent cases remind us that legal duties differ from role to role in the healthcare system. The results of the suits show how pharmacies and clinics may work hand in hand, according to a column at Pharmacy Today, …
Continue reading “Doctors and pharmacies face different malpractice tests”
The anti-kickback statute was passed in 1972 to prevent doctors or physicians from receiving and accepting a bribe to refer patients to certain facilities or programs. Congress also enacted this law to protect healthcare patients and government-run health programs and eliminate this type of abuse and fraud. Violating this law can have severe consequences and …
Continue reading “How can I avoid violating the anti-kickback statute?”
Pharmacies and the rest of the health system are still meeting and adjusting to the changes brought by USP 800. Not meeting its standards for handling hazardous drugs can pose medical risks for patients and staff as well as professional and legal risks. But a recent review article in Pharmacy Practice News highlights the ways compliance can …
Continue reading “Safe handling of hazardous drugs takes more than rules”
If you are a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist or another medical professional, your license could be on the line if you are accused of drug abuse, misconduct, fraud or neglect that affects public safety or health. Yet an accusation is not proof. You need to carefully follow the steps in the letter you received …
Continue reading “Received notice of a complaint against your professional license?”
Health care companies often find it challenging to stay ahead of the various trends across their sector. As both third-party entities and the federal government look at making changes that could impact the drug industry, there are some updates the pharmaceutical industry may want to focus their attention on. Standards for new laws and policies These …
Continue reading “Regulations for pharmacies to watch in 2020”
Opening and operating a pharmacy is difficult enough on its own. In recent years, however, the grip of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) is making life even harder for independent pharmacists. PBMs act as a middleman, managing prescription drug benefit programs. PBMs argue they can lower prescription costs by negotiating discounts with large drug companies. What’s …
Continue reading “How pharmacy benefit managers squeeze local pharmacists”
After years of working for a someone else, you may be ready to open your own pharmacy or medical/nurse practitioner practice. This is an exciting yet challenging thing to accomplish. To avoid mistakes, here are five tips for starting your private practice: Get your finances in order. You might need to take out a loan. Research …
In April 2018, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill into law that expanded insurance coverage to include telehealth services such as remote patient monitoring. Almost all large employers offer these services to their workers when they are available, but eliminating face-to-face meetings with doctors has raised concerns among doctors and medical malpractice insurers. Research …
Continue reading “Telehealth services and medical malpractice issues in Arizona”
In Arizona, state law says that a pharmacist doesn’t have to fill a prescription for medication that can help with an abortion or a similar procedure. Furthermore, an individual cannot have a professional license revoked if he or she acts in accordance with a religious belief. According to the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, denying …
Continue reading “The Arizona Pharmacist’s Right to Refuse to Participate in Care”