HEALTH

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Several organizations representing retailers and consumer healthcare product manufacturers want Congress to reverse a provision in the healthcare-reform act that would prohibit the use of flexible spending accounts to purchase over-the-counter medicines without a prescription.

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. Blood pressure monitor manufacturer Omron Healthcare is working with the American Heart Association to promote heart health, Omron announced.

Under the partnership, Omron is supporting the AHA’s campaign to educate healthcare providers on treatments for high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, with the goal of reaching 50,000 providers by 2013.

LAKE MARY, Fla. Specialty pharmacy provider Axium Healthcare Pharmacy has received recognition from the National Hemophilia Foundation for its treatment programs, Axium said.

The NHF said Axium “meets or exceeds” the standards of the organization’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, meaning that it has staff knowledgeable about and provides a full range of treatments, has 24-hour access to pharmacy staff and has good record-keeping, billing and product recall processes.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Musician and reality TV star Bret Michaels recently shared his struggles with Type 1 diabetes and related health issues with the American Diabetes Association's consumer magazine, Diabetes Forecast.

DEERFIELD, Ill. An intensive cancer patient management program by Walgreens’ specialty pharmacy professionals could save health plan payers $2,000 to $4,000 per patient each month, the company announced.

NEW YORK Iatrical Innovations soon will launch a product designed to make giving medicine to toddlers easier.

Iatrical announced Monday the upcoming launch of Sippy Sure, a medication-dispensing sippy cup, originally invented by a doctor and father of two small children.

The cup keeps the medicine and drink separate, but mixes them as the child drinks, thus concealing the medicine.

Sippy Sure cups retail for $8.99.

SKILLMAN, N.J. Aveeno, a Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co. brand, has developed new products and teamed up with the National Eczema Association to educate sufferers of the common condition in preparation for the cold and dry winter months when dry skin is most common.

Roughly 35 million people in the United States suffer from eczema, a chronic skin disorder resulting in intense itching and overall discomfort. Eczema also is among the top five skin conditions for babies zero to 36 months, with 10% to 20% of all infants experiencing some form of eczema.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. Vaseline Intensive Rescue, a Unilever brand, is on a mission to rescue dry skin this winter by sending out the Dry Skin Patrol team.

The team is comprised of real women who know what it's like to have dry skin and is charged with putting their skin and lotion to the test at some of the country's harshest winter activities for skin. Serving as the team's leader is Wendie Malick, an actress and star of TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland."