August15,2012 Eighty students began class this week at the Marshall University School of Pharmacy. Marshall University and the School of Pharmacy held a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday to signify the beginning of the brand new school. The ceremony along with a white coat ceremony over the weekend was the culmination of three years of developing a doctorate of pharmacy program. Delilah Navarro is one of the first students in the program. This week has been a little stressful because were getting everything started and its a new program and a lot of the faculty doesnt know much about us yet, but overall its really exciting. Im from Texas, far away and I didnt expect such a welcoming, Navarro said. The School of Pharmacy got the green light to start teaching classes this fall when it was granted pre-candidate accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education in June. Pre-candidate accreditation for the doctoral program extends through June 30, 2013. Another on-site evaluation will take place during the upcoming school year. The accreditation process consists of three steps, culminating with graduates of the first class in 2016. The Dean of the School of Pharmacy is Kevin Yingling. More: Marshall’s School … Continue reading →

By JAMES E. CASTO For The State Journal HUNTINGTON Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Marshall University's new School of Pharmacy, Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., called the school "a perfect prescription for our future." Members of the school's inaugural class of 80 students mingled with local officials and other guests at the ribbon-cutting event Aug. 14 at the Robert W. Coon Education Building on the campus of the Huntington Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spring Valley. In remarks prior to the ribbon cutting, Rahall pointed to a recent study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that indicated a need for 70,000 additional pharmacists by the year 2020. "When this school places budding pharmacists in clinics throughout our communities, families will win big with their advice about the latest in prescription medicine," he said. "As our population ages, the need for pharmacists in hospitals, outpatient care centers, nursing homes and rural health clinics will continue to escalate," Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said. "At the same time, our pharmacists are on the front line in the war on drugs, and I'm grateful that Marshall will prepare these soon-to-be pharmacists in every capacity their careers may encounter." Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp … Continue reading →

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Today, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited a CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic in Jacksonville, Florida to highlight new benefits and options for Medicare beneficiaries that will help them stay healthier. These services include a free Annual Wellness Visit, allowing patients to meet with their doctor and discuss health concerns and the best ways to stay healthy, as well as a wide variety of preventive tests and screenings, most at no cost to patients. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090226/NE75914LOGO) "CVS Caremark and our other pharmacy partners are helping its customers make informed health care decisions," Secretary Sebelius said. "These partnerships will help people with Medicare learn more about new preventive services such as mammograms, and the new Annual Wellness visit that are available at no charge for everyone with Medicare." CVS Caremark and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have teamed up to increase awareness of the new services available under the Affordable Care Act. Through a partnership, CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations provided materials and information about new preventive services and savings available for Medicare patients. CMS and CVS Caremark also promoted the Medicare Part D donut hole drug discount. In 2012, if a … Continue reading →

MT. OLIVE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Specialty pharmacy takes center stage when leading experts in the pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers' industries gather in Las Vegas, September 19-21 to discuss the current changes and trends developing in our healthcare system that directly influence the specialty arena. Specialty pharmacy, which develops and markets high-priced medications and treatments used to manage diseases, is gaining more attention as providers and insurers look to streamline delivery and reimbursement policies around these prescribed therapies. The specialty drug trend and healthcare reform are pushing the industry to evolve, said Kevin Cast, Vice President of Strategy and Contracting for United BioSource Corporation. Now more than ever manufacturers need a fresh approach to commercialization, access, adherence, reimbursement and safety. This newly expanded focus-area at the September Managed Markets Summit will feature more than a dozen distinguished faculty members from major corporations discussing the challenges and trends of selling specialty products in an evolving healthcare marketplace. Summit presenters include: Additional conference topics include: The Pinsonault Managed Markets Summit takes place at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, September 19-21, 2012. The cost is $2,595 per person with discounts available to groups of five or more. For more information, go to http://www.ManagedMarketsSummit.com. About Pinsonault … Continue reading →

CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Millennium Pharmacy Systems, Inc. has announced that A. Jeffrey Newell has joined the company as Senior Vice President Operations effective August 13, 2012. Mr. Newell brings over 30 years of retail pharmacy management experience that includes roles with increasing responsibilities with Newell's and Shakers' Pharmacies and with CVS Corporation. Most recently, he has been the CEO and Founder of the Newell Group, LLC and was the Chief Operating Officer for Quality Partners of Rhode Island, a national Medicare quality improvement organization, where he excelled in leading quality, efficiency and process improvement initiatives at the state and national levels. Mr. Newell has also been heavily involved in State and National professional and regulatory organizations, including chairing the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy. Millennium's President and CEO, Phil Keough commented, "Jeff is a talented leader whose knowledge and hands-on experience in pharmacy operations and quality improvement will be a tremendous addition to our senior leadership team at Millennium. His experience and understanding of Medicare and healthcare quality improvement will provide invaluable insights as we maintain our focus on continuous improvement and breakthroughs to transform our customers and the industry." "I am thrilled to join Millennium and know … Continue reading →