PHARMACIST STEVE

 New research questioned old assumptions https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/painmanagement/119247 In January 2025, we reported that some adverse events associated with gabapentin (Neurontin) may have been overestimated. Since then, new risks related to gabapentin emerged and prescribing continued to rise. Here’s what we learned about gabapentin in 2025. Often championed as a safer alternative to opioids and prescribed off-label for chronic […]

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https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/drugmakers-raise-us-prices-350-medicines-despite-pressure-trump-2025-12-31/ Number of hikes rises from same time a year ago Median list price increase is 4%, in line with 2025 Includes 5 drugmakers who struck pricing deals with Trump administration NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) – Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 branded medications including vaccines against COVID, RSV and […]

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I ask perplexity.AI: under trump RX how and where are these Rxs going to be filled, local community pharmacies, mail order or some other way? TrumpRx is structured so that many of the prescriptions it targets never touch a local pharmacy at all; they are routed to manufacturers’ contracted mail/specialty pharmacies via TrumpRx.gov and the […]

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I asked Perplexia.ai: One of the media today declared the “fentanyl crisis” was over because OD’s from illegal fentanyl was going on.. Is there really any rational reason for the DEA to reduce the pharmaceutical company’s opioid production.. since Rx opioid – if anything – may be a very minor part of OD opioids DEA’s […]

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  CMS is cracking down on it in Medicare Advantage while expanding its use in traditional Medicare https://www.medpagetoday.com/practicemanagement/reimbursement/119157   Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an agreement with Medicare Advantage plans to lessen the use of prior authorization, but the agency also said it would conduct a demonstration project looking at expanding […]

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Some pharmacists are substituting their judgment for that of ordering physicians. The AMA opposes such actions. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/scope-practice/investigating-pharmacists-refusal-fill-valid-physician-orders Wayne, New Jersey, ophthalmologist Donald J. Cinotti, MD, is accustomed to the usual delays with having orders filled promptly at area pharmacies. Those can relate to medication shortages, prior authorization and other insurance restrictions, or the occasional instances […]

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                      If you click on the graphic, it will enlarge, might have to click it a second time to enlarge it a little more and/or magnify on your laptop screen with “CTRL” + “+” key… this was a graphic that someone else made and I […]

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Trump Cabinet teams up to end animal abuse Bondi says prosecutors will be placed in every state to handle animal cruelty cases https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-administration-launches-multi-agency-strike-force-crack-down-animal-abuse https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386776126112 Senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration say they are cracking down on animal cruelty, rolling out coordinated actions across the Justice Department, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department […]

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Methadone can be a excellent med for pain management, but a decade ago either the state of Washington or Oregon had a mandate that all chronic pain pts that were on Medicaid, could only have Methadone prescribed for pain management, because Methadone was the least expensive opioid. They were having 2-4 pts for every 1,000 […]

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