Union says medicine from Canada could save East Hampton big bucks

While the city of Boston is cutting off their Canadian drug program, the town of East Hampton, New York is investigating the possibility of setting up a Canadian importation program of their own. It's a bit hard to believe that a government would be looking at doing this now. I think this town is four or five years behind the curve.

From 27 East (NY):
Hoping to convince East Hampton Town lawmakers not to switch town employees’ health benefits to a state-administered insurance plan, leaders of the Civil Service Employees Association have proposed turning to a Canadian mail-order prescription drug supplier to cut costs.

Representatives from the Civil Service Employees of America and CanaRx, a firm that provides name-brand prescription drugs from Canada at a deep discount, claim that using the Canadian company could save the town some $490,000 a year, based on town employees’ current number of prescriptions, and allow the town to continue self-insuring its civil service employees.

But Supervisor Bill McGintee said the prescription drug savings proposed are not enough to match the potential savings that changing medical plans would bring the cash-strapped town. He said that switching from the current self-insured medical benefits to a plan offered by Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, a state-administered health insurance organization, could save the town $1.5 million in 2009. ...more

New Law Lets Pharmacists Administer Flu Vaccinations

From the New York Times:
Gov. David A. Paterson signed legislation this week that will let pharmacists administer flu and pneumonia shots, a change expected to increase the number of adults vaccinated statewide.

Starting Dec. 4, New York pharmacists who complete state training and certification will be permitted to give the shots with a prescription from a physician or nurse practitioner. Three-year certifications will cost $100.

“Allowing pharmacists to immunize would increase access to vaccinations, as pharmacies are open long hours, on weekends and most holidays,” said Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., a Long Island Republican who sponsored the bill.

State records showed 20,303 state-licensed pharmacists at the start of 2008, with 16,219 listing primary mailing addresses in New York.

In their memo supporting the bill, Assembly sponsors said that every other state except Maine already allowed the vaccinations, and that studies showed adult immunization rates for annual flu shots improved significantly after such a change. In New York City alone, some health experts said, the measure could increase the number of elderly residents who get the shots by 50,000 or more. ...more