News & Events

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is occurring during a time that overlaps with cold and flu season, as well as seasonal allergies. For mild illnesses, including those associated with Coronavirus, supportive care may be the best option. PHSL recommends keeping the following items on hand in case your household is impacted by illness. Many of these items can be purchased at your local pharmacy, grocery store, retailer, or online, which may provide an option for delivery.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for symptomatic treatment of respiratory illnesses include:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen) for fever and aches
• Mucinex (guaifenesin) to loosen chest congestion
• Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan) or Delsym for cough
• Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) or Sudafed PE (phenylephrine) for head congestion

Parents should ensure that they have an adequate amount of infant or children’s strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) and cough medicine. Parents or caregivers should consult a physician before using cough and cold medicine in children under 6 years of age. Also consider keeping alternative remedies, such as honey, for sore throat and saline drops for nasal congestion on hand.

Having a humidifier to run in the room while asleep will increase moisture in the air and may help with cold and respiratory symptoms.  Vick’s VapoRub or equivalent vaporizing rub ointments that contain camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol can also be beneficial. Additional supplies to keep on hand include a thermometer, tissues, and drinks containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte, to prevent dehydration. If your local retailer does not have electrolyte solutions available, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following combination to create your own: one level teaspoon of salt, eight level teaspoons of sugar, one liter of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled.

In addition to OTC medications and supplies for supportive care, you may want to consider purchasing the following items so you do not run out in a time of isolation:

• Contact lenses and supplies
• Prescription medications
• Pet medications or supplies
• Disinfectants, such as Clorox or Lysol, to fight coronavirus and limit the spread within your own home. A comprehensive list of products can be found at https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-Products-List.pdf

Being prepared during this time is the best way to care for yourself and those around you. If you are uncertain if your illness requires additional treatment, always contact your healthcare provider or utilize telehealth services for assistance.

Posted March 20, 2020

2020 Spring Newsletter:

Key Questions and Answers about Ibuprofen Use for COVID-19

COVID-19 have you Quarantined? – Weekend Activities for your To-Do List

Market Effects from COVID-19

Prescription volume dispensed by retail and mail service pharmacies has increased dramatically in March as a result of COVID-19 concerns.  It is common knowledge that the first week of the month is the busiest in retail pharmacy departments.  Medicare checks are received by seniors and updates are made to the Medicaid eligibility files, leading more patients to obtain their needed prescription medications.  This is what pharmacies experienced the week of March 1 to 7.  However, instead of the normal drop-off the week of March 8 to 14, we are aware of pharmacy dispensing volume being 5 to 10% greater than the first week in March.

In a Reuters report published in U.S. News & World Report on March 13^th, it was noted that doctors, insurers, and the CDC were urging patients, especially those with chronic conditions, to get enough medicine to last a long period.  Insurers were recommending patients that typically receive only a 30-day supply of their medications talk to their pharmacist, and if needed, their doctor, about getting a 90-day supply. Some insurers were allowing early refills of prescriptions to accommodate their patients’ needs.  All of this created the spike in prescription volume seen in the second week of March.

The increase in prescription volume will lead to an increased demand for prescription drugs and PBM services.  The increased demand will likely create strains on resources, both product materials for manufacturers and services via PBMs.  We believe that this will also lead to an increase in adherence measures, as calculations may be artificially inflated due to early refills and 90 days supply prescriptions.

Will there be a drop in prescription demand when this pandemic is over?   We suspect that patients will increase the days’ supply that they keep on hand, leading to a “new normal” for consumers.

All of this has put more pressure on suppliers to keep more product on hand, for manufacturers to ramp up production, and for raw material suppliers to keep up with demand.  This will require close monitoring in upcoming weeks and months.  The most important thing our industry can do right now is to try to keep up with patient needs and ensure that those in greatest need have access to the supplies they require and medications they take.

