There are lots of less well-known requirements buried in the legislation. Here’s a summary of what I found that will affect the pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry.
- Computation of Weighted Average Manufacturer Price (WAMP) excludes pharmacies located in Nebraska.
- Beginning in October 2012, Americans with a Body Mass Index greater than 30 will be banned from using the phrase “And don’t skimp on the…”
- Seniors have access to more than 300 methods of execution, all of which would be covered by Medicare.
- Comparative effectiveness research into innovative physician dollar-ectomy procedures.
- New transparency standards require Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to operate from facilities in which “Every vertical and horizontal surface, from office door to bathroom stall, be made of clear, pure, diaphanous glass.”
- Secretary of Health and Human Services must “review and modify” the Hippocratic Oath during every Federal budget cycle beginning with Fiscal Year 2011.
- Penalties for hospitals with high mark-ups on items from the in-room minibar.
- Establishment of Ugliness Assistance Fund.
- Pharmaceutical sales reps to be rounded up and sent to re-education camps starting in 2014.
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Hey! Is it April 1 again?
Anyone who wants to invest in a multi-care setting (Independent) pharmacy - I've decided to start building in Nebraska. It will be an ALL MAC operations and you will be required to understand TCP/IP but mostly IP. Our built in PBM - will be made of walls of glass - and we'll be hiring a former IRS Auditor to run that department. Our specialty division's customer service will be routed to Mexico, Puerto Rico, or Canada - because they already have this "state-run" healthcare system down pat!! We will have an extensive MTM focus - therefore be prepared for long lines for which we will give out all the ice-cream you can eat while waiting. Adam has been invited to sit on our Board of Advisors.
ReplyDeleteNothing to add, but a funny post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't either, but the movie '1984' comes to mind. Maybe "All Healthcare workers have life long employment but must wear gray drab and step in unison?" Okay not so funny as yours Alan, but it's something!
ReplyDeleteAdam, you missed my favorite parts:
ReplyDelete-Bed pans are now required to be between 33 and 35 degrees (F).
-Don't give pills when needles are an option.
-Replace nurse call buttons with the self administered analgesic buttons so you never know when they work.
-Doctors pay YOU if they miss an appointment.
-Smiles, personal chats and empathy are now billable items that are not covered.
A
You missed the phase-in plan for AMPs to be assigned to minibar items by 2015 with Grey Goose Vodka exempted until 2017.
ReplyDeleteI think I can see where each provision comes from. They are generally useful; how they will be enforced will be another issue.
ReplyDeleteSpcifically,
Controlling obesitity (BMI provision) will be very important to make people in general less sick.
Penalties for hospitals with high mark-ups on items from the in-room minibar.
-This may further affect hospital bottom-line.
Pharmaceutical sales reps to be rounded up and sent to re-education camps starting in 2014.
-What does this mean? There will be no sales reps later on in this decade? I highly doubt it.
Thanks for playing, SY!
ReplyDeleteWow. Thanks for supporting our great State.
ReplyDeleteGo Big Red!
Your friend,
Ben
"Beginning in October 2012, Americans with a Body Mass Index greater than 30 will be banned from using the phrase “And don’t skimp on the…”"
ReplyDeleteYou had me going there for a minute. Very funny!
Excellent! I love the “clear, diaphanous glass” requirement for PBMs!
ReplyDelete