Express Scripts to limit opioids; doctors concerned
The nation’s largest pharmacy benefit manager will soon limit the number and strength of opioid drugs prescribed to first-time users as part of a wide-ranging effort to curb an epidemic affecting millions of Americans.
Prescription for fraud: Recent medical professional arrests highlight increasing pain killer problem
Last year medical professionals in the state of Mississippi prescribed enough pain killers to give each person in the state approximately 70 dosages of prescription pain medication.
Columbus woman pleads guilty to conspiracy, health care fraud in federal court
A former employee at a Columbus medical clinic pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of conspiracy and three counts of health care fraud for her involvement in a conspiracy to defraud health insurance companies.
Starkville nurse arrested for writing fraudulent prescriptions
A Starkville nurse has been arrested for allegedly writing false prescriptions.
CDC guidelines aim to curb painkiller prescribing
Prescription painkillers should not be a first choice for treating common ailments like back pain and arthritis, according to new federal guidelines designed to reshape how doctors prescribe drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin.
Fury over drug price spikes rising, but increases aren’t new
Hillary Clinton was among the patients and politicians who voiced outrage this week after it became public that the price of a 62-year-old drug used to treat a life-threatening infection had been raised by more than 5,000 percent.
Poll: Majority wants gov’t to curb prescription costs
Regardless of political affiliation, Americans strongly support government action to control prescription drug costs, according to a poll released today.
Medicare data show contrast in generic, brand prescribing
The most-used medicines in Medicare’s prescription drug program are generics, but the program spends the most on brand-name drugs.
CVS tacks tobacco payment to prescription network
First, CVS Health pulled tobacco from its store shelves. Now, it plans to make some customers think twice about filling prescriptions at other stores that sell smokes.
‘Killer heroin’ causing fatal overdoses in East
On an icy night last month, a man entered a grocery store here, walked past the displays of cake mix and paper towels, and went into the bathroom, where he injected himself with heroin.
Health overhaul debate snags Senate pharmacy bill
WASHINGTON — A year after a meningitis outbreak from contaminated pain injections killed at least 64 people and sickened hundreds, Congress is ready to increase
Drop-off boxes aimed at cutting prescription abuse
JACKSON — Mississippi safety officials are trying to reduce prescription drug abuse by installing nine secure boxes at driver’s license offices around the state, where
Hood: Google pulls videos on evading prescriptions
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says Google appears to be removing online videos that give instructions on how to buy drugs without a prescription.
Medication nation: Study shows antibiotic overuse
U.S. doctors are prescribing enough antibiotics to give them to 4 out of 5 Americans every year, an alarming pace that suggests they are being overused, a new government study finds.
Burtman sentenced to 13 months
A Columbus doctor who was facing a maximum of 35 years in federal prison was sentenced to serve just 13 months on Tuesday.
Report: Premium hikes for top Medicare drug plans
Seniors enrolled in seven of the 10 most popular Medicare prescription drug plans will be hit with double-digit premium hikes next year if they don’t shop for a better deal, says a private firm that analyzes the highly competitive market.