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December 14, 2011
NCPA announces pair of events to enhance independent pharmacy operations

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday announced a pair of events coming up in 2012.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday announced a pair of events coming up in 2012.

Registration is currently open for the 2012 National Community Pharmacists Association’s ownership events. In 2012, the Pharmacy Ownership Workshops are sponsored by McKesson and in part by Pharmacists Mutual. The Pharmacy Ownership Workshops will be held Feb. 24 to 26 in Dallas; May 18 to 20 in San Francisco; and Aug. 24 to 26 in Arlington, Va.

December 8, 2011
NACDS supports anticounterfeiting legislation

New legislation proposed in the Senate would strengthen penalties against people who traffic in counterfeit medications.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — New legislation proposed in the Senate would strengthen penalties against people who traffic in counterfeit medications.

Introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., S. 1886, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act of 2011, would harshen laws against producing, buying or selling counterfeit drugs. The bill has received support from the chain retail pharmacy lobby.

November 30, 2011
NACDS Foundation Dinner generates more than $1.77M

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation raised more than $1.77 million for scholarships, research and charitable activities from 114 benefactors at the 13th Annual Dinner held Tuesday night in New York City.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation raised more than $1.77 million for scholarships, research and charitable activities from 114 benefactors at the 13th Annual Dinner held Tuesday night in New York City.

Funds generated by the dinner support improving patients’ health and quality of life by fostering understanding of prescription medicines, promoting medication adherence, enhancing patient care services at neighborhood pharmacies and educating future healthcare professionals.

November 21, 2011
NACDS names Kathleen Jaeger SVP pharmacy care, patient advocacy

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has appointed pharmacist and trade association veteran Kathleen Jaeger to fill the newly enhanced position of SVP pharmacy care and patient advocacy. She also will serve in a separate role as president of the NACDS Foundation.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has appointed pharmacist and trade association veteran Kathleen Jaeger to fill the newly enhanced position of SVP pharmacy care and patient advocacy. She also will serve in a separate role as president of the NACDS Foundation.

Jaeger will assume her new positions on Nov. 28, and will report to NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson.

November 21, 2011
NCPA expresses concerns over restricted-network plans

Many so-called restricted-network Medicare Part D prescription drug plans don't give adequate pharmacy access to rural residents and are deceptively marketed to patients, the National Community Pharmacists Association said Monday.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Many so-called restricted-network Medicare Part D prescription drug plans don't give adequate pharmacy access to rural residents and are deceptively marketed to patients, the National Community Pharmacists Association said Monday.

The plans include those offered by a number of national retail chains and health insurers.

November 18, 2011
NACDS, NCPA urge rejection of administration's Tricare plan in favor of more 'balanced' alternatives

NACDS and NCPA announced that they have sent joint letters to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, encouraging the rejection of an Obama administration proposal that would “saddle Tricare beneficiaries with higher prices and penalize their utilization of community pharmacists.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and National Community Pharmacists Association announced that they have sent joint letters to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, encouraging the rejection of an Obama administration proposal that would “saddle Tricare beneficiaries with higher prices and penalize their utilization of community pharmacists.”

November 17, 2011
NACDS RxImpact Day pushed back due to congressional schedule

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced that the dates of the 2012 NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., have been changed because of an alteration in the 2012 congressional calendar.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced that the dates of the 2012 NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., have been changed because of an alteration in the 2012 congressional calendar. The new dates for the two-day pharmacy advocacy event will be March 21 and 22, 2012.

The event was previously scheduled for the prior week in March, which now falls during a congressional district work period in which members of Congress will be in their home states and districts.   


November 15, 2011
NACDS bolsters staff with new communications manager

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has hired healthcare policy reporter Ben Moscovitch to serve as communications manager.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has hired healthcare policy reporter Ben Moscovitch to serve as communications manager.

November 11, 2011
Legislation aimed at closing tax loophole receives NACDS endorsement

Legislation that would level the playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers, including pharmacies, by closing a loophole that puts them at a disadvantage with online retailers has received praise from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Legislation that would level the playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers, including pharmacies, by closing a loophole that puts them at a disadvantage with online retailers has received praise from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wy., is the sponsor of the Marketplace Fairness Act and serves as the ranking Republican member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

November 8, 2011
NCPA: Latest FUL list from CMS a 'disaster in the making'

In response to a new second set of limits on generic drug pharmacy reimbursement that recently were proposed by federal Medicaid officials, the National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday reiterated its concerns with what the group characterized as the "flawed methodology" being used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to determine the payment caps.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In response to a new second set of limits on generic drug pharmacy reimbursement that recently were proposed by federal Medicaid officials, the National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday reiterated its concerns with what the group characterized as the "flawed methodology" being used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to determine the payment caps.

NCPA requested a meeting with CMS officials on the matter.
 

November 7, 2011
NCPA to recognize medication adherence best practices with two new annual awards

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday announced the establishment of two awards that will be presented annually, beginning in 2012.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday announced the establishment of two awards that will be presented annually, beginning in 2012.

November 4, 2011
Bill to incentivize generic use in Medicaid introduced in Congress

A bill proposed in Congress would give states incentives for using generic drugs through the Medicaid program.

WASHINGTON — A bill proposed in Congress would give states incentives for using generic drugs through the Medicaid program.

November 2, 2011
NACDS joins retail groups in urging super committee to pass 'e-fairness' legislation

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has joined other retail industry groups and companies in signing a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, urging it to close a tax loophole to prevent harm to traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses — including pharmacies — and to assist states in collecting $23 billion in uncollected state sales taxes that currently are due on Internet and catalog sales.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has joined other retail industry groups and companies in signing a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, urging it to close a tax loophole to prevent harm to traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses — including pharmacies — and to assist states in collecting $23 billion in uncollected state sales taxes that currently are due on Internet and catalog sales.

