Interesting developments

• Wal-Mart announced today that it is expanding its $4 generic drug pricing program to six additional drugs, is offering the generics at $10 for a 90 day supply, and is selling more than 1,000 over the counter drugs for $4. A Goldman Sachs analyst, according to the AP, opined that these changes would not adversely impact CVS/Caremark financially.
  
• The American Medical Association is militating against Medicare's never events policy according to the AMA News.
  
• The AMA News also justifiably warns doctors that beginning May 23 health plans and Medicare will deny electronic claims that are include any provider ID numbers other than the HIPAA mandated National Provider Identifier. (The tax identification number is OK.) "Near the end of April, about 20% of all Medicare claims were being submitted with NPIs only, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services."