Tag: Community Pharmacy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A group of pharmacy organizations, including the National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Home Infusion Association, worry that decisions by Cigna and Express Scripts to eliminate the option for Tricare beneficiaries to obtain prescriptions at their pharmacy of choice will disrupt patient access to needed medications.  In a letter to Amy Bricker, president of Express Scripts, and David Cordani, president and CEO of Cigna, the organizations argued...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association has released the second episode of “Show Me,” a reality series styled after popular TV makeover shows, only the stars are real pharmacists who need help getting a certain aspect of their business on track. This episode takes place in Wagoner, Okla., where pharmacist Steve Nicholas is looking for help start a vaccine program from the ground up at the 50-year-old Rogers Drug Company. “Show Me” coach...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association has announced the keynote speakers for its 2022 Annual Convention, set for Oct. 1-4 in Kansas City, Mo. The theme for this year’s convention is “Team Up! Where Teamwork Makes It All Work.” Mike Abrashoff, former commander of the USS Benfold and author of three books, is scheduled to speak during the First General Session on Sunday, Oct. 2. Abrashoff was the most-junior officer in the Pacific Fleet when he took...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Constant efforts by independent pharmacy stakeholders have unleashed a “tidal wave” of activity to reform pharmacy benefit managers, says Matthew Seiler, general counsel for the National Community Pharmacists Association.  In June, the Federal Trade Commission announced it would initiate a formal study of PBM behavior and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation voted to advance the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act introduced...

NELIGH, Neb. – Kubat Healthcare has acquired Hilltop Drugs Etc., in Neligh, Neb., further expanding its commitment to local care.  Founded in October 2008 by co-founder and current Pharmacist-In-Charge Jami Schmidt, Hilltop Drugs is a community pharmacy providing personalized pharmacy and health care services. In 2019, Schmidt and her business partner sold to Mark Vogt.  "When I started Hilltop Drugs in 2008, I wanted to provide the community with exceptional pharmacy solutions,"...

WASHINGTON – The National Community Pharmacists Association criticized the Federal Trade Commission after it deadlocked on a vote to investigate pharmacy benefit managers.  “Two members of the FTC just let the worst actors in the market off the hook. After hearing hours of testimony by community pharmacists and patients, all of whom painted the same shocking picture about PBM abuse, and not a single witness there to defend the PBM industry, it is inexplicable that two members...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Community pharmacies are losing money dispensing new oral antiviral medicines based on the low fees paid by health insurance companies, writes the National Community Pharmacists Association in a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “NCPA asks for immediate intervention before these pharmacies are forced to stop dispensing the oral antiviral drugs because they can’t justify the cost to their business,” wrote B. Douglas Hoey, CEO of NCPA. Pharmacies...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare is calling on stakeholders to contact their members of Congress to ask them to prevent broadly applied “deep” Medicare cuts for 2022.   The potential cuts stem from the application of pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) legislation that was enacted in 2010.   “If not addressed, PAYGO provisions would trigger automatic cuts across a range of federal programs to cover recent deficit spending increases – in this case, red ink incurred via the $1.9...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Four pharmacy groups, including the National Community Pharmacists Association, filed a court brief this week in support of a Louisiana law requiring pharmacy benefit managers administering Medicare Part D plans to reimburse pharmacies a 10-cent provider fee.  The case, Louisiana Independent Pharmacists Association v. Express Scripts, is the first test of a recent decision by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that allows North Dakota and other states in the jurisdiction...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Pharmacist Michele Belcher was installed as 2021-22 president of the National Community Pharmacists Association at the organization’s 2021 Annual Convention, held Oct. 9-12.  Belcher, of Grants Pass Pharmacy in Grants Pass, Ore., is active in her state pharmacy coalition and state association and has served on task force groups for the board of pharmacy. She has been an adviser for the entrepreneurial academy at OSU College of Pharmacy and is active in state legislation,...