Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 12-29-2003
	Quote of the day: It has all been very interesting. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689 - 1762), last words, 1762

Good morning and Happy New Year! Two Thousand Three has been very interesting. From new drugs, many initial generics, Canadian imports, counterfeit drugs, to the MEDICARE bill, increased diabetes, teen obesity, and Rx to OTC status. Interesting stuff. What does 2004 hold? You can bet that the implementation of the MEDICARE legislation will garner much attention. Pharmaceutical companies will continue to do research and make breakthrough discoveries. There will be new drugs and expensive biologicals. Expect criminal activity by individuals and States. (Lawyers should do well in any event…don't they always?) The population MAY remember to get their "flu shots" next year but public memories are short. People will continue to eat too much and exercise too little. Everyone will continue to play the game called "make someone else pay for my drugs". Employers will drop retiree health benefits unless forced to by law or obscene government incentives. SARS or some other new infectious threat will arise. Congress will pass some crazy legislation. Judges will make questionable decisions. Mid-November will bring relief from what is sure to be a rancorous political campaign. So make sure that your tray table and seatback are in their full, upright and locked position. A copy of the PPP will be available for your in-flight entertainment and edification. Hang on for take off…. "to 2004 and beyond!"…

1) Soldiers complain about ANTHRAX
	Anthrax vaccine may not be forced on military. Although some have already call for a lift of this ban it is not likely that any military who do not want it will have to take it. (one small detail left out of the debate ….if anthrax is released it will be too late for the vaccine to help those exposed but not vaccinated.) …Click here for full text .

2) .Grandparents complain
	A 25 year old can plan on spending over $300,000 in extra payroll taxes to support their grandparents drug habit. Boomers want future generations to pay their drug bills. Another pundit takes a shot at the real "ME" generation. …Click here for full text .

3) Draft card burning generations find something else to set afire…
	Many burn their AARP cards feeling that they are not going to get ENOUGH out of the Medicare Drug Benefit just passed. …Click here for full text.

4) Hatch a pharmacist?

Minnesota Attorney General, Mike Hatch, is leading a 3 member group to "inspect" Canadian internet pharmacies. One may even be a pharmacist. They plan to "certify" pharmacies to be placed on the Minnesota State sponsored web site linking people to illegal transactions. The FDA has said that they do not have enough money to certify drugs coming into the States (see below) but Mikey and his two pals can do it in two days? They must be really incredible people (as in "not credible"). …Click here for full text.

5) FDA estimates Government cost to insure safe Canadian drugs.
	This just about insures that the Fed will go after those who break the law (preferring to spend the money on lawyers). …Click here for full text.

6) PPP analysis unfair?
	I don't think so …Example: more counterfeit medical products enter the US system. It was not all that long ago that fake Lipitor entered the drug supply chain. I wonder how bad it would get if the borders were opened to "other" sources. …Click here for full text.

7) The "best administrator that CMS ever had" leaves….
	Scully changed the name of HCFA to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services so he was the ONLY administrator of CMS.. He will now go to the private sector and help others implement the new MEDICARE laws he guided through Congress. Something doesn't feel quite right about this but business is business ( I guess) …Click here for full text.

Have a GREAT week! See you next year!

Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2003 PHARMWORKS,LLC all rights reserved.