John Coster joins NCPA, heads up new advocacy center

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday named longtime industry veteran John Coster as SVP government affairs and head of the association’s newly created NCPA Advocacy Center.

The NCPA Advocacy Center will unite the association’s government affairs, grassroots, pharmacy benefit manager transparency, professional affairs and public affairs programs to enhance NCPA advocacy efforts and ensure that they have the maximum impact possible.

“We’re excited about the synergy NCPA’s Advocacy Center will provide on behalf of community pharmacists and their patients,” stated NCPA president Robert Greenwood. “Community pharmacists are well-positioned to play an even greater role in America’s healthcare system through expert medication counseling, improving patient medication adherence and other cost-saving services. I look forward to seeing this team successfully take that case to policymakers, private and public sector health plans, pharmacy stakeholders and patients.”

“As a pharmacist, Capitol Hill veteran and proven advocate for pharmacies and patients, John Coster is ideally suited to lead both this effort and NCPA’s government affairs department,” NCPA EVP and CEO Douglas Hoey said. “From implementation of the healthcare law to state budget shortfalls, there is no shortage of challenges facing community pharmacy. But NCPA members and partners can rest assured that the interests of neighborhood pharmacists and their patients are well-represented by John and the entire Advocacy Center team.”

Coster most recently was in charge of government affairs for the Generic Pharmaceutical Association and previously served as NCPA’s SVP government affairs during enactment of the landmark 2010 Affordable Care Act. Coster also has served as Rite Aid’s VP federal affairs and public policy and was VP policy and programs for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. He has worked for former Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark., on the staff of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.

Coster received his bachelor of science in pharmacy from St. John’s University in New York and has a Masters and Ph.D. in policy sciences with a concentration in health from the University of Maryland Graduate School. He has worked in a community pharmacy and is a licensed pharmacist in New York, Maryland and Virginia.