Independents’ optimism ‘off the charts’ coming out of NCPA annual meeting

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Following a week of meetings in the Washington, D.C. area, more than 3,000 independent pharmacists are about to head home to implement the learnings and shared best-practices they acquired from the National Community Pharmacists Association's 2015 Annual Convention here. 

 

"Optimism is off the charts high," commented Doug Hoey, CEO NCPA during a press conference with journalists Tuesday morning. "These are business owners who are resilient; they are entrepreneurial. Yes, the wish the environment was not so difficult, but they are doing everything they can to adjust."

 

There are many opportunities that independent pharmacists can realize, Hoey added. "For example, 5% of patients account for almost half of all the healthcare costs in the country," he said. "Our community pharmacies are well positioned to help manage and coordinate care for these patients that need more care." 

 

And independents are willing and able to identify and help mange the costs for those patients. According to NCPA, as many as 75% of independent pharmacists are currently offering medication synchronization and adherence services to their patients. 

 

Independents are also very much community focused — two out of every three independent pharmacists are involved with local organizations, like Boy Scouts or the local Parent Teacher Association. 

 

NCPA announced a number of legislative and marketplace focal points on making independent pharmacy a profitable business model. "Our members overwhelmingly share with us their frustrations about conditions in the marketplace that are making in increasingly difficult for them to compete," commented Brad Arthur, president-elect NCPA. "The economics of independent community pharmacy are under assault," he said, and NCPA as an organization is working tirelessly on both legislative and marketplace fixes to promote the success and profitability of independents. 

 

As the health consumer gravitates to more wellness-oriented producsts, there is an opportunity to continue to shift the independent's business from 92% prescriptions and more toward the sale of front-end products. "We're helping our folks see the value in that, helping them properly market and identify these products so they can be a solution in their marketplace for driving wellness," Arthur said. 

 

There are three "here and now" legislative initiatives around which NCPA is actively advocating, including first to create generic drug pricing transparency and timely updates, second, to create a level playing field with regard to narrow and restricted pharmacy networks and third to advocate provider status for pharmacists.