In the end, there will be much to learn from this crisis.  Governments, manufacturers, health-care systems, and retailers (not just pharmacies), will all need to look back on the lessons learned to devise and implement processes and procedures to put in place, should we ever encounter something like COVID-19 again.  Furthermore, entities in each of these sectors should work together to develop best practices that are in harmony and will ultimately promote and provide the best patient care and outcomes possible.

Finally, best wishes to all of those on the frontline in healthcare– they are our heroes in this fight against this virus.  It is for their sake that steps are taken to ensure that the supplies and medications needed are always available.

Posted March 20, 2020

2020 Spring Newsletter:

Coronavirus Preparation Tips

Key Questions and Answers about Ibuprofen Use for COVID-19

COVID-19 have you Quarantined? – Weekend Activities for your To-Do List

As millions of Americans quarantine themselves in their homes, numerous sources have touted “fun activities you can do at home” and “10 ways to spend the weekend indoors”.  Instead, what about crossing a few forgotten items off your to-do list?  PHSL has five ideas for you to improve your health and increase your sense of accomplishment by checking another item off your list.

1. Clean out your Medicine Cabinet – When is the last time you’ve cleaned out your medicine cabinet and removed expired OTC medications and unused prescriptions? As you’re thinking about purchasing supplies for a prolonged quarantine, it is important to first inventory the products you have on hand to determine what you actually need.  In order to ensure everyone gets the medications they need, it’s important to not stockpile excessive amounts of OTCs.  Instead, review your current supply to determine where gaps exist in your personal inventory.  Although the DEA’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day scheduled for April 25^th has been canceled, many retail pharmacy locations have drop boxes where expired medications can be deposited.

2. Establish your Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPA) – A HCPA, sometimes referred to as an Advance Directive, is a legal document that allows another individual to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are incapacitated. The named healthcare power of attorney acts as a healthcare proxy and is called upon to communicate with a patient’s doctor to inform them of the patient’s wishes.  A HCPA can be a family member, friend, or even an attorney.  A lawyer can help you establish an HCPA, or there are many online providers that can execute the required documentation.

3. Setup your Online Health Record – Many insurance providers and doctor’s offices have online portals available where you can access information on your office visits, medications, vaccine history, diagnoses, lab results, and more. In order to have quick access to this information and avoid needing to call your physician’s office, it is recommended that you set up a username/password and familiarize yourself with the system.  Being able to provide your own information in the event of an illness, can save valuable time for you and your healthcare team.

4. Review Child Safety Procedures – For those with kids who may now be home from school, the weekend is an excellent time to review safety procedures with your child. Do your kids know what to do in case of an emergency?  Can they provide your address or phone number to a trusted adult?  The weekend also provides ample time to do a walk-around of your home and identify any potential hazards such as missing electrical outlet covers, lack of cabinet locks, lose stair gates, or exposed cords or wires.

5. Be Active – Go for a walk outside, start seedlings for your spring garden, or stream an online exercise class. Being stuck at home doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to stay fit and be active.  With the current pandemic, a number of companies are offering free subscriptions, so do a little online research, and find something that interests you!

Posted March 20, 2020

2020 Spring Newsletter:

Coronavirus Preparation Tips

Key Questions and Answers about Ibuprofen Use for COVID-19

Market Effects from COVID-19

If I am experiencing symptoms consistent with coronavirus, should I take ibuprofen?

With the most current information available, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated they are not recommending against taking Ibuprofen. This means that you can still take ibuprofen to manage symptoms. Please refer to the diagram below for the WHO statement.

If I am experiencing symptoms consistent with coronavirus, should I take naproxen or other NSAIDs?

Yes, as long as you follow normal guidelines for daily intake of these medications. There has been no information that naproxen or other NSAIDs have an adverse impact with respect to COVID-19.

