NACDS Regional Chain Conference kicks off with political picture and retail pharmacy market opportunities

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Policy and political analysis and idea-sharing are in full swing at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference – which focuses on the needs of National Association of Chain Drug Stores chain-member companies that operate from four to 250 stores each, as well as their supplier partners. 

 

“This Conference makes a difference,” opened Eric Graf, NACDS Regional Chain Conference chairman and CEO of Ritzman Pharmacies. “This Conference is about sharing, collaboration and discussion on the issues and opportunities now and in the future. The value realized by this Conference is directly proportional to the amount of effort we put into each of our interactions this week.”

 

At the Opening General Session today, the national political scene took center stage with expert insights from political analyst Morton Kondracke, and with the launch of NACDS RxIMPACT Votes – the get-out-the-vote arm of NACDS’ highly successful grassroots program. “The timing of this Conference is ideal for political analysis: it is right between the Feb. 1 Iowa Caucuses and tomorrow’s New Hampshire primary,” noted Steven Anderson, NACDS president and CEO, introducing Kondracke to the stage. “In describing political analysts, the first instinct is usually to list the media brands with which they have been associated over time. In addition to these brands with which most have been associated, we could add NACDS to the list. He has joined us somewhat regularly: most recently at NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill in 2012 to discuss the presidential and congressional elections in that year.” 

 

Also of primary focus was the continuing evaluation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Covered Outpatient Drugs Final Rule – commonly referred to as the Medicaid Average Manufacturer Price rule.

 

NACDS chairman of the board Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee, recapped the decade-long focus of NACDS in advocating for pharmacy patient care on the Medicaid AMP issue. This issue and other federal and state topics received a comprehensive review, led by NACDS Policy Council Chairman Mike Duteau, VP business development and strategic relations for Kinney Drugs.

 

“There is going to be a lot of discussion about the new Medicaid AMP rule, and I want to make two points,” Edeker said. “First, I encourage you to dive into the presentations and discussions. Second, regarding NACDS’ track record on this issue, NACDS has demonstrated great leadership in advocating for pharmacy and for patients. It is a very tough issue and NACDS will have a very critical eye," he said. “Looking back, the success of NACDS and our allies in blocking the original approach to Medicaid AMP prevented the forced closure of 11,000 pharmacies – 20% of all stores.” 

 

Edeker urged engagement in the NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program, and announced the return for the 2016 elections of the NACDS RxIMPACT Votes get-out-the-vote initiative.

 

“This program is not telling you who to vote for, but it encourages the people of pharmacy to know the issues and to get out and vote,” he said. “This is a bipartisan program that will give you the materials you need to engage your teams about how to support the candidates of their choice.”

 

Following Kondracke on stage this morning was Larry Kocot, principal and national leader for the Center for Healthcare Regulatory Insight at KPMG, to discuss innovative care in the community pharmacy setting. And Doug Long, VP industry relations IMS Health, is slated to update conference attendees on pharmaceutical trends, issues and forecasts this afternoon. Eric Wright, director and senior investigator for the Geisinger Center Pharmacy Innovations and Outomes, and Weis Markets' VP pharmacy Rick Seipp will discuss opportunities for health systems and regional players to partner on the delivery of healthcare following Long. 

 

The Conference program continues through Tuesday evening, with a timely agenda of Insight Sessions that fuel discussion on specific issues, as well as General Sessions on topics of interest to all attendees. Pharmacy and front-end topics that are being explored at the Conference include healthcare innovation; consumer-driven and retail-based healthcare; Drug Enforcement Administration compliance; small-format equity; pharmaceutical trends; transitions of care; and employment law. 

 

In total, NACDS-member regional chains represented at the Conference are responsible for more than 2,300 stores and over $11 billion in annual sales.