Tag: Community Pharmacies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association supports legislation that would give seniors more convenient access to discounted or “preferred” co-pays for prescription drugs at their pharmacy of choice. H.R. 2608, the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act, would also empower more seniors to choose the pharmacy that best fits their needs, promote transparency so that pharmacies have a clear understanding of their reimbursement, and tackle conflicts of...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A large majority of American adults prefer to get their prescription drugs from a local pharmacist instead of mail-order service because of their personal relationships with pharmacists, according to a new national survey released by the National Community Pharmacists Association. “Most Americans clearly are not willing to substitute personal care for the perception of convenience,” said B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, CEO of the NCPA. “When they need...

ALEXANDER, Va. - Independent community pharmacies comprised 35% of all retail pharmacies in the United States and represented a $73.6 billion marketplace in 2019, according to the 2020 NCPA Digest. Other highlights from the report, sponsored by Cardinal Health: The estimated number of independent community pharmacies continues to decline, falling to 21,683 stores; and the number of prescriptions filled by those pharmacies dropped to 57,414 per store. The report also highlights the wide variety of...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents more than 21,000 independent pharmacies across the country, lauds New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for authorizing independent pharmacies to serve as COVID-19 test centers. “We are deeply grateful to Gov. Cuomo for enlisting independent pharmacies in the fight against the pandemic,” said CEO B. Douglas Hoey. “Local pharmacies in New York and every state have been fighting for the authority to do testing...

WASHINGTON - CGS will begin adjusting tens of thousands of claims from non-competitive bidding areas each day for about the next 24 weeks, the DME MAC for Jurisdictions B and C announced May 8.The adjustments come in response to a provision in the 21st Century Cures Act that requires CMS to retroactively delay a second round of reimbursement cuts in non-bid areas from July 1, 2016, to Jan. 1, 2017, allowing HME providers to recoup six months of payments.CGS says it will begin adjusting about 40,000...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association and Union Springs Healthcare have formed a strategic partnership to bolster pharmacy-patient relationships and grow pharmacy revenue. Through the initiative, NCPA will bring to independent community pharmacy owners and staff the Companion Care Counseling program developed by Union Springs Healthcare. The program features a suite of online resources to support community pharmacists, and foster proactive and effective patient counseling...

Community pharmacies are doing more these days than just filling prescriptions. They're  offering immunizations, lab testing, educational classes and other services that reflect the growing role of pharmacies as part of the healthcare team.But their customers, who are increasingly going online for guidance with their healthcare decisions, aren't always aware of what's available. A recent agreement between the National Community Pharmacists Association and RxWiki, a digital health company, aims...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - H.D. Smith has launched a new program to initiate and fullly support the start up, purchase, sale and related transition strategies of an independent or regional chair pharmacy. VentureRx empowers pharmacy owners to shape the future of their businesses, the pharmaceutical wholesale distributor said in a press release. “Recognizing the amount of pharmacies closing or selling to large chains, H.D. Smith developed VentureRx to support its largest customer base—community...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A problem with ordering/referring physician data in the DME MAC claim system is affecting processing, as well as the data available in the myCGS web portal and the Jurisdiction C IVR, according to a bulletin from CGS. CMS and DME MAC system maintenance contractors are researching the issue. CGS says it will provide more information when it becomes available. CMS on Jan. 6 started denying claims with the names of physicians who are not enrolled in PECOS.Medicare overpays for...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Two senators have introduced a bill that would allow independent community pharmacies to deliver diabetes testing supplies to Medicare beneficiaries the same day an order is placed. The bill, introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and John Thune, R-S.D., would reverse restrictions placed on community pharmacists on July 1, 2013. “Pharmacists have reported cases of seniors going out in hazardous circumstances and risking a debilitating fall or other accident to obtain...