Healthcare providers in today’s environment are committed to promoting patient safety while providing access to the most reliable and innovative treatments. Medication reconciliation, which is defined by The Joint Commission as “the process of comparing a patient’s medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking,” is designed to prevent drug-related errors — including adverse interactions, overdoses or allergic reactions — and can assist healthcare providers, especially during care transitions when patients are most likely to receive new medications or alternative doses.

Thrifty White Pharmacy is carrying a new prescription drug packaging system that it said would improve adherence.

Several policy-makers and companies have sought ways to confront the problem of prescription drug abuse. Last month, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan — calling it the first in the country — to create an all-
electronic registry that would enable doctors, pharmacists and law enforcement to track controlled substances to prevent excessive prescription and refill requests.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Wednesday urged Congress to pass the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, legislation essential to the review process for new medications and that also contains important pro-patient, pro-pharmacy provisions.

As the U.S. Senate and House reconcile their versions of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Wednesday urged U.S. House and Senate leaders to expand provisions in the final bill to help ensure that Americans continue to have access to safe and effective prescription medications, while also curbing prescription drug abuse.

Government authorities are working to educate independent pharmacy owners on prescription drug abuse, an independent pharmacy network said.

The House of Representatives will vote to repeal limitations on the use of tax-advantaged accounts for the purchase of over-the-counter medications as early as June 4, according to a report published online by The Hill, a Washington, D.C.-based political newspaper.

Federal and industry officials have been negotiating a federal track-and-trace system as part of a reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, according to published reports.

Walgreens on Tuesday infused greater value into its Prescription Savings Club program, which now offers discounts on more than 8,000 brand-name and generic prescriptions, thanks to the inclusion of more than 700 "value-priced" generics, which retail as low as $12 for a 90-day supply.

The past two weeks have seen two new additions to the list of retailers selling prescription drugs for pets, showing that this space, while still small, is growing in importance.

The Food and Drug Administration should apply consistent regulatory standards across all biologics, Sandoz plans to state Friday in testimony at an FDA public hearing on draft guidances related to the development of biosimilars.

People ages 65 years and older reduced their volume of prescriptions, while those ages 19 to 25 years increased their use of prescription drugs as the healthcare-reform law allowed them to remain on their parents' insurance, according to a new report by IMS Health.