PRN - A dose from MPA

Sept. 19, 2024

In This Issue:

CEO Perspective

Professional Practice

MCIR RabAvert Manufacturer Issue
Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Available and Recommended for Michigan Residents 6 months and Older
Program Aims to Bolster Data on Respiratory Pathogens in Michigan
Study: Weight Loss Drug Saxenda Effective for Kids as Young as 6
Antibiotic-resistance deaths to surge from 2025-2050, study says

Legislative and Regulatory

PBM Express Scripts Sues FTC Over Drug Pricing Report
FDA Approves Lilly's Drug for Eczema

National Association News

Join MPA at the NCPA Annual Convention Oct. 26-29 in Columbus
Free APhA Webinar: 'Improving the Patient's Vaccine Experience'

MPA News

Book Your Room Now for ACE 2025!
Register for the 2024 MSHP Annual Meeting
Register for the UP Division Fall Conference; Room Booking Now Available!
CE Events
Trauma-Informed Workforce Certificate Training Program

Upcoming Live MPA CE Offerings

Upcoming Meetings and Events

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PrimeRx is a Michigan Pharmacists Association Emerald Annual Sponsor.

CEO Perspective

MPA has been working closely with our colleagues at the American Pharmacists Association and the other national pharmacy associations to advocate for the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS) (H.R. 1770/S. 2477 ).

We have been asked to forward this urgent request to contact your elected officials to support including the ECAPS in a September markup before the House Ways and Means Committee next week. A markup is when a congressional committee considers whether to recommend a bill for a vote before the full House of Representatives.

We have never been this far in the legislative process to advance federal legislation that would pay pharmacists under Medicare for providing vital test, treat and immunization services to our nation’s seniors.

Now, more than ever, we need your help to get this legislation across the finish line!

Please take a moment today to complete this editable template to urge your member of Congress to support the inclusion of ECAPS in a September markup and vote this important legislation out of committee.

If you have any personal connections to a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, please let me know!

Thank you for your continued advocacy and dedication to moving the pharmacy profession forward!

Mark A. Glasper

CEO

Professional Practice

MCIR RabAvert Manufacturer Issue

Recently, the manufacturer for RabAvert changed from GlaxoSmithKline to Bavarian Nordic. The change to Bavarian Nordic has not been programmed and released into the Michigan Care Improvement Registry.

Bavarian Nordic not being present as the manufacturer in MCIR is resulting in data transfer errors and the inability to add new lots into MCIR Inventory. Until Bavarian Nordic can be added as the manufacturer in MCIR, providers should hand enter RabAvert doses into the patient's MCIR record. Please refer to the steps below when adding these doses to MCIR.

In the patient record, click the “Add Imm” link in the Person tab on the General Information Screen.
Select “No Inventory” from the Type dropdown box. This will allow the user to select “Other” on the manufacturer dropdown since Bavarian Nordic is not yet available.
Select “Rabies-IM Fibroblast (RabAvert)” on the vaccine dropdown box.
Select “Other” on the manufacturer dropdown box.
Complete all fields and click Submit.
For assistance, please click on the links below to contact the Education and Training Analysts (ETAs):

MDHHS-MCIR-South@michigan.gov

MDHHS-MCIR-EastCentral@michigan.gov

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Available and Recommended for Michigan Residents 6 months and Older

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is recommending residents get flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines to protect themselves and their communities against respiratory viruses during this upcoming fall and winter season.

This recommendation follows the recent Food and Drug Administration authorization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation for the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines. The updated vaccines are expected to provide protection against severe COVID-19 disease from currently circulating variants. The COVID-19 vaccine can be given with other vaccines, including flu and RSV vaccines.

Respiratory infections are projected to cause millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths throughout the United States and Michigan this year. During the past two flu seasons,16 Michigan children died from influenza – the most recorded in any two-year span over the last 20 years.

According to data from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, seasonal flu vaccine coverage in Michiganders has decreased each year since the 2020-21 flu season. Coverage for the 2023-24 season was 26% overall, down from 34% in 2020-21. This combined with low COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Michiganders for the 2023-24 season (12.5%) is cause for concern. Getting vaccinated against these viruses helps contain the spread of respiratory viruses in communities and reduces severe illness and hospitalizations.

To find a vaccine location near you, visit Vaccine Finder.

To learn more about seasonal respiratory illnesses and how to protect yourself, visit  Michigan.gov/COVIDFluRSV.

