The following news and information links are being provided as a service to our community. While the information contained here may be useful, the Board of Pharmacy takes no responsibility for it's content.

• 2006 Legislative Session Passes Maryland Cares Governor to provide $2,000,000 to the Department of Aging.

• Influenza or “flu” is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus. It is not the upset stomach popularly called “stomach flu”. The flu is highly contagious and is spread person to person through the air by coughing or sneezing. It is also spread by direct contact with infected people. Flu symptoms usually begin 1 to 4 days after being infected with the flu virus. Symptoms include chills, fever, cough, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue. Influenza can be a serious illness that causes severe complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus infections. Thousands of deaths each year are caused by influenza. Flu Fact Sheet

  There are two major types of influenza viruses:

  • Type A generally causes the most severe symptoms
  • Type B causes symptoms similar to Type A, but usually less severe.

            FIND A FLU SHOT in your area. 

             MARYLAND FLU PREPAREDNESS:    http://flu.maryland.gov/

• www.ipledgeprogram.com   New  March 1, 2006, a new program for pregnancy prevention.
  

• Beginning January 1, 2006, Medicare will offer prescription drug benefits to all people entitled to Medicare Part A or enrolled in Part B. The new program is known as Medicare Part D. This means that Medicare recipients who now receive pharmacy benefits through Maryland’s Medicaid Program or Pharmacy Assistance Program, will receive their drugs through a Medicare-approved private Prescription Drug Plan. The last day that the Medicaid Program will pay for a recipient’s prescription drugs is December 31, 2005.   Click for more Info.......

   
• Click Here: April 28, 2005 Distributors Indicted in Drug Diversion:
  ** Consumers **, If you have purchased a listed drug from one of these pharmacies in New York, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania or Georgia, do not use the drug but instead immediately notify your health care provider.

• FDA Recalls, Alerts and Notices -  FDA Recalls
  
  
  
  More News and Information .............................
  
  
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA, goes into effect in April of 2003. This will provide important new protections for patients. More information will be provided as the date approaches and pharmacies will be required to inform you of your rights related to your medical records. We have more information in the Federal Legislation and Links Sections of our web site, and you may also check this link: Health & Human Services
  
  
• ¿Cuál es HIPAA? en Español
  
  
• Citizen Advocacy Center Health Care Public Policy Forum. (202) 462-1174
  
  
  
• SARS information from  MEDLine  advise from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institute of Health (Nih). 
  MEDLine in Espanol
  
  
• Be MedWise....Know Your Medicine Click Here.
  Taking over the counter medication is too important for guesswork.
  
  
  
• Educate Before You Medicate
  This website is designed to help consumers make sound decisions about good health and use of medicines. (NCPIE)
  
  

  Click ALERTS & NOTICES for the latest emergency health information.

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