Tag: National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)

INDIANAPOLIS – Health insurer Elevance Health and private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice have formed a strategic partnership to bring together certain care delivery and enablement assets of Elevance Health’s business unit Carelon Health and CD&R’s portfolio companies aspree health and Millenium Physician Group.  The companies say the strategic partnership’s advanced primary care models take a whole health approach to address the physical, social and behavioral...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association is pushing Cigna’s Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) to revise contract terms to align with its obligation to offer “reasonable and relevant” terms and conditions for participation in a Medicare Part D pharmacy network. The association is also asking Express Scripts to revise its “bonus pool fee” to align with federal policy. “We cannot help but note that Cigna-Express Scripts has publicly announced a desire...

WASHINGTON – CMS has issued a proposed rule to improve the health of Medicare beneficiaries by addressing social determinants of health, strengthening emergency preparedness, and improving maternal health.   The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) rule builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to support historically underserved and under-resourced communities and promote...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association has launched CORE, a yearlong program to train pharmacy owners and their team members on the most essential elements of team leadership. Led by successful pharmacy owners and subject matter experts, NCPA’s program will equip participants with the business training and leadership development tools needed to strengthen and evolve their pharmacy and increase profitability. “With tight margins and financial challenges...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., will give remarks at the National Community Pharmacists Association Congressional Pharmacy Fly-in, which takes place April 17-18 in Alexandria, Va., and Washington, D.C. Carter has been very active in efforts to pass pro-patient, pro-pharmacy legislation, such as reforms to pharmacy benefit managers. In addition to cosponsoring other bills, he joined several of his colleagues to introduce the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act (H.R. 1613), which...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association is launching the new NCPA Business Mastercard, an exclusive NCPA member benefit tailored specifically for pharmacy industry spending needs. “From cutting-edge expense management technology to unrivaled savings on pharmacy supplies, every aspect of the NCPA Business Mastercard is crafted to elevate the success of our members’ businesses, regardless of their size,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey. “This isn’t...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Nearly 96% of independent pharmacy owners and managers report experiencing shortages or backorders of GLP-1 drugs, according to the results of a new survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association. Most report ordering the drugs upon paid claims (63%) rather than keeping a stock on hand (37%) due to high prices and low reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers, the survey found. “GLP-1s have been tremendously popular over the last couple of years...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association has named Mark Ey, RPh, its new COO, only the third in the association’s history. His responsibilities will include collaborating with NCPA staff to meet the goals and objectives of the organization’s strategic plan, overseeing growth strategies, and cultivating industry and community relationships. Ey most recently served as vice president of operations for CARE Pharmacies Cooperative, a retail chain of independent...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association is throwing its support behind another class action lawsuit filed against UnitedHealth Group and its pharmacy benefit manager, OptumRx. The lawsuit, announced by the law firms Berger Montague PC and Cohen & Gresser LLP, claims that UnitedHealth Group and OptumRx have been assessing pharmacy DIR fees in violation of federal antitrust laws and state laws governing contracts. “After years of abuse at the hands of big insurance...

SEBASTIAN, Fla. – From shrinking reimbursement to workforce challenges, pharmacies today face a lot of challenges, says Theresa Tolle, winner of the 2023 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award from The National Community Pharmacists Association and Upsher-Smith Laboratories.  “There’s just been a lot of pressure within the profession,” said Tolle, BSPharm, FAPhA, owner of Bay Street Pharmacy in Sebastian, Fla. “We’re all more pressured...