Fall and Winter Virus Season infographic

COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids 6 Months and Up infographic

2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Available infographic

2024 respiratory virus vaccine NR.pdf

Program Aims to Bolster Data

on Respiratory Pathogens in Michigan

Statewide data to track circulating respiratory pathogens in Michigan is collected by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories’ (BOL) sentinel surveillance program. The sentinel surveillance program is a volunteer-based program through which clinics and health systems in Michigan provide a limited number of specimens to the BOL for processing and generation of pathogen activity reports. However, numerous areas of the state, including the northern regions of the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula, have little to no data submitted to the state.

To enhance sentinel surveillance data in the State of Michigan, the Michigan Pharmacists Association, the Collaboration for Advance Pharmacy Enterprises (CAPE) at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, and the MDHHS BOL are launching a project aimed at enrolling community pharmacies sentinel surveillance sites. We are looking for volunteer pharmacies to participate in a pilot program for the 2024-25 respiratory season. Sites will be provided materials and training to collect specimen for individuals with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection and asked to submit 10-20 specimen to the MDHHS BOL monthly. These data will be used to generate pathogen activity reports for various regions in Michigan.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please fill out the SurveyMonkey link no later than Sept. 27.

Learn More

Study: Weight Loss Drug Saxenda Effective

for Kids as Young as 6

A drug approved to treat obesity in adults and teens is safe and effective for use in kids as young as 6 when combined with diet and exercise, a small new study shows.

Liraglutide (brand name Saxenda) lowered body mass, slowed weight gain and improved health markers in kids ages 6 through 11, according to research presented Tuesday at a medical conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Based on the results of the trial, drugmaker Novo Nordisk has asked U.S. regulators to expand use of the medication for kids in that age group, a company spokesperson said Tuesday. If approved, the drug would be the first authorized to treat the most common type of obesity that affects more than 20% of U.S. kids ages 6 through 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Side effects were common among those given the drug, particularly gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. And experts said doctors and parents would need to carefully consider those risks and the lack of data about the long-term use of such drugs in young kids.

Antibiotic-Resistance Deaths

to Surge from 2025-2050, Study Says

Bacterial illnesses that are resistant to available antibiotic medicines will cause more than 39 million deaths worldwide over the next 25 years and indirectly contribute to an additional 169 million deaths, according to a forecast published on Monday.

By 2050, annual death tolls attributed directly to antibiotic resistance, or associated with it, will reach 1.91 million and 8.22 million, respectively, if remediation measures are not in place, an international team of researchers reported in The Lancet.

Those annual numbers represent increases of nearly 68% and 75% per year, respectively, over death tolls directly and indirectly attributed to antibiotic resistance in 2022, the researchers with the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance Project wrote.

The increases will strain health systems and national economies and contribute to annual gross domestic product losses of $1 trillion to 3.4 trillion by 2030, they predict.

Legislative and Regulatory

PBM Express Scripts Sues FTC Over Drug Pricing Report

Pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts sued the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Sept. 17 over the regulator's recent drug pricing report, calling the report's conclusion that the prescription middlemen raise drug costs defamatory.

The lawsuit asks a federal judge in St. Louis, Missouri to order the FTC to take the report down and recuse Chair Lina Khan from any actions pertaining to the company, which is owned by Cigna Corp.

The report leans heavily on public comments and ignores reams of evidence the PBMs provided, Express Scripts said in its lawsuit. The report has led to lawsuits against the company and probes by state regulators and federal lawmakers, it said.

"The FTC stands by our study," said FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar, adding that three companies control nearly 80% of the market.

FDA Approves Lilly's Drug for Eczema

Eli Lilly said on Friday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its eczema drug for use in adults and children above 12 years old.

The drug, which is an injectable medicine and branded Ebglyss, will be available in the next few weeks, the company said.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that can cause itching, rashes and dry patches.

The FDA's approval was based on three studies involving over 1,000 patients with moderate-to-severe eczema who were unable to control their symptoms with topical medicines or other systemic treatments, Eli Lilly said.

Ebglyss is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets and neutralizes the IL-13 protein that causes progression of eczema.

National Association News

Join MPA at the NCPA Annual Convention Oct. 26-29

Meet MPA at at the National Community Pharmacists Assocation Annual Convention in Columbus from Oct. 26-29 – the only industry event specifically tailored to community pharmacy.

NCPA 2024 will provide motivating keynotes, business boosters and a jam-packed expo floor to help you chart a course that can lead to growth, performance, and success.

Learn more and register now!

