HEALTH

CHICAGO The Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association and Michael Maves, AMA EVP and CEO, have mutually decided that Maves will complete his leadership of the AMA when his current contract ends June 30, 2011.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. Biotech company Amgen took home a top award for one of its drugs at an annual event for drug makers, the company said Friday.

Amgen won the Best New Drug award for the osteoporosis treatment Prolia (denosumab) at the 2010 Scrip Awards in London Thursday.

The drug works by targeting the cells that break down bone, called osteoclasts, and was named one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2009 in Time magazine.

BOSTON An investigative treatment for hepatitis C got strong results in patients who had failed previous treatments or who were new to treatment, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial program announced this week.

WASHINGTON Under the Affordable Care Act, the average savings for those enrolled in traditional Medicare is expected to amount to more than $3,500 over the next 10 years — and will be even higher for seniors and people with diabetes who have high drug costs — according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It would be no small thing to define the retail market for wellness, much less “own” it. But Walgreens is staking its future on its ability to do just that.

(THE NEWS: Walgreens chief: We want to own ‘well.’ For the full story, click here)

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid will introduce Rite Aid Online Care to the Pittsburgh market, a service that offers patients live online interactive personal consultations with specially trained Rite Aid pharmacists via a computer, at the American Diabetes Association on Nov. 6.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. In a clear message to the newly elected lawmakers that pharmacies can be utilized even more effectively to help reduce healthcare costs and improve healthcare quality, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores sent a pharmacy briefing letter Friday to each of the new lawmakers.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — That Medicare doesn’t universally cover the use of retail clinics — and even create a structure that encourages their use for certain services — is a key symptom of what is wrong with the U.S. healthcare system.

THE NEWS: Duane Reade Walk-In Medical Care clinics to accept Medicare. For the full story, click here)