Tag: Independent Pharmacy
NCPA hits Hill, asking lawmakers to address PBM practices in gov’t programs
April 20, 2026HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Independent pharmacists visited nearly 300 offices for meetings with lawmakers and their staff during the National Community Pharmacist Association’s Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In on April 15-16. Their message: We appreciate the reforms to Medicare Part D contract terms that Congress passed earlier this year, and now we would urge them to address pharmacy benefit manager practices in government programs like Medicaid, Tricare, and the Federal Employee Health Benefit...
Indie pharmacy owners are wary of drug program
September 8, 2025HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Nearly 20% of independent pharmacists won’t stock drugs in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and another 67% might not participate, according to a new survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). “Independent pharmacists want this program to work, and they want to participate,” says NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey. “But the program must be implemented in a way that makes business sense or independent pharmacies won’t be...
Cardinal Health increases support to state pharmacy associations
July 15, 2025HME News Staff
DUBLIN, Ohio – Cardinal Health has launched the Cardinal Health One Voice Initiative to directly financially support the advocacy efforts of state pharmacy associations. "The independent pharmacy community is a powerful voice with legislators as community-based health care providers," said Brad Cochran, EVP, Pharmaceutical and Specialty Distribution at Cardinal Health. "We have been a steadfast advocate for independent pharmacy and the Cardinal Health One Voice Initiative for...
Alabama passes PBM reform bill
April 10, 2025HME News Staff
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama House of Representatives has unanimously passed SB252, a bill that would support independent pharmacies statewide by creating more transparency and limiting the power of pharmacy benefit managers. The “Community Pharmacy Relief Act,” which was already approved by the Senate on March 20, was introduced by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, and Rep. Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, a pharmacist. Rigsby told the Alabama Political Reporter that the bill addresses...
In brief: Resmed evolves brand, Walgreens sells to PE, pharmacy hosts FTC chair
March 12, 2025HME News Staff
SAN DIEGO – Resmed has launched a rebrand to unify its portfolio and reflect its increasing direct-to-consumer engagement.
As part of the rebrand, Resmed plans to consolidate its brands, products and services under a single Resmed brand over the next couple of years, creating a more streamlined view for both consumers and health care providers.
“We are at a pivotal moment in health – sleep and breathing health are gaining the attention once reserved for diet and...
Williams Brothers celebrates 14th location
August 26, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON, Ind. – Williams Brothers Healthcare will hold a grand opening celebration of their new store location in Evansville, Ind., at 54-01 Vogel Road. The location, the company’s 14th, opened in July and has scaled operations to provide a high level of respiratory care in Vanderburgh and surrounding counties. The independent, family-owned company was founded in 1899 and provides services including long-term care and compounding pharmacy services, respiratory and infusion therapy,...
Survey: Independent pharmacies worried about ‘DIR hangover’
June 7, 2023HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Seventy percent of independent community pharmacy owners/managers are concerned about upcoming cash flow challenges resulting from changes to federal policy effective Jan. 1, 2024, according to a new survey released by the National Community Pharmacists Association.
The NCPA asked independent pharmacy owners/managers for insight relating to the “DIR hangover” – what it calls the period starting Jan. 1, 2024, when bills for pharmacy direct and indirect...
NCPA president discusses impact of M&A with FTC
April 20, 2022HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – National Community Pharmacists Association President Michele Belcher participated in a recent Federal Trade Commission-Department of Justice online listening forum on the effects of mergers and acquisitions. Belcher, who is owner of Grants Pass Pharmacy in Grants Pass, Ore., described to FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and others how the take-it-or-leave-it contracts between pharmacy benefit managers and independent pharmacies lead to harms...
Survey: Pharmacists feel squeeze
November 10, 2021HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Independent pharmacies are struggling to fill staff positions and deal with supply chain disruptions, as well as deal with market pressures like pharmacy benefit manager direct and indirect remuneration fees and vertical integration, according to a new survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association. “Pharmacists have worked heroically throughout the pandemic so to have insurance middlemen push so many of these small business owners to the edge is troubling,”...
Quinlan’s Pharmacy and Medical Equipment works to help slow pandemic
January 29, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WAYLAND, N.Y. – Provider John Quinlan has been working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, both taking care of patients and advocating for vaccine access for his employees and the general public.
As both a home medical equipment provider and a pharmacy, he’s well positioned to do both.
“We’re working with hospitals and other providers to secure beds and concentrators – there’s a huge shortage...