Associations News

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Cardinal Health are encouraging female pharmacy students to consider community pharmacy ownership.

The merger of 2 of the biggest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, has been top of mind with industry stakeholders who are wondering how the PBM space will shake out moving forward.

Over the past 3 decades, pharmacists have become integrated members of multidisciplinary teams. To recognize the value of the role of pharmacists in improving patient outcomes and safety in cardiac care, the American Heart Association (AHA) will offer pharmacists a session devoted specifically to them at this year?s AHA Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla.

After the North Dakota legislature defeated a bill to overturn the state?s Pharmacy Ownership Law this year, a group is working to get the issue on the 2012 general election ballot.

Potential Medicare budget cuts made through a new board are likely to significantly reduce healthcare access for beneficiaries, according to testimony presented to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee.

Thefts of pharmaceuticals in transit to retail pharmacies have been on the rise over the past few years.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, recently named an executive director and is seeking public input on healthcare research priorities.

Pharmacy benefit managers argue that mail-order pharmacies are less expensive for healthcare plans and patients. Not so, says the National Community Pharmacists Association.

While the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is in favor of the Medicaid Access Rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it has several concerns about the proposal.

Passing the MTM Empowerment Act and expanding Medicare Part D coverage should be Congress?s focus this session, says the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is urging FDA to streamline patient medication information.

The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) is preparing to launch its CPNP Foundation, which will promote state-of-the-art and essential treatment for people affected by psychiatric and neurologic illness.

The days of too many jobs chasing too few pharmacists are history. Today the situation is reversed. Is the situation grim for new pharmacists seeking to enter the market? Not necessarily, says one expert.

ASHP has named Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, FASHP, as its next CEO. He will succeed Henri R. Manasee Jr., PhD, ScD, who is retiring in December.

As pharmacists responsibilities expand, so may some of their liabilities. A number of those liabilities may be related to controlled substances.

Only 5 years ago, all they heard was "pharmacist shortage, great jobs, great benefits, great pay." Now the opportunities pharmacy students dreamed about when they began school in 2007 are no longer available.

A new continuing education reporting system sponsored by NABP and ACPE should be in use by the end of the year. In order to receive credit for CPE activities, applicants will provide their NABP e-Profile ID and date of birth. IDs may be obtained at the NABP website.

If the Affordable Care Act makes pharmacists primary care providers, the profession gains a host of advantages, including Medicare provider status. For AACP, the goal is eligibility for student loan forgiveness under the NHSC.

Reimbursement and medication adherence issues will be front and center at the PQA/URAC Medication Adherence Summit in Washington, D.C., June 2 and 3.

Soon after taking the reins at NCPA, Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, spoke with Drug Topics' Contributing Editor Christine Blank about his short-term and long-term objectives for NCPA.

Jenelle Sobotka, PharmD, FAPhA, 2011-2012 president-elect of the American Pharmacists Association, started out at the U.S. Veterans Administration, where she helped improve patient health through medication management.

In March the National Association of Chain Drug Stores relaunched its advertising campaign to promote new MTM legislation and pharmacists ' role in medication therapy management.

Many third-party payers have either switched to or are considering moving to a mail-order requirement for long-term prescriptions that would prevent patients from choosing to purchase medications through retail pharmacies. Pharmacists and patients are pushing back.

Kathleen Jaeger has resigned as executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) because she disagreed with NCPA executives about the organization's direction.

The California Pharmacists Association has launched what may be the nation's first employee pharmacist ombudsman program sponsored by a state association.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and 3 other healthcare industry groups are working to transform regulations to ease U.S. drug shortages.

Until recently, none of our education systems has been preparing healthcare professionals for teamwork. That is beginning to change. While more remains to be done, we must look to a future characterized by high-functioning interprofessional teams in all practice settings.

Chief executives from key pharmacy organizations met in mid-2010 to reinforce the joint message that the fight to move pharmacy into a central healthcare role has just begun.

NCPA is holding the first of 3 pharmacy ownership workshops for 2011 in Atlanta, February 4 to February 6.

NACDS Mobile is the association?s new mobile website that serves as a ?guide on the go? specifically designed for ease of use on any smart phone with a web browser.