Briefs

Coram bolsters infusion biz with Humana deal DENVER - Coram Healthcare in July joined Humana as a preferred provider of specialized home infusion, respiratory therapy and home medical equipment. The relationship will allow Coram access to Humana's network of 5.8 million members nationwide. Coram is a leading provider of specialized home infusion therapies with 70 branches in the United States and Canada. Louisville, Ky.- based Humana is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies. “This agreement is an important step in fulfilling our commitment to make a complete range of services available to our customers,” said Freda Hogan, Humana's director of national contracting. Pharmacy group funds diabetes certifications ATLANTA - Fifty pharmacists in Georgia will be certified to provide diabetes care under a new program by the Georgia Pharmacy Association. The organization has committed resources to create a network of pharmacists who are certified disease managers (CDM) in diabetes. The association will reimburse up to 50 of its members for completing a diabetes review course as well as successful completion of the CDM in diabetes exam. Once these pharmacists become CDMs in diabetes, the association will compensate them for providing direct patient care for two patients. “It is our hope that the CDM status will be widely recognized as a valuable credential among members of the health care delivery team,” said an academy official. Research: Spiriva Will Capture a 50% Rx Share EAST HANOVER, N.J. - Pulmonologists expect to write 50% of their COPD prescriptions for the Spiriva HandiHaler, a new powder inhaler bronchodilator from Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim, according to an independent study conducted by NOP World Health. The findings said that pulmonologists believe Spiriva's once-a-day dosing will lead to higher patient compliance and quality of life. Primary care physicians were more cautious in their enthusiasm, but said they anticipate writing one-third of their COPD prescriptions for the new agent, according to the study.