NABP e-News October 17, 2007

FDA Seeks Input on Establishing Behind-the-Counter Class of Drugs
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently posted a Federal Register notice announcing a public meeting on November 14, 2007, to obtain comments regarding behind-the-counter (BTC) availability of drugs. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit information and views on specific issues associated with BTC availability, including increasing patient access to safe and effective drug products. FDA is soliciting input regarding the public health benefits of certain drugs being available BTC without a prescription but only after intervention by a pharmacist. NABP has long been an advocate of creating a BTC class of drugs.

NABP Awards VIPPS Accreditation to Savon.com
NABP recently accredited Savon.com through its Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ (VIPPS®) program. To be VIPPS-accredited, a pharmacy must comply with the licensing and inspection requirements of its state and of each state to which it dispenses medications. In addition, it must meet VIPPS criteria, which address such issues as the patient’s right to privacy, authentication and security of prescription orders, adherence to a recognized quality assurance policy, and provision of meaningful consultation between patients and pharmacists. Based in Carlsbad, CA, Savon.com provides Internet-based prescription services primarily to customers who do not have insurance or who are self-insured. The practice involves both on-site prescription fulfillment, as well as prescription validation, after which, if the customer chooses, the order is passed to a local pharmacy of parent company New Albertson’s, Inc, for actual fulfillment. More information about VIPPS is available under Accreditation on the NABP Web site.

Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Controlling Methamphetamine Smuggling
Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Max Baucus of Montana testified before the Senate Finance Committee on the need to control methamphetamine smuggling from Mexico into the United States. While the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA) has reduced domestic methamphetamine production, abuse of the drug reportedly has remained steady. A National Association of Counties survey found that methamphetamine is the number one illegal drug problem for 47% of counties. At the hearing, “Breaking the Methamphetamine Supply Chain: Meeting Challenges at the Border,” held September 18, 2007, the senators reported that an estimated 80% of methamphetamine consumed in the US originates in Mexico and is smuggled into the country. Drug enforcement officials from California, Iowa, Montana, and Washington DC provided witness statements on how federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are collaborating to stop methamphetamine smuggling at the border and to control the legally produced chemicals that are used for methamphetamine production. One such effort is Senator Grassley’s proposed Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2007, which would amend the CMEA t to allow for electronic logbook systems, and would provide grants for states to create or enhance electronic logbook systems.

NABP Awards DMEPOS Accreditation to Walgreen Co
Walgreen Co has received accreditation for its mail-order pharmacy services and its retail stores through the NABP durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation program. The DMEPOS program ensures that pharmacies supplying DMEPOS products meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) quality and accreditation standards. Those pharmacies that are accredited through the program are doing their part to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive the appropriate products, services, and patient care associated with DMEPOS. Walgreen also received accreditation for its online pharmacy through the NABP Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites™ program and for four of its distribution centers through the NABP Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors® program.

Ten Additional Facilities Awarded VAWD Accreditation
NABP recently accredited 10 new facilities through its Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors® (VAWD®) program, bringing the total number of accredited facilities to 202 as of October 12, 2007. A full listing of VAWD facilities is available under Accreditation Programs on the NABP Web site, www.nabp.net.

  • Chapin Drug Company, dba Chapin Specialty Healthcare, a member of the AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation family of distribution facilities, provides blood derivative infusion intravenous prescription products to customers nationwide. The company received accreditation for its Anaheim, CA facility.
  • Hawkins, Inc, manufactures and repackages chemicals, bases, capsules and flavors used in compounding prescription medications. Its inventory includes non-controlled prescription medications, class II and III controlled substances, and over-the-counter products. The company received accreditation for its Minneapolis, MN facility.
  • Heartland Repack Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Omnicare, Inc, distributes a full range of products to pharmacies and other facilities within the Omnicare family of businesses. The company received accreditation for its Toledo, OH facility.
  • Heritage Labs International, LLC, dba Heritage Labs, primarily supplies insurance kits for underwriters but also distributes Breath Tek™ UBT Collection Kits, used to test for helicobacter pylori, an infection that causes gastritis and gastric ulcers. The company received accreditation for its Olathe, KS facility.
  • Owens & Minor Distribution, Inc primarily distributes pharmaceutical supplies and devices to hospitals. The company, which owns and operates 51 distribution centers, received accreditation for two of its facilities in the following locations: Indianapolis, IN, and Hebron, KY.
  • Promotech Research Associates, Inc, dba Promotech, is a third-party logistics company that provides sample and literature fulfillment to physicians and representatives of drug manufacture-clients. The business is licensed in all states requiring wholesale drug distributor licensure. The company received accreditation for its Louisville, CO facility.
  • Returns R Us, Inc, dba Pharma Logistics, a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories, is a full-service worldwide reverse distributor. The company also offers services and proprietary software to retail pharmacies, wholesalers, and hospital systems to manage the return of expired and overstocked pharmaceuticals. The company received accreditation for its Mundelein, IL facility.
  • Tri-Anim Health Services, Inc is a specialty wholesale distributor that provides medical supplies and pharmaceutical products to emergency medical service organizations, ambulance services, fire departments, and hospitals. The company received accreditation for its Fort Wayne, IN facility.
  • Walgreen Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens Inc, distributes schedule II controlled substance medications to 1,163 retail stores, and legend pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter and self-service products to another 688 stores in 22 states. The company received accreditation for its Perrysburg, OH facility.

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