NABP e-News: February 04, 2009

February 4, 2009 12:00 am

DEA Seeks Input on Safe Disposal of Dispensed Controlled Substances
In response to concerns raised by individuals, public and private organizations, the health care industry, and the law enforcement community, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is soliciting information on the disposal of controlled substances dispensed to individual patients (ie, ultimate users) as well as to long-term care facilities. DEA is seeking options for the safe and responsible disposal of dispensed controlled substances in a manner consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations. Currently, prescription drug take-back programs are not permitted to accept controlled substances. DEA is accepting comments on this issue through March 23, 2009. More information is available in the Federal Register (Docket No. DEA-316A ).

PTCB Offers New Testing Format for 2009
Beginning April 1, 2009, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Examination will be available in continuous testing format at Pearson Professional Centers nationwide. Candidates will receive an official pass or fail result at the test center after the completion of the examination, effective immediately. More information is available in the January 28 issue of Medical News Today.

FDA/CDC Partnership Addresses Unintentional Drug Overdosing
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a new program to support research into the prevention of unintentional drug overdoses in adults. Unintentional poisoning is now the second leading cause of unintentional injury and death for Americans, with 23,618 deaths in 2005. Of these deaths, approximately 95% were due to drug overdoses, and more than half of these were associated with prescription drugs. Such overdoses can be the result of accidental overdose or abuse of drugs. The CDC and FDA grants, which were made available to eligible public and private organizations in late 2008, will be allocated for research that evaluates novel approaches to drug overdose prevention. More information is available on the FDA Web site.

NABP Sees Huge Growth in Number of DMEPOS Accreditation Applications
Since the launch of its DMEPOS program two years ago, NABP has seen incredible growth in the number of applications received. In 2007, NABP received 145 applications. In 2008, the Association received 309 applications. In 2009, NABP received 303 applications in January alone. The deadline for DMEPOS accreditation, as mandated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is September 30, 2009. The NABP DMEPOS program includes a rigorous accreditation process in support of the CMS quality standards governing this program. Due to the length of time required to conduct DMEPOS accreditation respective of the CMS requirements, and in service to those suppliers already enrolled in the NABP program whose accreditation bids must be completed by the CMS deadline, NABP reserves the right to cease accepting new applications for this program as of January 31, 2009. More information on DMEPOS accreditation is available under Accreditation Programs on the NABP Web site.

Four Additional Pharmacies Awarded DMEPOS Accreditation
NABP recently accredited four additional pharmacies through its Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) program, bringing the total number of accredited pharmacies to 49 as of January 30, 2009. A full listing of DMEPOS-accredited facilities is available under Accreditation Programs on the NABP Web site.

• Heena Vital Rx, Inc, in Chicago, IL, in operation in its current location for 10 years, has a primary concentration on providing diabetic supplies.
• Texas Community Pharmacy Services, Inc, dba Community Pharmacy, in Denton, TX, in existence since 1988, provides retail, compounding, sterile pharmaceuticals, diabetic shoes, nutritional supplements, and immunizations.
• Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc, in Hialeah, FL is a small independent pharmacy that concentrates primarily on providing respiratory and diabetic supplies.
• M&A Pharmacy Corporation, dba Medex Pharmacy, in Woodhaven, NY devotes a large portion of its business to serving Medicaid and Medicare patients.