Lauren Green, Associate Editor

A new study from the RAND Corporation concludes that retail medical clinics provide quality health care and preventive services for routine conditions, and at a lower cost than other providers. 

Easing fears on whether—and how quickly—a vaccine to combat the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus will become available, the FDA this week approved 4 new vaccines to fight the virus and expects they will be distributed nationwide within the next 4 weeks.

Pharmacy advocates are working intensively with the administration and Congress to get relief from a recent appeals court ruling, which even the most conservative estimates suggest would cost pharmacies $350 million in reimbursement for their Medicaid prescriptions.

As Americans return to school and work, federal officials are projecting a spike in H1N1 cases-the government has issued new guidance for employers and educators in hopes of stemming the tide.

Many Americans appear to be trying nontraditional medicine, if recently released research is any guide. More than one-third of adults have used some form of complementary and alternative medicine, according to the government's latest national health interview survey.

A clinical pharmacy cardiac risk service in Colorado demonstrates how combining the services of integrated care teams with a system of electronic messages and reminder letters helps cardiac patients keep their cholesterol and blood pressure in check.

Pharmacists can expect to be asked lots of questions about H1N1 when classes resume and the flu season kicks into high gear this fall, if the drumbeat of news and information about the government's preparedness efforts for the pandemic is any indication.

Health officials are working intensively on having a new vaccine to fight H1N1--and enough of it--available in time for when the flu season kicks in this fall.

Congress' summer recess may not be very relaxing, with all sides in the health care debate expected to mount August offensives.

If pharmacists are finding that they are filling more prescriptions for mental health medications, newly reported research may help explain why.

Key members of Congress say they hope to pass health care reform this summer as surveys show Americans are skipping medicines and other treatments to save money.

Under a bill just introduced in the Senate, drug imports may become legal.

New research shows that drug facts boxes are an effective way to help patients make informed choices about their prescription medications.

Poll finds more patients are choosing generic over brand name drugs and shopping for them at discount stores and online.

Health information technology would get a boost under proposed economic stimulus plans, but providers urge caution over hasty enactment of new privacy mandates.

The General Accounting Office has added FDA's regulation and oversight of medical products to its biennial list of high-risk areas needing special attention by the new Congress.