Associations News

While pharmacies have not been immune to the downturn in the U.S. economy, the overall picture does not appear to be one of gloom and doom. For an update on aspects of the big picture for pharmacy, read on.

More than 80 community pharmacists from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and several patients met with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) May 13 to discuss concerns about the impact of the March 2007 CVS/Caremark merger and to urge the FTC to re-examine it.

The major message of the 2009 National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Conference on National Legislation & Government Affairs was "get into politics, or get out of pharmacy."

The stimulus package passed in February has catapulted the field of comparative effectiveness research into a defining moment.

Pharmacy schools and practicing pharmacists around the United States recently said they noticed an imbalance in racial diversity in the field. The disparity has become so apparent that it is driving several organizations to do something about it.

WellPoint's plan to sell its NextRx pharmacy benefits management unit to St. Louis-based Express Scripts is drawing criticism from independent pharmacists.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is endorsing a congressional effort to crack down on the bulk sale of a cough syrup ingredient sometimes abused as a recreational drug.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation and LearnSomething, Inc., a nationally recognized provider of pharmacy, grocery, and healthcare training programs, recently introduced a patient-centric safety training course.

For some pharmacists, the road from clinical practice to management is unexpected - and inevitable.

Widespread confusion about the new label format for prescription drugs has sent FDA officials to association meetings around the country, explanations in hand.

Now that pharmacists are empowered to vaccinate and immunize in every state but Maine, each state must work out regulatory requirements and protocols.

Drug chains and vendors need to do a better job of collaborating and sharing information, particularly in this tough economy, according to a panel of retail executives and manufacturers at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores conference in Orlando.

Leaders in food and drug retailing are learning how to market to customers in the new economy, said the keynote speaker at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores conference in Orlando on Monday.

A bipartisan bill that would allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve affordable copies of biotech drugs has been introduced in Congress.

In an effort to permit community pharmacies to negotiate better contracts, Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) recently introduced legislation designed to level the playing field between community pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Drugstore.com continues to experience growth, particularly in sales of OTC products, and is expanding internationally, a company executive told attendees at the Jeffries 5th Annual Internet & Media Conference in New York this week.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) applauded a decision by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to postpone a February hearing about Medicaid Average Manufacturer Price (AMP).

Henry Waxman this week told attendees of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association Annual in Florida that he would work to pass legislation that would allow generic versions of biogenerics and biosimilar pharmaceuticals.

Twelve pharmacy groups have formed a coalition to promote common pharmacy principles for health care reform.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) knows it would have more fighting power if it had an army of independent pharmacists and their customers behind it.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) recently announced that John Coster, PhD, RPh, has joined the association as its new Senior Vice President of Government Affairs.

Pharmacists marched in a holiday parade in Oakland, California, to raise funds for a children's hospital and the local chamber of commerce.

The annual summit of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists called for ways to reduce drug errors. The need for universal IV concentrations is primary. "Safety will improve dramatically if we all work with the same tools." (Peter Angood, Joint Commission)

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists recently filed comments regarding implementation of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act Section 172

The executive vice president and CEO of a major pharmacy association plans to retire in June 2011. Read on to find out more.

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) recently named its new executive vice president and CEO. The decision was made on the heels of the announcement earlier in 2008 that its current CEO is stepping down. Read on to find out what direction APhA will head.

Pharmacy Alliance launches in Galveston, Texas, to promote better working conditions for pharmacists.

Medication management and safety errors were prominent topics at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists summer meeting in June.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists hosted summit to discuss drug errors and standardizing product concentrations.

Teva plans to acquire Barr for $7.6 billion; Roche plans to take over Genentech at $89 a share