These questions arose after a March 17^th WHO announcement where they recommended against the use of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, among other brands) for patients with COVID-19 symptoms, due to a concern that anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen the COVID-19 infection. Likewise, acetaminophen (Tylenol, among other brands) is still safe to use as directed.  The theory hypothesized that ibuprofen could increase an enzyme, ACE2, that is used by the virus to infect the host. There is no evidence that other medications impacting that pathway, such as ACE inhibitors and ARBs, play any role in COVID-19 either.  Patients should continue to use prescribed medications as directed by their physicians.

For more information from WHO about COVID-19, visit https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses.

Posted March 20, 2020

2020 Spring Newsletter:

Coronavirus Preparation Tips

Market Effects from COVID-19

COVID-19 have you Quarantined? – Weekend Activities for your To-Do List

PHSI President Ann Johnson and Co-founder Don Dietz contributed to the January/February 2020 edition of ComputerTalk for the Pharmacist. In their Viewpoints article, Ann and Don review new formulary exclusion lists from Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, and OptumRx, and discuss their impact on pharmacies and patients.

Click here to read Ann and Don’s article entitled “2020 Formulary Exclusion Lists — Why All the Changes?” You can read full versions of current and past ComputerTalk issues at https://www.computertalk.com/issue-archive/.

Based on the FDA’s count, there were 48 novel drug approvals in 2019 with 60% receiving FDA fast track status, priority review, or accelerated approval.  This count does not include vaccines, plasma products, or gene therapy products.  When the majority of drugs are being reviewed in an expedited time frame, it is a strong indicator that the market is shifting towards the specialty drug space.  The high number of expedited approvals begs the question, “how much of an advantage is an expedited approved when everyone else is getting the same treatment?”

Many of the newly approved agents are first-in-class and indicated for rare disease states.  Oncology approvals continue to outpace approvals for other disease states, with approximately 20% of drugs approved for the oncology space, whether for diagnosis or treatment.

Three new infectious disease agents were approved in 2019, which is a positive step in developing new therapies to combat antibiotic resistance.  Because of the Generating Antibiotics Incentives Now Act (GAIN Act), three agents (Fetroja, Recarbrio, and Xenleta) received priority review as Qualified Infectious Disease Products (QIDPs).  With the rise of antibiotic resistance, the need for new antibiotic innovation is increasingly important, and the FDA’s Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) seeks to promote their development.

What does 2020 hold?  PHSL highlights five top trends to watch out for in this year’s drug approval space:

1. Digital Drugs – expect to see an increase in the approval of digital therapeutics and digitally enabled drugs, as technology moves into the mainstream pharmacy space.
2. NASH Drugs – Drugs indicated to treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or a fatty liver, are expected to be approved in 2020. With a high price tag and potentially huge patient market, payers should monitor these approvals closely.
3. Gene Therapy – targeted therapies based on patients’ genetic factors promises to be a key area. This high-dollar space may be a cash cow for those targeting disease states with a sizeable patient population.
4. Biosimilars – Will 2020 be the first year that an “interchangeable” biosimilar is approved? If not, we expect the number of biosimilar approvals to steadily increase, creating a more commodity-like atmosphere in the biologic space in products with multiple biosimilar competitors.
5. Expedited Reviews and Approvals – As seen in 2019, expect the FDA to continue approving many products via the fast track, breakthrough, priority review, or accelerated approval processes. With the high number of specialty drugs being approved, this may become the new norm of drug approval.

A full listing of 2019 approvals, by approval type, is shown in the chart below.

Posted February 2020

For Immediate Release
Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, LLC of Pittsburgh
Adds Experienced Industry Thought Leader to Staff

Patricia Milazzo, RPh joins PHSL as a Senior Consultant   

PITTSBURGH (January 17, 2020) – Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, LLC (PHSL) is pleased to announce the hiring of Patricia Milazzo, RPh as a Senior Consultant.

Patty has over 30 years of experience in the U.S. and global healthcare industries. Her industry background includes clinical drug information creation and technology use, PBM (Prescription Benefit Management) design, and oversight of major drug data systems. She has extensive experience with government agencies, including FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and Medicare/Medicaid programs. Patty has held leadership positions in National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) and Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) and has served as an author of various white papers and industry blogs.  Patty holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from Purdue University and is a licensed pharmacist.