Free APhA Webinar: 'Improving the Patient's Vaccine Experience

Enroll in the American Pharmacists Association's upcoming free webinar on how pharmacies’ increased role in vaccinations can help counter vaccine hesitancy from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 24.

This panel discussion will feature a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician who provide exceptional vaccination experiences as they share tips for optimizing the pharmacy workflow and delivering a better patient experience.

This is a non-CPE educational opportunity.

MPA News

Book Your Room Now for ACE 2025!

MPA's Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE) will take over the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa just outside of Traverse City from April 11-13, 2025! Information on registration, exhibitors and sponsorships will become available later this year, but it's not too early to block off your calendars as pharmacy's biggest continuing education event in Michigan takes its show on the road.

We encourage our members to make the 2025 ACE their "stay-cation" – golf, water activities and wineries are just a few things you can do in beautiful Traverse City. Get started now and book your room by clicking the button below! Attendees can also call 231-534-6001 and speak with a reservations agent to book their accommodations. They will receive the discounted rate if they mention the Michigan Pharmacists Association.

Book Your ACE 2025 Room!

Plan Your Stay

MSHP Annual Meeting Oct. 25 in Grand Rapids

Join the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) for its 2024 Annual Meeting Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel! With registration opening at 7:30 a.m. and a wellness CE promptly at 8:30 a.m., MSHP Annual is the place to be for our health system industry members. In addition to the wellness focus, complete with a conference wellness room, CE will address this year’s theme, “Less Not Loss” with a focus on optimization within pharmacy practice.

Early Bird pricing ends Sept. 30, so sign up now to get the best deal!

In addition, expect required CE like pain and law, as well as important endeavors such as pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence within electronic scoring systems and the utilization of pharmacy extenders – all planned and facilitated by industry leaders. MPA has set aside additional networking time for attendees and looks forward to creating an atmosphere of learning, engagement and wellness.

Click the buttons below to get started.

Book Your Room at the Sheraton

More Info on MSHP Annual

Oct. 5-6 in Marquette; Room Booking Now Available!

MPA and its Upper Peninsula Division return to beautiful Marquette Oct. 5-6 for the UP Division Fall Conference. Registration is open now and available by clicking the button below. A detailed agenda will be coming, but topics will include ethics and jurisprudence, cardiovascular health, addiction and the brain, and natural approaches to inflammation.

Room booking is available now! Staybridge Suites has reserved a block of 10 king suite rooms for the Fall Conference. The Superior Stay is not blocking off rooms, but is offering the discount code CNMU for patrons to submit on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the buttons below to start reserving your room.

Staybridge Suites Room Booking

Superior Stay Room Booking

CE Events Calendar

Trauma-Informed Workforce Certificate Training Program

Dr. Helen Sairany's Trauma-Informed Workforce Certificate Training Program is a catalyst for personal transformation, enabling you to forge deeper connections with yourself, your work and your team. Embark on this trauma-informed journey to sustain your practice.

Participants will:

Bid goodbye to burnout and toxic patterns.
Explore the potential of your workplace.
Be mentored by an expert facilitator.
Gain mastery in conscious decision-making.

Participants can take the training in its entirety or a la carte. Detailed information can be found at the links below. Please feel free to email or call the MPA Education and Events team with any questions or needs you may have!

Trauma-Informed Workforce:

All Home Study Offerings

More Upcoming Live Continuing Education From MPA

MPA 2024 Law and Policy Symposium

Sept. 25, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

In-Person and Virtual Options Available

MPA Upper Peninsula

Division Fall Conference

Oct. 5-6

Northern Center at NMU

Pharmacy Technician Immunization Administration

Mixed Format – Self Study/Live Webinar

Live Date: Oct. 19, 10-11:30 a.m.

MSHP Annual Meeting

Oct. 25

Grand Rapids Sheraton Airport Hotel

Michigan Pharmacy Law Update Q4

Nov. 11, 5-6 p.m.

IBT Home Studies

Couldn't make it to a live implicit bias training (IBT) session? Not to worry, our IBT home studies could be right for you! MPA currently offers two IBT home studies. Both meet all current Michigan licensing requirements. Click the buttons below to get started!

Original MPA IBT Home Study

IBT 2.0 Home Study

Looking for Something Else? Try MPA's On-Demand CE

In addition, MPA offers other on-demand pharmacy CE on a variety of topics that can be accessed 24/7/365 on its website. Click the button below to view our catalog of programs.

MPA Home Study CE