Prescription drugs

New Initiative Would Target “Doctor Shoppers,” For Rehabilitation Rather Than Criminal Arrest

April 22, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is applying for more than $620,000 in federal stimulus grants to hire special durational staff within the Department of Consumer Protection to target individuals who abuse prescription drugs by “doctor shopping,” the practice of seeing multiple physicians and pharmacies to acquire controlled substances for nonmedical use.    » read more »

State Now Accepting Applications for New York Prescription Saver Card; More Than 2,500 Pharmacies Statewide to Provide Discounts Beginning April 1

March 23, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the New York State Department of Health (DOH) is now accepting applications for the free New York Prescription Saver Card. The program will provide lower-income New Yorkers with savings that vary depending on the quantity, type and brand of the drug purchased. In general, New Yorkers can expect average savings of 30 to 40 percent off the price of generic, and at least 25 percent off the full retail price of brand name prescriptions.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- Consumer Federation of America welcomes the appointment of Dr. Margaret Hamburg and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as commissioner and principal deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Their resumes are extremely impressive and both are familiar with the FDA’s failure to protect the public from foodborne illness.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—AARP today applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act, introduced by Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), will create a needed pathway for the approval of safe generic versions of costly biologic drugs. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“Biologic drugs are treating some of the most devastating diseases Americans face, like cancer, anemia and multiple sclerosis. But for too many people, these life-saving medicines are simply out of reach because of their overwhelming price tags.    » read more »

www.PaRxPriceFinder.com is Part of Governor Rendell’s Economic Recovery and Relief Initiative to Help Pennsylvania Families

March 10, 2009 -- HARRISBURG — A new Web site demonstrated in Harrisburg today will help consumers find the lowest local prices for more than 300 of the most widely-used prescription medications.

The Web site, www.PaRxPricefinder.com, was announced yesterday by Governor Edward G. Rendell as one of his economic recovery and relief initiatives designed to help Pennsylvania families through the tough economic times.    » read more »

March 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- As the health care reform debate intensifies across the country, AARP today released three new reports on major issues to health care reform. The AARP reports analyze health plan designs, cost shifting for expensive “specialty” drugs, and the access to coverage for Americans age 50-64.    » read more »

Says State of Economic Emergency Means Families Need Help Today

March 9, 2009 -- HARRISBURG - As the grip of a national recession continues to tighten around families across Pennsylvania, Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced unprecedented emergency executive actions intended to provide immediate relief to citizens in need and spark economic recovery.

The Governor’s proposed 2009-10 budget, which is awaiting action now by the General Assembly, includes a significant economic relief and recovery agenda that would provide tuition relief, health care assistance and job creation. However, the Governor said immediate action is needed because some families cannot wait any longer for help.    » read more »

May 29, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced a lawsuit against McKesson Corporation, a pharmaceutical distributor, for artificially inflating drug costs incurred by Connecticut consumers and state-funded health care programs.

Blumenthal sued on behalf of Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Michael P. Starkowski and Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr.

The inflated costs affected several top-brand drugs, including Allegra, Azmacort, Celebrex, Flonase, Lipitor, Neurontin, Nexium, Prevacid and Valium. These drugs are used to treat a variety of ailments such as asthma, allergies, pain, arthritis and cholesterol.    » read more »

Record-Breaking Agreement Requires Company to Submit Ads to FDA Prior to Airing

May 20, 2008 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced a landmark financial settlement with Merck and Company, Inc., that also requires the pharmaceutical manufacturer to submit television drug advertisements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review before their broadcast.    » read more »

Boise – The State of Idaho will receive more than $1.1 million as a result of a consent judgment with Merck and Company, Inc., Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced today. Wasden’s office filed a consent judgment resolving a three-year investigation by 30 states concerning the company’s deceptive promotion of the drug Vioxx.

The judgment, filed Tuesday in Fourth District Court in Ada County, will largely restrict Merck’s ability to deceptively promote any Merck product.    » read more »

Company was under investigation for marketing of anti-inflammatory drug

May 20, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today filed a stipulated consent judgment with Merck and Company, Inc. resolving a three-year investigation that targeted the company’s promotion of the prescription drug Vioxx.

Merck Vioxx

The agreement provides $58 million to the 30 participating states, of which Florida’s share will be more than $3.5 million. The judgment, filed today in the Broward County Circuit Court and pending court approval, will largely restrict Merck’s ability to promote any Merck product in a manner that may be deceptive.    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- SAN DIEGO -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a “groundbreaking settlement” with Merck & Co. which requires the pharmaceutical manufacturer to obtain Federal Drug Administration approval before running any television drug advertisements for new pain medications.

“Merck’s aggressive television advertising convinced hundreds of thousands of consumers to seek Vioxx prescriptions before the drug’s risk were fully understood,” Attorney General Brown said. “Today’s groundbreaking settlement prevents Merck from releasing new television drug advertisements without obtaining federal approval.”    » read more »

April 24, 2008 -- (ALBUQUERQUE) --- New Mexico Attorney General Gary King today announced a $4.4 million grant that will ultimately help consumers make the safest and most effective prescription drug choices. The money gives Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, the assistance needed to help give consumers free and unbiased information when sorting through the confusing prescription drug market.

Prescription drugs: Photo by Mr. T in DC (CC)    » read more »

Tainted Heparin Linked To 81 Deaths; Blood Thinner Originating From China Contained Deadly Contaminant

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced Tuesday he will introduce legislation this week establishing a modern track-and-trace system for all prescription drugs sold in the United States, a move he said would cut down on the contamination of popular patient medicines like the embattled blood thinner, heparin.

Heparin syringe: Photo by flaviab (CC)    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today called on Linda Springer, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to respond to reports that certain health care plans are charging unnecessarily high copayments for prescription drugs. A recent report in the New York Times indicated that many health care plan participants, including federal government employees, are facing copayments as high as 20-33 percent of the cost of drugs.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »