Distributor News

One thing independent community pharmacists know well is just how big an impact government regulations — from federal and state legislative level to regulatory agencies — have on their businesses. At Good Neighbor Pharmacy’s ThoughtSpot 2016, attendees were able to see the ways AmerisourceBergen advocates for their needs in Washington, D.C., and in state capitols across the country — and they were given a new tool to make advocating on their own behalf a more straightforward process, at a time when being involved is more critical than ever.

Brian Nightengale, the new President of Good Neighbor Pharmacy, emphasized AmerisourceBergen’s commitment to independent pharmacy and delivering value to its customers at his first ThoughtSpot tradeshow this year.

When he took the stage at Good Neighbor Pharmacy’s ThoughtSpot 2016 General Session, AmerisourceBergen Chairman, President and CEO Steve Collis shared with attendees that though pharmacy is going through a period of change and consolidation, and that independent community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to capitalize on these changes. Their main asset, he said, is the ability to set themselves apart through their patient-centered approach and relationship-driven care.

It is by now a well-established fact that the healthcare landscape is currently undergoing a massive shift from a fee-for-service to a value-based payment model, and that will create new opportunities for community pharmacy to play an expanded role in healthcare delivery, helping to drive improved health outcomes and opening up new revenue streams. The challenge for the independent owner is how to implement the host of new clinical services that will be required to participate in this expanded pharmacy care model — and where to begin.

Last month McKesson and Health Mart announced a broad expansion of its Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) as part of the many new clinical-performance initiatives introduced at 2016 McKesson ideaShare. The program, which was first introduced last fall in two states, now covers 37 of the 40 states that require a CPA to prescribe and administer eligible immunizations to patients.

Many accomplishments were highlighted and goals were set at this year's McKesson ideaShare 2016. From 50% growth over the last three years to 4,700 Health Mart stores to being recognized for superior customer service, McKesson and Health Mart executives praised owners and operators.

Pharmacy advocacy makes a difference.

And while independent pharmacy owners also got perspective on key legislation that could have a profound and lasting impact both on their businesses and the profession of pharmacy, that message was perhaps the most important takeaway from the McKesson ideaShare Public Policy Forum last month in Chicago — advocacy matters.