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
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
BOSTON – Pharmacist Bill Osborn, of Osborn Drugs, Inc. in Miami, Okla., was installed as 2018-2019 president of the National Community Pharmacists Association at the organization’s recent annual convention in Boston. “Our profession has had many challenges in the past and we have persevered,” Osborn said in remarks to NCPA’s House of Delegates. “We can continue to
BOSTON – Jim Spoon, owner of Spoon Drug in Sand Springs, Okla., has been named the National Community Pharmacists Association 2018 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year. The award is sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories. Spoon received the award at NCPA’s recent 2018 Annual Convention in Boston. The Independent Pharmacist of the Year award recognizes an independent pharmacist
BOSTON – Laird Miller of Gainesville, Ga., received the 2018 Calvin J. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Community Pharmacists Association at NCPA’s recent annual convention here.. “Laird Miller has long been devoted to independent community pharmacy and its patients, including through his efforts to promote community-based prescription drug abuse prevention and his long service on
ALEXANDRIA, Va. –The National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents the owners of 22,000 small businesses, is seeking clarification on community pharmacists’ ability to obtain the pass-through deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The association provided comments this week to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the Qualified Business Income Deduction proposed rule. NCPA has long advocated for
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In testimony before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today, pharmacist-owner Hugh Chancy urged support for draft legislation to prohibit restrictive contractual language, often referred to as “gag clauses,” that may result in patients being charged inflated prices for their medications. Chancy, who owns Chancy Drugs in Hahira, Ga., testified on behalf of the
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — National Community Pharmacists Association’s chief executive officer Douglas Hoey announced that Anne Cassity has joined NCPA as vice president, federal and state government affairs, as the organization continues to grow its advocacy influence. A seasoned government affairs professional, Cassity formerly managed NCPA’s federal advocacy program. She left NCPA in 2011 to become health care
NEW YORK — Physicians Robin Warren and Barry Marshall were practically laughed out of health care in 1982 when they suggested that a type of bacteria might be causing stomach ulcers. It took more than a decade before their theory that treating ulcers with antibiotics to kill H. pylori bacteria was validated, and it radically
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Reducing drug costs borne by seniors due to middlemen and deals in the drug supply chain are Medicare Part D reforms that most strongly curry favor among registered voters, according to a Morning Consult survey commissioned by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). Conducted in late June, the survey results indicate strong support
WASHINGTON — In the first step in the stakeholder process recommended by lawmakers in a letter to the Department of Defense (DoD) in April, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the National Community Pharmacists Association and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) have been invited to participate in a DoD-hosted meeting
WASHINGTON — A group of senators are sponsoring legislation to bring more prescription drug pricing transparency to the pharmacy counter. Sens. Susan Collins (R., Maine), Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.) yesterday introduced the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act (S. 2554) and the Know the Lowest Price Act (S. 2553), which would
ARLINGTON, Va. — The “untenable” procedures around direct and indirect remuneration fees (DIR fees) can be righted with measures reducing costs for beneficiaries and the government, while promoting a more quality-driven health care system, says the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. NACDS expressed that message in comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Suffice it to say, community pharmacies are getting squeezed by retroactive DIR fees. That’s what the results of a survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association said. NCPA reported Friday that, because of retroactive direct and indirect remuneration fees, 84% of independent pharmacy owners polled said they don’t know what their final reimbursement will be at