INDUSTRY NEWS
Cognivue Brings Cognitive Screening Solution to Pharmacies Cognivue has unveiled its cognitive screening offering for retail pharmacies. The Rochester, N.Y.-based company is offering its computerized cognitive function test, which is based on Food and Drug Administration-cleared technology. It can quantitatively and objectively identify changes in cognitive function that might indicate an impairment that could be treated or managed. Executives with the company said it can be used as an added component to health screenings or offered as a stand-alone service. “Pharmacists today offer everything from diabetes screening, A1C test, blood pressure and cholesterol screen/evaluations to basic and comprehensive health screens, hearing and vision evaluations, and sports physicals, but they do not offer any brain health or cognitive function screening” said Tom O’Neill, CEO of Cognivue (pictured). Cognivue’s CogniSystem uses a patented software algorithm that calibrates each individual’s motor and visual abilities, and continuously adapts to the user’s performance to provide a customized screening. The screening, which is designed to eliminate testing variables, consists of a self-administered twominute video and five-minute screening that tests key cognitive domains, delivering a one-page report once completed. O’Neill said that Cognivue’s fourth-generation device will be launching in the first quarter of 2020. The 5-pound device is compact enough to offer in-store screenings with minimal footprint, and be portable for travel to health fairs and other events. Additionally, the company will be offering a free certification program for pharmacists to gain education needed for cognitive testing as part of its introductory program. “We recognize that pharmacists today need to be educated on cognition and how to identify and counsel patients that are showing signs of cognitive decline,” O’Neill said.
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California Law Enables Pharmacists to Dispense PrEP and PEP Without a Prescription A newly enacted California law is putting pharmacists on the front lines of HIV prevention California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 159, which authorizes pharmacists to furnish HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, to patients without a physician prescription. PrEP is a once-daily pill for HIV-negative people that reduces the risk of infection by up to 99%, and PEP is a 28 day preventive course for people who may have been exposed to HIV. The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, is the first law in the nation to authorize pharmacists to furnish PrEP and PEP without a physician prescription. Authored by California Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Assemblyman Todd Gloria, D-San Diego, the legislation was written as a way to expand access to life-saving HIV prevention medication. “To end new HIV infections, we must dramatically expand access to PrEP and PEP, yet far too many Californians who need these drugs struggle to access them. SB 159 will keep more Californians HIV negative and help us end this epidemic,” Wiener said. “I applaud Governor Newsom for signing this first-in-the-nation legislation to remove barriers to these critical HIV preventatives.” SB 159 is supported by a broad coalition and sponsored by Equality California, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, APLA Health, Los Angeles LGBT Center, the California Pharmacists Association, and California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Pharmacists already are authorized to furnish emergency contraceptives and the birth control pill without a physician prescription. Regarding PrEP, pharmacists will be able to provide a 60-day supply, after which the patient will need to see a physician to continue. The legislation also prohibits insurance companies from requiring patients to obtain prior authorization before using their insurance benefits to obtain PrEP or PEP.
November 2019 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
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11/7/19 7:43 PM