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CDC asks retailers to promote responsible antibiotic use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out letters in late February to several chain pharmacies that have been offering free generic antibiotics, urging them to promote responsible use of the medicines.

The federal agency was particularly concerned that the pharmacies were linking their programs to the cold and flu season, despite the fact that neither condition responds to antibiotics, and that the free program could exacerbate the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Laurie Hicks, medical director for CDC's Get Smart Program, said having free drugs available could increase patient demands that their physicians prescribe them.

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Horizon answers regulators' questions about conversion proposal

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has filed more than 350 pages of responses to questions posed by the state's attorney general and the commissioner of banking and insurance regarding the plan's proposal to convert from a nonprofit to a for-profit company.

Horizon filed its conversion application in August 2008, the first time it had formally requested the change to for-profit status, although it had explored the idea twice before.

In October 2008 the two state offices deemed Horizon's application incomplete and asked for more information about future rate increases, spending on public health and tax liabilities.

Under state law, once the state deems the application complete, it must schedule public hearings on the conversion. Dept. of Banking and Insurance spokesman Ed Rogan said there was no timeline set for making that determination.

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Maryland health network gets push

A group of leading health care organizations in Maryland have joined forces to play a role in the development of a statewide health information exchange.

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Erickson Retirement Communities, MedStar Health and the University of Maryland Medical System jointly submitted a plan in February for a statewide HIE that gained support from the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.

The four institutions formed a nonprofit venture called the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients, which will develop recommendations on policy, principles and designs for the exchange of patient data. The state is planning to solicit proposals to build the network as early as this summer.

A number of other health care organizations and technology companies, including GE Healthcare and Microsoft, have agreed to participate in CRISP's initiatives.

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