The National Community Pharmacists Association recently asked members to identify what most concerns them as 2015 gets under way. The survey results weren’t surprising, with the top issues focused on pharmacy reimbursement and preferred pharmacy networks.

NCPA said the leading five priorities were maximum allowable cost (MAC) legislation to address the delay in generic drug payment rate updates; “any willing pharmacy” access to preferred pharmacy networks in Medicare Part D; regulatory advocacy on new definitions of how Medicaid reckons its payments to pharmacies (such as NADAC); health provider status for pharmacists; and small-business tax reform.

“These results are consistent with the anecdotal conversations that I and other NCPA officers have regularly with community pharmacy owners,” stated NCPA president John Sherrer, co-owner of Kenmar Pharmacy and Poole’s Pharmacy in Marietta, Ga. “In particular, the topics of ensuring reasonable reimbursement for generic drugs and greater patient choice of pharmacy are vital to sustain continued patient access to community pharmacies and the unparalleled service and medication expertise that they provide.”

Fortunately for independent community pharmacists, NCPA has been right on top of the reimbursement battle and preferred pharmacy debate in its industry advocacy. Stay tuned.