Prior to joining PHSL, Patty was Senior Director at Wolters Kluwer Clinical Effective, overseeing global teams responsible for drugs’ clinical and pricing information.  Patty previously worked at CVS Health (CVS Caremark) in roles related to formulary and client benefits development and management, mail order dispensing oversight, and drug file and data management.

“Patty brings a new depth of drug compendia knowledge to our consulting team.  As a leading drug compendia authority in the industry, Patty’s contributions will provide innumerable benefits to our clients,” noted PHSL President, Ann Johnson.

PHSL Vice President, Melissa Krause, said “We are pleased to welcome Patty to our team of consultants.  We have enjoyed getting to know Patty at industry events over the years and value her expertise in the areas of compendia, health informatics, pharmacies, and payers.”

ABOUT PHARMACY HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, LLC (PHSL)

Founded in 1996, Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions provides pharmacy consulting solutions in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, product and program development, market research, operational efficiency, claims-data analysis, and training program construction. www.phsirx.com

PHSI Co-Founder Tim Kosty presented at the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) 2020 Annual Conference. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) introduces the most stringent consumer privacy protections in the country, offering California consumers new rights to learn what personal information covered businesses have collected, sold, and disclosed. Is the CCPA a preview of new consumer privacy laws, or a one-off California regulation? Tim will review the requirements that covered businesses must comply with, system changes required, and potential unintended consequences for businesses and consumers. Click here to view Tim’s presentation slides.

For Immediate Release
Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, LLC of Pittsburgh
Announces New Company President and Vice President

Ann Johnson, Pharm.D. and Melissa Krause, Pharm.D., Respected Pharmacy Consulting Professionals, Will Lead the 24-year-old Company   

PITTSBURGH (January 9, 2020) –  Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, LLC (PHSL) is pleased to announce the promotion of Ann Johnson, Pharm.D. to President and Melissa Krause, Pharm.D. to Vice President.

Former President Tim Kosty, R.Ph., MBA, and former Vice President Don Dietz, R.Ph., MS, remain committed to the company they founded in 1996. Kosty and Dietz will assume the titles of co-founders and remain close advisors to Johnson and Krause.

“Ann and Melissa both possess a rare mix of healthcare informatics expertise and business prowess. We are excited to see where their leadership takes this company in the next decade and beyond,” said Kosty. “Their commitment to this company and the clients we serve is seen in their high standard of excellence in their work every day.”

Dietz stated, “Both Melissa and Ann have been dedicated to the growth and success of Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions since joining the company as student pharmacists at the beginning of their careers.  Their desire to go ‘above and beyond’ to meet our clients’ needs positions us for future growth.”

Johnson has been with the company since 2010 and Krause since 2004.

“This is an exciting time for the pharmacy industry and Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions,” said Johnson.  “I am excited to expand our service offerings and continue to provide our clients with the high level of service they have come to expect from our consultants.”

Krause added, “I am eager to help lead Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions into the future.  We have an excellent team of professionals committed to our mission to serve our clients as invaluable advisors.”

Under Johnson and Krause’s leadership, PHSL will continue to serve clients in the pharmacy, payer, pharmaceutical manufacturer, and health informatics industries.

ABOUT PHARMACY HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, LLC (PHSL)

Founded in 1996, Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions provides pharmacy consulting solutions in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, product and program development, market research, operational efficiency, claims-data analysis, and training program construction. www.phsirx.com

PHSI President Tim Kosty and Vice President Don Dietz contributed to the November/December 2019 edition of ComputerTalk for the Pharmacist. In their Viewpoints article, Tim and Don discuss how the oversupply of pharmacists along with evolving technology may lead to new offerings of innovative clinical services.

Click here to read Tim and Don’s article entitled “2020: Clinical Services Out of Necessity?” You can read full versions of current and past ComputerTalk issues at https://www.computertalk.com/issue-archive/.