Lupin 2024

B. Douglas Hoey

Fla. community pharmacy has personal touch

Fla. community pharmacy has personal touch

Personal service remains the bailiwick of independent community pharmacies. In fact, for many consumers, that’s the chief reason for choosing an independent drug store over a chain pharmacy. The National Community Pharmacists Association highlights independents’ personal touch in a video profile of Theresa Tolle, owner of Bay Street Pharmacy in Sebastian, Fla., the only independent

Mirixa names Harvey as CEO

Mirixa names Harvey as CEO

RESTON, Va. — Former Liberty Medical chairman and chief executive officer Frank Harvey has joined medication therapy management (MTM) service provider Mirixa Corp. as CEO. Mirixa, which announced the appointment Tuesday, said Harvey also will serve on the company’s board of directors. “I am pleased to join Mirixa at this exciting point in the evolution

Lawmakers urge CMS to act on DIR fees

Lawmakers urge CMS to act on DIR fees

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Nearly 50 members of Congress have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize its proposed guidance on how Medicare Part D sponsors report pharmacy price concessions, also known as direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees. The National Community Pharmacists Association said that 16 senators and 30 representatives

NCPA tells community pharmacist’s story

NCPA tells community pharmacist’s story

The National Community Pharmacists Association wants to convey the value of independent pharmacies to their communities. A new online video posted by NCPA, titled “Danny Cottrell: Independent Pharmacist and Pillar of the Community,” profiles pharmacist Danny Cottrell and his Cottrell’s Medical Center Pharmacy in Brewton, Ala., to illustrate how independent pharmacists positively impact patient care

NCPA summit brings Rx advocates to D.C.

NCPA summit brings Rx advocates to D.C.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — More than 300 independent pharmacists from across the country gathered near the nation’s capital for the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2016 Congressional Pharmacy Summit. Wrapping up on Wednesday, the two-day event included remarks from a leading member of Congress, panel discussions, an award presentation, updates on the legislative and regulatory agenda, a

NCPA leads call for more DIR fee transparency

NCPA leads call for more DIR fee transparency

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has joined with a group of pharmacy industry stakeholders in calling for more clarity about direct and indirect (DIR) fees. NCPA said that this week it teamed up with 21 other organizations — including drug chains, drug suppliers, drug cooperatives and pharmacy associations, among others — in

Prescription drug abuse bill ready to be signed into law

Prescription drug abuse bill ready to be signed into law

ARLINGTON, Va. — Legislation that would improve efforts to fight prescription drug abuse without impeding legitimate patients’ access to medication is set to go before President Barack Obama to be signed into law. The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 (S. 483) in the

Senate OK’s key drug abuse legislation

Senate OK’s key drug abuse legislation

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Senate has passed the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 (S. 483), which is seen as striking a balance between fighting drug abuse and upholding legitimate drug use. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, which supports the bill, said Friday that the measure would advance

More work needed on preferred pharmacy access

More work needed on preferred pharmacy access

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has improved Medicare Part D patient access to preferred pharmacies, more work needs to be done, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association. NCPA on Friday applauded a statement released by CMS that the agency’s efforts to boost access to preferred pharmacies across

Rx takes hard look at long-awaited Medicaid AMP rule

Rx takes hard look at long-awaited Medicaid AMP rule

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores was working with member companies at presstime to review the final rule on Medicaid prescription reimbursements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says the 658-page rule — which takes effect April 1 after a comment period — establishes a regulatory definition for average

Industry eyes CMS final rule for Rx reimbursement

Industry eyes CMS final rule for Rx reimbursement

WASHINGTON — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the Covered Outpatient Drugs final rule with comment, which the National Association of Chain Drug Stores said includes “significant changes” to Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for generic drugs based on the average manufacturer price (AMP) model. Released on Thursday and due to be published

Gallup: Pharmacists get high marks for trust

Gallup: Pharmacists get high marks for trust

PRINCETON, N.J. — Pharmacists rank high in terms of public trust, but they fall short of being No. 1. Nurses topped Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics of Professions rankings for 2015, a feat that the profession has accomplished every year but one since it was added to the list in 1999. The exception is 2001, when

NCPA finds strong support for med sync

NCPA finds strong support for med sync

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Both patients and pharmacists give high marks to medication synchronization programs, according to a recent survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association. NCPA said Monday that the poll of member pharmacies using its Simplify My Meds (SMM) program asked several open-ended questions, and respondents “overwhelmingly” noted that med sync has raised efficiency

NCPA urges more scrutiny of generic drug pricing

NCPA urges more scrutiny of generic drug pricing

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In tandem with a congressional hearing, the National Community Pharmacists Association called on lawmakers to take a closer look at recent generic drug price hikes and their impact on patients and community pharmacists. On Wednesday, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing titled “Sudden Price Spikes in Off-Patent Drugs: Perspectives

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