November 1, 2011
NCPA: Independent pharmacy can benefit health insurance exchanges

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday touted the benefits community pharmacies can provide for health insurance exchanges once those exchange open in 2014 in a letter addressed to the Department of Health and Human Services.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday touted the benefits community pharmacies can provide for health insurance exchanges once those exchange open in 2014 in a letter addressed to the Department of Health and Human Services.

October 31, 2011
Medi-Cal reimbursement cuts of 10% opposed by pharmacy

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association jointly spoke out Friday against cuts to California's Medicaid program Medi-Cal, which will be retroactive to June 1.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association jointly spoke out Friday against cuts to California's Medicaid program Medi-Cal, which will be retroactive to June 1.

October 24, 2011
House members send letter to FTC criticizing Express Scripts-Medco merger

A number of members of Congress have raised questions about the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, prompting a lobbying group that represents independent pharmacies and opposes the merger to highlight the matter.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A number of members of Congress have raised questions about the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, prompting a lobbying group that represents independent pharmacies and opposes the merger to highlight the matter.

October 21, 2011
NACDS expresses concerns with new FUL list for pharmacy Medicaid reimbursement

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted on Friday comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the draft federal upper limit list published by CMS.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted on Friday comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the draft federal upper limit list published by CMS.

October 20, 2011
NACDS highlights value of community pharmacy in Los Angeles Times letter to the editor

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has engaged its Rapid Response Program, issuing a letter to the editor to the Los Angeles Times to highlight the importance of maintaining prescription medication access to prevent patient health complications and the increased need for costly forms of health care.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has engaged its Rapid Response Program, issuing a letter to the editor to the Los Angeles Times to highlight the importance of maintaining prescription medication access to prevent patient health complications and the increased need for costly forms of health care.

Through the Rapid Response Program, NACDS proactively addresses media reports and other communications in the public domain in a way that raises awareness of the value of community pharmacies as the face of neighborhood healthcare.

October 19, 2011
NACDS to Senate: Prevent move to 'personal importation' of prescription drugs

An amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would prohibit the FDA from preventing an individual not in the business of importing a prescription drug from importing prescription drugs from Canada, has sparked concern with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — An amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would prohibit the FDA from preventing an individual not in the business of importing a prescription drug from importing prescription drugs from Canada, has sparked concern with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

October 19, 2011
NCPA addresses CMS around AMP impact on community pharmacy

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday offered federal Medicaid officials a number of suggestions to address methodology that, if left in place, would result in what the NCPA couched as "potentially devastating cuts" in Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for a wide range of common, generic prescription drugs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday offered federal Medicaid officials a number of suggestions to address methodology that, if left in place, would result in what the NCPA couched as "potentially devastating cuts" in Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for a wide range of common, generic prescription drugs.

October 18, 2011
NACDS sends letter to super committee on patient health strategies related to diabetes care

In a letter to the congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores provided recommendations related to diabetes testing supplies for Medicare patients.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a letter to the congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores provided recommendations related to diabetes testing supplies for Medicare patients. NACDS said its recommendations would prevent the unintended consequences of hasty policy mistakes, and foster better and more cost-effective patient care.

October 17, 2011
NCPA ads feature community pharmacy proposals to trim federal deficit

With the congressional “super-committee” inching closer to making budget decisions to reduce the deficit, the National Community Pharmacists Association announced on Monday that it has developed two new advertisements reinforcing how local pharmacists can reduce federal healthcare costs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — With the congressional “super-committee” inching closer to making budget decisions to reduce the deficit, the National Community Pharmacists Association announced on Monday that it has developed two new advertisements reinforcing how local pharmacists can reduce federal healthcare costs.

October 11, 2011
NCPA: DMEPOS competitive bidding will drive indies out of diabetes business

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday released results from a survey of more than 800 independent community pharmacists about the negative consequences for their patients and their businesses if diabetes testing supplies under Medicare Part B are subjected to competitive bidding prices.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday released results from a survey of more than 800 independent community pharmacists about the negative consequences for their patients and their businesses if diabetes testing supplies under Medicare Part B are subjected to competitive bidding prices.

“The message from our survey is clear: applying competitive bidding prices for diabetes testing supplies to independent community pharmacies is financially unsustainable for these pharmacies,” stated NCPA EVP and CEO Douglas Hoey.

October 6, 2011
Study: Too much TV may be an indicator of poor blood-glucose control

Type 1 diabetics who watch the most television have poorer blood-sugar control on average, according to a study published online Sept. 16 by the American Diabetes Association's journal Diabetes Care.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Type 1 diabetics who watch the most television have poorer blood-sugar control on average, according to a study published online Sept. 16 by the American Diabetes Association's journal Diabetes Care.

In the cross-sectional study, self-report questionnaires were used to assess media consumption habits, physical activity and socioeconomic status in 296 children, adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes.

October 5, 2011
NACDS expresses position on two drug safety bills

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Wednesday voiced its strong opposition to a piece of legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, which would require a mandatory track-and-trace system — a move that could cost the typical pharmacy chain millions of dollars to implement across all stores.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As Congress considers measures to protect the nation's prescription drug distribution system, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Wednesday voiced its strong opposition to a piece of legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, which would require a mandatory track-and-trace system — a move that could cost the typical pharmacy chain millions of dollars to implement across all stores.