DRX Trends

FDA Issues Alert for Simvastatin 80

On June 8, 2011, the FDA issued a MedWatch alert recommending that prescribers limit the use of simvastatin 80mg. Simvastatin is also know by the brand name Zocor® and is one of the medicines in Vytorin®.  The FDA stated that people taking 80mg of simvastatin (which is the highest dose available) may have an increased risk of muscle damage. Because of this risk, people who do not currently take 80mg of simvastatin should not start taking this amount. People who cannot get their cholesterol levels low enough with simvastatin 40mg should consider trying another cholesterol-lowering medicine instead of simvastatin 80mg.

This is not the first warning the FDA has given on this issue. Another MedWatch alert was issued in March 2010 with similar warnings. At that time, no recommendation was made to limit the use of the high-dose simvastatin.

Based on the findings and recommendation issued by the FDA, DestinationRx will remove all doses of simvastatin 80mg from our therapeutic alternatives engine including:

-          Simvastatin 80mg

-          Zocor 80mg

-          Vytorin 10/80mg

Join DRX at the AHIP Exchange Conference

Before AHIP’s Institute 2011 begins please join DRX at “Preparing for Exchanges,” a full-day program that focuses on critical policy and operational issues for implementing state-based Exchanges. DRX will host a special breakfast session where James L. Yocum will discuss how the company’s experience operating the largest Medicare Exchange can be applied to the state level.

 

Preparing for Exchanges

Breakfast Session – Applying the Medicare Exchange Experience to 2014

June 15, 2011

7:30 – 8:30 am

Presented by James L. Yocum, Executive Vice President, DRX

 

For more information or to register please click here.

 

Mobile Technologies Show Potential Impact on Healthcare Industry

The rapid advancement of mobile technology provides tremendous potential for the healthcare industry. The Huffington Post reports that 17 percent of cell phone owners have used their device to find health or medical information and 9 percent have used mobile applications to manage their health. These numbers will increase significantly as the digital health technology and services market is expected to exceed $5.7 billion and capture more than 500 million users by 2015. This opportunity of mobile technology has caught the attention of prescription drug plan providers. According to Computer World, Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions recently released a mobile application for BlackBerry and Android users to purchase the lowest-cost prescription drugs. The app provides information regarding out-of-pocket costs and low cost options available through a user’s prescription drug plan. The Medco Pharmacy mobile app was developed using Medco’s My Rx Choices patient safety and prescription savings program. Prescriptiondrugs.com states that the app has three main features:

• My Medicine Cabinet, which permits users to view their prescriptions, set reminders, and receive updates and alerts about possible prescription drug interactions. 
• My Rx Choices, which delivers personalized out-of-pocket costs on any prescription medication, plus any available low cost options. 
• Prescription ID Card, which gives members online access to a prescription drug savings card.

DestinationRx was the first company to introduce a web based lower-cost or therapeutic alternative tool and believes mobile has potential opportunities for prescription drug plan providers and is developing a mobile application to expand the accessibility of DrugCompare.