Tag: National Community Pharmacists Association

ATLANTA – Owning and operating an independent community pharmacy has allowed Ira Katz to maintain his love for retail.  “As a kid, I worked in clothing stores – I love retail,” said Katz, a pharmacist and owner of Little Five Points Pharmacy in Atlanta, which he opened 40 years ago. “I couldn’t think of a better career than to open a pharmacy.”  Katz was recently named the 2021 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year by the National...

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,”...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association is partnering with the Minority Pharmacist Entrepreneur Conference to launch Pathways to Pharmacy Ownership, a new initiative that encourages and supports independent pharmacy ownership among minority pharmacists. Pathways is a year-long, application-based program where selected pharmacists will gain: access to pharmacy owner-mentors, help with business plan review from industry experts, scholarships to NCPA’s Pharmacy Ownership...

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,...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ira Katz was named the 2021 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year at the National Community Pharmacists Association 2021 Annual Convention, held Oct. 9-12.  The annual award, sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to community and commitment to independent pharmacy.  Katz is the owner of Little Five Points Pharmacy in Atlanta, which he opened 40 years ago. As a...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association and Pharmacy Times are teaming up to launch the Independent Rx Forum, a new national podcast focused on independent pharmacy issues. Each month, a host from Pharmacy Times will be speaking with NCPA staff, leadership or other independent pharmacy experts about how the industry is changing, what these pharmacies need to do to stay cutting-edge and sustainable into the future, and how the NCPA works to support their success. “Pharmacists...

WASHINGTON – The National Community Pharmacists Association has partnered with five other organizations to form the Coalition for PBM Reform to bring transparency to a part of the health care system that they say is dominated by a few giant corporate middlemen who price medicines, reimburse pharmacies, and determine how much patients will pay at the counter. “Transparency is essential to any healthy market,” said B. Douglas Hoey, NCPA CEO. “There is none in the prescription...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association has launched a three-day ad blitz aimed at pushing Congress to end the practice of pharmacy benefit managers that pocket savings intended for senior citizens and drive local pharmacies out of business. The ad, titled “You Should Know,” shows how PBMs negotiate discounts on expensive pharmaceuticals and then keep a chunk of the savings instead of passing it on to consumers. The ad also points out how the same PBMs steer patients...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association says it support President Biden’s “Path out of the Pandemic” plan, which includes authorization for pharmacists to order and administer select COVID-19 therapeutics, including monoclonal antibody therapy, and expands testing to 10,000 additional pharmacies. “As the president made clear, this fight isn’t over,” said B. Douglas Hoey, CEO. “We’re at a critical point and bold action...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association has developed a new Department of Policy and Pharmacy Affairs, distinguishing the role of regulatory and pharmacy affairs within the association. The department will help bolster NCPA’s strategic affairs, advocacy and media relations efforts. It will conduct research, legislative review and drafting; prepare regulatory comments, issues briefs, testimony and correspondence; promote pharmacy health information technology and...