Sunday, March 31, 2013

Reforms slow in wake of meningitis outbreak


March 31, 2013
Legal action is proceeding in the nation's fungal meningitis outbreak, but regulatory reform has been slow.
Last week, Michigan At-torney General Bill Schuette requested a grand-jury in-vestigation into whether the New England Compounding Center violated state law in distributing tainted steroid solutions in Michigan.
Yet while Congress and state regulatory agencies are debating changes in the way compounding pharmacies are regulated, little action has been forthcoming six months into the outbreak. Nor is any expected soon.
That's a concern for men-ingitis patients such as Jona Angst.
"I would have thought they would have jumped on it," the Brighton resident said. "It seems they're trying to do something — but it has been six months."
The contaminated steroids had been used by health-care facilities, including Michi-gan Pain Specialists in Genoa Township, to treat back pain.
Angst developed an epi-dural abscess — an infection but not full-blown meningitis — after receiving shots last year and is in treatment.
"The medicine's been horrible, I've been losing my hair," she said. "But it's been horrible for all of us."
The outbreak was first reported in September and Congress first took up the issue in November.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton said Congress needs to be thorough it its investigation into the outbreak and in drafting solutions to prevent it from happening again.
"We must first fully understand what went wrong and caused the tragic deaths of dozens of Americans to ensure that any legislative solution put forth actually solves the problem," said Rogers in a statement to the Press & Argus.
Rogers sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the Food and Drug Administration. He said the committee is also investigating the "oversight of the NECC to understand its knowledge of the operations."
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Saturday, March 30, 2013

In 2011 the Risks Associated With Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy Choices Was Pointed Out--Confirming One Must Know the Compounding Pharmacy They Are Doing Business With


Risks Associated with Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy Choices (AAEP 2010)

Updated: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 9:00 AM
Posted: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 12:00 AM


Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/61240/risks-associated-with-veterinary-compounding-pharmacy-choices-aaep-2010#ixzz2P3Ge22ds

Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine Use of Compounded Drugs in Vetererinary Practice Adopted Februrary 7, 2013-includes office use


Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine
Use of Compounded Drugs in Veterinary Practice
Applicable Laws

§ 54.1-3401. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Compounding" means the combining of two or more ingredients to fabricate such ingredients into a single preparation and includes the mixing, assembling, packaging, or labeling of a drug or device (i) by a pharmacist, or within a permitted pharmacy, pursuant to a valid prescription issued for a medicinal or therapeutic purpose in the context of a bona fide practitioner-patient-pharmacist relationship, or in expectation of receiving a valid prescription based on observed prescribing patterns; (ii) by or for a practitioner of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, or veterinary medicine as an incident to his administering or dispensing, if authorized to dispense, a controlled substance in the course of his professional practice; or (iii) for the purpose of, or as incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or for dispensing. The mixing, diluting, or reconstituting of a manufacturer's product drugs for the purpose of administration to a patient, when performed by a practitioner of medicine or osteopathy licensed under Chapter 29 (§ 54.1-2900 et seq.), a person supervised by such practitioner pursuant to subdivision A 6 or A 19 of § 54.1-2901, or a person supervised by such practitioner or a licensed nurse practitioner or physician assistant pursuant to subdivision A 4 of § 54.1-2901 shall not be considered compounding.

 

§ 54.1-3410.2. Compounding; pharmacists' authority to compound under certain conditions; labeling and record maintenance requirements.

