Federal, state, and local laws guide what pharmacists can and cannot do to serve their patients. Navigating these requirements is not always easy and a violation can result in serious penalties. In addition to penalties from the body that oversees a pharmacist’s...
Pharmacists And Pharmacies
Provider funding update: New resources available
Hospitals and private practices throughout the country will soon be able to apply for additional federal funding to help offset the costs or negative revenue impact that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers who qualify can fill out an application...
NY pharmacy owner gets 3 years imprisonment for healthcare fraud
The feds continue to crackdown on pharmacy owners who do not follow applicable regulations. In a recent case, prosecutors accused a pharmacy owner of falsely claiming to be a pharmacist. They state that he was not licensed as a pharmacist and did not have the proper...
Labs and pharmacies take note, FDA announces regulation change
There are various regulations that help better ensure patient safety when compounding medications. Although mostly beneficial, these regulations can prove challenging for pharmacies as well as diagnostic testing and reference labs. The government will conduct audits...
How has COVID-19 changed pharmacies?
The pandemic fueled change in our family lives, our working lives and even the marketplace as a whole. The pandemic changed every marketplace within our communities, from retail to healthcare. One of the most visible changes within the healthcare marketplace is the...
How do regulations apply when pharmacies use robots?
Pharmacists are, essentially, medication managers. These medical professionals spend years studying and training to provide patients with guidance and information on various medications. In some cases, they may fill prescriptions and discuss benefits and potential...
Government takes steps to add oversite to pharmaceutical mergers
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and offices of state attorneys general along with the Canadian Competition Bureau, European Commission Directorate General for Competition, and U.K.’s Competition and Markets...
Feds investigate NY pharmacy, charge owners with healthcare fraud
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced criminal charges against two pharmacy owners from New York. According to the feds, the two were part of a $30 million healthcare fraud scheme that included improper use of a new emergency code,...
3 ways HIPAA could change in 2021
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently recommended the government consider making a number of modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HHS states the recommendations are part of the agency’s...
Feds gain momentum with EKRA as doc takes plea deal
A group of medical professionals recently accepted plea deals in connection to a healthcare fraud scheme that operated through the country. The group had operations set up in multiple states, including New Jersey, Maryland, California. According to feds, the group...