Averting a Compliance Nightmare for Independent Pharmacies

While Congress deserves credit for including pro-patient, pro-community pharmacy provisions in health care reform legislation, the law’s far from perfect. Case in point: A “revenue raiser” that would make many minor business transactions a tax-reportable event.

Under section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, beginning in 2012, all companies will have to issue 1099 tax forms not just to contract workers, but to any individual or corporation they buy more than $600 in goods or services from in a tax year.  Currently, 1099s are just used to document income for individual workers for services other than wages and salaries, not used for corporations or for the purchasing of goods.

Alabama Pharmacist Shares PBM Problems with U.S. Senator

Norman Davis of Phenix City, Alabama’s Medical Park Pharmacy recently gave U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) a piece of his mind about a problem not unique to the Yellowhammer State: frustrating and unreasonable pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) audits. 

How Will the 340B Program’s Growth Affect Community Pharmacies?

By Kevin Schweers

Since its creation in 1992, the 340B discount prescription drug program has continued to expand and provisions in the new health care reform law, as well as a “tax extenders” bill pending in Congress, will grow the 340B program’s reach further still. What does it mean for independent community pharmacies?

Wall Street Reform Bill Should Lower Community Pharmacies’ Credit, Debit Card Fees

By Kevin Schweers

Community pharmacies could see some immediate relief from the so-called interchange or swipe fees that must be paid on credit or debit card transactions, with the Senate’s passage of a Wall Street reform bill.

The legislation, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 or H.R. 4173, includes an amendment by U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) that was approved on a bipartisan vote and was supported by NCPA. President Obama is expected to sign the measure into law next week.

Prescription Drug Disposal Program Gains New Fans Through PARADE Magazine

By Kevin Schweers

PARADE Magazine’s July 4 article featuring NCPA’s prescription drug disposal program has sparked a new wave of interest among patients and pharmacists in the Dispose My Meds initiative.

Prescription Drug Disposal Programs Back in Congressional Spotlight

By Kevin Schweers

While prescription drug disposal programs are growing and are popular with the public, government policies concerning the handling of these products are still a significant barrier to more successful disposal efforts, a dilemma examined by a Senate committee hearing this week.

In convening the hearing, U.S. Senate Aging Committee Chairman Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) lamented the contradicting federal disposal guidelines for consumers from federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency. And he urged the DEA to update its rules to allow easier disposal of controlled substances, such as OxyContin or Vicodin, through takeback programs.

Prescription Labeling Changes Coming to California Community Pharmacies

By Kevin Schweers

The California Board of Pharmacy’s plan to make prescription drug labels easier for patients to read via a process that’s workable for pharmacies can move forward with the defeat this week of a proposal in the California legislature to upend that agreement and impose expensive mandates on community pharmacies, such as translation services.