Newsletter Vol.32, no. 32

PMA NEWSLETTER

- 6 -

August 20, 1990

very strong disapproval of prior authorization policies in the managed
care environment...Fully 87% of (US) respondents express opposition to
this practice...Only 11% of US MDs report the use of such practices in
their largest plan.. (There is) sharp divergence of opinion about"
difficulty of obtaining authorization.
NON-FDA APPROVED USES: "31% of MDs nationwide express approval" of
limiting reimbursement to FDA-approved uses. "Approximately two thirds
of physicians who treat managed care patients report that their main
plan does not limit reimbursement...US physicians affiliated with plans
using limited reimbursement policies report that it is difficult to
override this practice by a margin of 8 to 1."
NE WS IN BRIEF:
CORRECTION: HRs 5529, 5530, & 5531 introduced by Pete Stark to require
"accountable" (triplicate?) prescriptions for schedule II-V Controlled
Substance Act products would affect more than Medicaid scripts, as PMA
Newsletter 8-6-90 implied; forms would be required for all patients.
Non-prescription Schedule V products would presumably require the forms.
CALIFORNIA MEDI-CAL acceptance of Glaxo's drug discount plan makes this
the fifth state to accept the company offer. California has also signed
an agreement with Merck.
DINGELL ANDA PENALTIES bill (HR 4810) could be marked up by both Waxmanhealth and full Energy & Commerce panels in mid September.
HCFA COMPETITIVE BIDDING demonstration projects for lab services opposed
by coalition of 10 professional organizations. July 20 letter to HCFA
Administrator Wilensky said system would substantially diminish quality
of services, as proven by previous experiments. Letter cited Air Force
award for Pap smear screening. USAF forced to impound more than 700,000
smears containing numerous errors, coalition letter says.
NEW DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATOR Richard Bonner sworn in August 16.
NCPIE "TALK ABOUT PRESCRIPTIONS" month (October) theme this year will
be "Break the Rx Silence Barrier," advising patients to ask about their
new medicines. Resource material available from National Council on
Patient Information & Education, 666 11th Street NW, Suite 810,
Washington DC 20001.
PHS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER forum will be held at NIH Lister Hill auditorium
November 8-9. Purpose, says NIH: "to promote & facilitate research
collaborations between Government scientists & industry pursuant to the
Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986." First day will focus on
transgenic animals, second day on central nervous system research. More
information from Laura Kurie, 7101 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, Md 20814.
Phone: [phone]. FAX: [phone].
NIH CONSENSUS DEVELOPMENT Conference on clinical uses of botulism toxin
to be held November 12-14. Currently approved for treatment of
blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and strabismus, it "looks promising" for
other indications, NIH says. "Much of the data is new, and there are
some controversies. It is important to clarify the state of the art."

Meeting details from NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research;
phone [phone].