A. A pharmacist may engage in compounding of drug products when the dispensing of such compounded products is (i) pursuant to valid prescriptions for specific patients and (ii) consistent with the provisions of § 54.1-3303 relating to the issuance of prescriptions and the dispensing of drugs.
Pharmacists shall label all compounded drug products that are dispensed pursuant to a prescription in accordance with this chapter and the Board's [Pharmacy] regulations, and shall include on the labeling an appropriate beyond-use date as determined by the pharmacist in compliance with USP-NF standards for pharmacy compounding.
B. A pharmacist may also engage in compounding of drug products in anticipation of receipt of prescriptions based on a routine, regularly observed prescribing pattern.
Pharmacists shall label all products compounded prior to dispensing with (i) the name and strength of the compounded medication or a list of the active ingredients and strengths; (ii) the pharmacy's assigned control number that corresponds with the compounding record; (iii) an appropriate beyond-use date as determined by the pharmacist in compliance with USP-NF standards for pharmacy compounding; and (iv) the quantity.
C. In accordance with the conditions set forth in subsections A and B, pharmacists shall not distribute compounded drug products for subsequent distribution or sale to other persons or to commercial entities, including distribution to pharmacies or other entities under common ownership or control with the facility in which such compounding takes place.
A pharmacist may, however, deliver compounded products dispensed pursuant to valid prescriptions to alternate delivery locations pursuant to § 54.1-3420.2.
A pharmacist may also provide compounded products to practitioners of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, dentistry, or veterinary medicine to administer to their patients in the course of their professional practice, either personally or under their direct and immediate supervision.
Pharmacists shall label all compounded products distributed to practitioners for administration to their patients with (i) the statement "For Administering in Prescriber Practice Location Only"; (ii) the name and strength of the compounded medication or list of the active ingredients and strengths; (iii) the facility's control number; (iv) an appropriate beyond-use date as determined by the pharmacist in compliance with USP-NF standards for pharmacy compounding; and (v) quantity.
E. Pharmacists shall ensure compliance with USP-NF standards for both sterile and non-sterile compounding.
J. Practitioners who may lawfully compound drugs for administering or dispensing to their own patients pursuant to §§ 54.1-3301, 54.1-3304, and 54.1-3304.1 shall comply with all provisions of this section and the relevant Board regulations.

Guidance
Q: May a veterinarian prescribe a compounded drug product?
A: A Virginia licensed veterinarian may prescribe a compounded drug product by preparing a valid prescription pursuant to federal and state laws and regulations for an individual patient with which there exists a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The client may obtain the compounded drug product from a pharmacy of their choice that is properly licensed by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The payment arrangements for a prescribed compounded drug product are not under the purview of the Board of Veterinary Medicine. However, a pharmacist must be compliant with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy regulation, 18VAC110-20-390(A), which states “A Pharmacist shall not solicit or foster prescription practice with a prescriber of drugs or any other person providing for rebates, ‘kickbacks,’ fee-splitting, or special charges in exchange for prescription orders unless fully disclosed in writing to the patient and any third party payor.”
Q: May a veterinarian obtain compounded drug products from a pharmacy for administration in their office?
A: Yes, a Virginia licensed veterinarian may obtain compounded drug products from a pharmacy that is properly licensed by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy for administration in the course of their professional practice. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 54.1-3410.2(C) the pharmacist is required to label the compounded drug product with the statement “For Administering in Prescriber Practice Location Only.”
Q: May a veterinarian dispense a compounded drug product?
A: A veterinarian may dispense a compounded drug product if compounded by the veterinarian pursuant to Virginia Code § 54.1-3410.2(J).
Q: May a pharmacy provide compounded drug products to a veterinarian for the veterinarian to dispense to his patients?
A: No, Virginia Code § 54.1-3410.2 prohibits pharmacists from distributing compounded drug products for subsequent distribution or sale to other persons.
Q: What is the penalty for a licensee of the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine who is found to be dispensing compounded drug product purchased from a pharmacy?
A: The licensee may be subject to disciplinary action.

source found here:  
  1. 54.1-3410.2. Compounding; pharmacists' authority to compound ...

    https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/vet/guidelines/150-5.doc
    File Format: Microsoft Word - Quick View
    Feb 7, 2013 – Use of Compounded Drugs in Veterinary Practice ... as incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or for dispensing

Question of the Day: Should Compounding Sales Reps or Compounding Marketing Reps Be Paid a Salary or a Commission? Have Salaries Dropped as Low As This Index Shows For These Jobs


Average Salary of Jobs Matching Your Search

In USD as of Mar 30, 2013 15k 30k 45k

Source from Indeed jobs.com

Compounding Pharmacy Sales Representative in Katy, TX

$27,000 Low Confidence (less than 75 sources)
Average Compounding Pharmacy Sales Representative salaries for job postings in Katy, TX are 14% lower than average Compounding Pharmacy Sales Representative salaries for job postings nationwide.