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B. Douglas Hoey

NCPA stands with NY patients, pharmacists after Cuomo veto

NCPA stands with NY patients, pharmacists after Cuomo veto

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  – Despite aggressive advocacy efforts by state-based pharmacy organizations and individual New York pharmacists, Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week vetoed legislation to help to rein in costly pharmacy benefit manager practices by giving the superintendent of insurance licensing and regulatory authority over PBMs. This regulatory authority would put an end to the lack

NCPA Supports Welch-Griffith Bill

NCPA Supports Welch-Griffith Bill

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Seniors would have more convenient access to discounted or “preferred” copays for prescription drugs at their pharmacy of choice under legislation reintroduced Thursday by Reps. Peter Welch (D, Vt.) and Morgan Griffith (R, Va.). The bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the National Community Pharmacists Association. NCPA chief executive officer B. Douglas Hoey

NCPA, PRS launch “CBD Source” tool for pharmacists

NCPA, PRS launch “CBD Source” tool for pharmacists

SAN DIEGO — The National Community Pharmacists Association announced Monday that it has teamed up with PRS to launch the NCPA CBD Source, a first-of-its-kind online resource for community pharmacies featuring cannabidiol products as well as general information about the CBD industry. The NCPA CBD Source will serve as an easy-to-navigate website providing pharmacies with

NCPA urges PBM reform in major media print ads

NCPA urges PBM reform in major media print ads

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In print ads Tuesday in the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, the National Community Pharmacists Association is urging policymakers to rein in pharmacy benefit managers to help lower drug costs. These ads complement NCPA’s ongoing efforts in its years-long campaign to reform pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees, a

West Virginia Medicaid saves $54.4 million with prescription drug carve-out

West Virginia Medicaid saves $54.4 million with prescription drug carve-out

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — When the West Virginia Medicaid agency started managing the Medicaid managed care prescription drug benefit directly in July 2017, state officials were relying on an actuarial study forecasting a $30 million savings for the state. This week, the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services released a report showing actual savings of $54.4

NACDS, NCPA thank patient, consumer groups for stance on DIR fee reform

NACDS, NCPA thank patient, consumer groups for stance on DIR fee reform

ARLINGTON, Va.— The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Tuesday lauded 24 patient and consumer groups for advocating for pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fee reform. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator

HHS Sec. Azar visits community pharmacists

HHS Sec. Azar visits community pharmacists

METAIRIE, La.  — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar yesterday visited Chateau Drugs and Gifts in Metairie, La., which is owned by National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) members Kerry and Diane Milano, both of whom are registered pharmacists. Azar made the visit to help highlight efforts by the Trump administration to

NACDS, NCPA praise senate action to reduce patient drug costs

NACDS, NCPA praise senate action to reduce patient drug costs

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Tuesday praised a bipartisan Senate letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. The letter thanked the Secretary for concepts in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule, Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage

Pharmacy DIR proposal supported by nearly 3,500 pharmacists

Pharmacy DIR proposal supported by nearly 3,500 pharmacists

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A years-long effort led by the National Community Pharmacists Association to build support for a proposal to move pharmacy price concessions to point-of-sale reached a critical milestone on Jan. 25, 2019. Nearly 3,500 pharmacists and 170 patients formally voiced their support for parts of a proposed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services drug

Pharmacy payment model needs to be simplified

Pharmacy payment model needs to be simplified

Editor’s note: This was part of CDR’s 2019 Pharmacy Outlook in the January 7 issue. One thing that can be said about the state of prescription medications in 2019 is that the pharmacy payment model is complex, convoluted and confusing. Over $400 billion dollars are spent on prescription drugs, yet finding someone in the distribution

Cardinal Health acquires Mirixa Corp.

Cardinal Health acquires Mirixa Corp.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health announced today it has acquired Mirixa Corp., a leading provider of technology-enabled solutions for the provision of medication therapy management (MTM) services, from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The business will integrate into OutcomesMTM, a pioneer in the MTM market, at Cardinal Health. This expanded portfolio from Cardinal Health will bring

NCPA: “Proposed drug pricing rule a leap forward”

NCPA: “Proposed drug pricing rule a leap forward”

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — A new drug pricing rule, proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and released Monday, Nov. 26, considers policies theNational Community Pharmacy Association and CMS say will lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter and lead to a more competitive and efficient part D program. NCPA advocated aggressively

NCPA attends signing of bipartisan opioid relief package

NCPA attends signing of bipartisan opioid relief package

WASHINGTON  – As President Trump signs H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, several National Community Pharmacists Association-supported provisions contained in the opioid package become law. NCPA chief executive officer B. Douglas Hoey and Karry La Violette, NCPA’s senior vice president of government affairs and director

NCPA leaders attend White House signing of “gag clause” ban

NCPA leaders attend White House signing of “gag clause” ban

WASHINGTON— Four National Community Pharmacists Association leaders joined President Trump at the White House today as he signed legislation prohibiting so-called pharmacy “gag clauses” that may result in patients being charged inflated prices for their medications. Attending were newly-installed president Bill Osborn, owner of Osborn Drugs in Miami, Okla.; NCPA board members Michele M. Belcher, owner of Grants

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