Tag: Pharmacy

Seeking Alternatives In An Amoxicillin Shortage

While obtaining an antibiotic prescription for their children, parents have noticed increased difficulty in filling those prescriptions at their pharmacies.

While obtaining an antibiotic prescription for their children, parents have noticed increased difficulty in filling those prescriptions at their pharmacies.

As temperatures drop and the rate of respiratory infections increase, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns of a months-long antibiotic shortage.

The most obvious shortage is that of Amoxicillin, a common antibiotic doctors use to treat a variety of infections, including ear infections, strep throat, and pneumonia.

Physicians are advising parents to talk to their family’s pharmacist as well as the health care provider who prescribed the medication because there are other alternatives that can be used to fight certain bacterial infections.

Colds, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 are all respiratory viruses that cannot be treated with antibiotics. However, illnesses that are treated with Amoxicillin, such as ear infections, bacterial pneumonia and sinus infections can happen after a surge of respiratory viral infections.

W.Va. Settles Two Opioid Pharmacy Chain Distribution Lawsuits

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday afternoon that settlements have been reached with Walmart and CVS pharmacies before a scheduled opioid distribution trial.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday afternoon that settlements have been reached with Walmart and CVS pharmacies before a scheduled opioid distribution trial.

Morrisey said the combined settlement amount with the two national pharmacy chains adds up to a minimum of $147.5 million.

“These settlements won’t bring back the lives lost from the opioid epidemic, but these and other settlements will hopefully provide significant help to those affected the most by this crisis in our state,” Morrisey said. “This development also avoided a costly and lengthy trial and at the end of the day, West Virginia will have the highest per capita settlement results in the nation fighting for our people.”

Walmart agreed to a settlement of $65 million; CVS for $82.5 million. The CVS deal comes with a guarantee that West Virginia won’t be prejudiced by a future national settlement.

The two companies are part of a larger trial involving other major pharmacies. Litigation against the remaining pharmacy defendants, Walgreens and Kroger, continues before the Mass Litigation Panel with a trial date on June 5, 2023.

The money from all opioid settlements will be distributed under the terms of the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding. Announced in mid-February, the MOU is an agreement with the state on how future settlement dollars would be used to abate the opioid crisis throughout the state. It contains a comprehensive plan to use those funds to abate the massive problems caused by the flood of opioids into West Virginia. Morrisey noted that 99.6 percent of all government entities (counties, cities and towns) had signed on to the MOU.

COVID-19 Vaccines For 5 And Under Heading To W.Va.

In Gov. Jim Justice’s Wednesday coronavirus briefing, Joint Interagency Task Force Director Gen. James Hoyer said about 17,400 vaccine doses for children 5 and under will arrive in West Virginia from June 20 through June 29. He said about 8,600 of those will be Moderna and 800 doses will be Pfizer.

COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 years old and younger are heading to West Virginia.

In Gov. Jim Justice’s Wednesday coronavirus briefing, Joint Interagency Task Force Director Gen. James Hoyer said about 17,400 vaccine doses for children 5 and under will arrive in West Virginia from June 20 through June 29. He said about 8,600 of those will be Moderna and 800 doses will be Pfizer.

Half the total doses were ordered by pharmacies. The rest will go to physicians, health departments and hospitals.

Hoyer said parents need to be aware of age qualifications on what entity can give the shot.

“Pharmacies can offer vaccines for children ages 3 and older,” Hoyer said. “For under age 3, parents, guardians and caregivers need to reach out to pediatricians and local health departments.”

Hoyer said the state is working with medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatricians, the state Medical Association, Academy of Family Physicians, as well as the Primary Care Association to both encourage and coordinate the ordering and administration of vaccines.

State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad said the Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations for the youngest will come in multiple shots, some just a few weeks apart.

“The Moderna vaccine will be a two dose vaccine series about four weeks apart,” Amjad said. “Pfizer’s is recommended to be a three dose series, three weeks apart between dose one and two and then two months after dose three.”

Amjad is hopeful final federal approval to begin administering the vaccines will come next week.

Owner Of 2 W.Va. Pharmacies Fined In Prescription Probe

The owner of two West Virginia pharmacies has agreed to pay $300,000 in civil penalties to settle allegations that they filled illegitimate prescriptions in violation of federal law.

Federal prosecutors said Beckley Pharmacy’s two locations and Bee Well Pharmacy in South Charleston filled prescriptions that were not for a legitimate medical purpose from 2015 to 2020.

Under the settlement announced Monday, Bee Well Pharmacy will be unable to fill prescriptions for controlled substances after agreeing to surrender its Drug Enforcement Administration registration. The Beckley locations will retain their registrations but must adhere to more stringent regulatory and reporting obligations, prosecutors said.

“Pharmacies must keep accurate records and maintain strong controls when handling controlled substances,” acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston said in a statement. ”Those that fail to do so open the door to the potential diversion of drugs, the illegal distribution, and abuse of these drugs.”

Convicted Former W.Va. Pharmacist Fined in Pill Case

A former West Virginia pharmacist convicted in state court of improperly dispensing medications has been fined $336,000 in federal court.

Federal prosecutors say a judge in Wheeling imposed the penalty against 50-year-old David M. Wasanyi.

Prosecutors say Wasanyi worked as a pharmacist in Martinsburg and Charles Town and violated federal law when he filled nearly 1,200 prescriptions for controlled substances for patients who traveled from as far away as Florida. Many of the prescriptions were written for oxycodone.

Wasanyi was sentenced twice in state court in 2016 for delivery of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to up to 11 years for one conviction and up to 75 years for another.

More Medical Professionals to Serve Rural Areas Thanks to State Grant

Seventeen health science graduate students from across West Virginia are getting money to help pay for their education.

Why? Because the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has awarded some health sciences grad students a chunk of cash to help pay for their college education – so long as they commit to practicing medicine in a rural or underserved community in West Virginia following graduation.

It’s part of an initiative started by the West Virginia Legislature in 1995 called the Health Sciences Service Program.

This year, seventeen students have received a portion of $360,000 — receiving between $15,000 and $30,000 per student.

Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement and demonstration of a strong commitment to health in rural areas.

To be eligible, students must be studying fields like dentistry, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, primary care, or other related fields.

Awards:

Dentistry

  • Shawn Ballard from Boone County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University
  • Kelly Lyons from Monongalia County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University
  • Colter Taylor from Roane County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University

Medicine

  • Jenna Barbour from Wayne County, West Virginia, who graduated from Marshall University
  • Zane Dennison from Braxton County, West Virginia, who graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Brandon Merritt from Kanawha County, West Virginia, who graduated from Marshall University
  • Kyle Miller from Roanoke, Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University

Nurse Practitioner

  • Cara Burker from Sharpsburg, Maryland, who graduated from Shepherd University
  • Daonna Fox from Fayette County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University
  • Julie Orr from Mercer County, West Virginia, who graduated from Marshall University

Pharmacy

  • Jessica Barnett from Gilmer County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University
  • James Kincaid from Fayette County, West Virginia, who graduated from Marshall University

Physical Therapy

  • Ashley Gill from Jackson County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University
  • Devin Heitz from Harrison County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University
  • Kristina Hickenbottom from Wood County, West Virginia, who graduated from West Virginia University

Social Work

  • Betsy Coulter from Braxton County, West Virginia, who graduated from Concord University
  • Shane Lightle from Cabell County, West Virginia, who graduated from Marshall University

Since 1995, nearly $3 million in state funding has been awarded to 213 West Virginia students.

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