National Community Pharmacists Association
Between the Express Scripts-Medco merger, pharmacy crime, mail order in Tricare, and potential track and trace requirements in PDUFA, the 2012 NCPA Legislative Conference couldn’t be happening at a more relevant time, NCPA President Lonny Wilson, PD noted during the May 7th opening session.
Continue reading ‘NCPA Legislative Conference: Pharmacists Talk Medicare, Medicaid, Jobs’
By John Coster, RPh, PhD
President Obama’s event this week highlighted and escalated what have been bipartisan efforts to combat the proliferation of prescription drug shortages. Such efforts are welcome because, while to date these shortages primarily affect hospital pharmacies, they have also negatively impacted community pharmacists and their patients. Continue reading ‘Prescription Drug Shortages are Affecting Community Pharmacists and their Patients, Too’
A number of recent news articles sum up both the challenges many independent pharmacists face to care for patients as well as the need for reforms to put patients first, as two bills in Congress would do.
Editor’s Note: NCPA invited our friends at the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association to summarize their recent, successful 2011 Pharmacy Legislative Day. What follows is their account, which serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of grassroots activity by community pharmacists. Take advantage of these opportunities, including the upcoming NCPA Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.
Continue reading ‘Pennsylvania Pharmacists Fight to Protect Access to Community Pharmacy Services’
By John Norton
One of the pillars of NCPA’s advocacy efforts is educating the U.S Congress. We want to dispel the antiquated notion that all independent community pharmacists do is count and dispense pills.
The 2011 legislative session has officially begun in most state capitals in recent weeks and there’s already plenty of activity that could affect independent pharmacists and their patients – reinforcing the need for grassroots involvement.
While nothing involving Congress is ever a certainty, efforts to repeal the so-called 1099 provision increasing the tax filing burden on pharmacies and other small businesses appear to be gaining bipartisan support.
The start of the 112th Congress this month brought about 100 new lawmakers to the U.S. Senate and House. Many of them may have longstanding relationships with independent pharmacists from back home. Others may not be so familiar with us and how we can help achieve better health outcomes at lower costs.
Continue reading ‘New 112th Congress: Meet America’s Independent Community Pharmacies’
The 2010 election changed the political landscape as Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives and in state governments, while Democrats face a narrower majority in the Senate. But what does it mean to community pharmacists trying to provide their patients with accessible, high-quality and cost-effective care?
Continue reading ‘What Election 2010 Means For Community Pharmacists and Their Patients’
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.
Continue reading ‘Prescription Labeling Changes Coming to California Community Pharmacies’
