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REBATES:
Rebates
have been mailed today and we are, once again, happy to report
that this batch of rebates amounted to over $507,000 resulting
in a total of rebates disbursed in 2005 to over $1,800,000. While
this is a considerable amount of money, you should be aware that
these figures DO NOT include rebates received directly from some
of our vendors such as AmerisourceBergen that still sends the
bulk of their rebates as a credit slip each quarter directly
to our stores. This is just their preferred procedure and how
they work will all buying groups throughout the country. It also
does not include the difference in preferred pricing that our
stores receive as Keystone Members. If you are reading this and
are still not a member of Keystone, YOU ARE LOSING $$$$, ESPECIALLY
IF YOU ARE PURCHASING FROM ONE OF OUR APPROVED WHOLESALERS. The
next batch of rebates will be disbursed in December.
LEGISLATION AND POLITICS:
Our parent company, the PARD, as well as PPA and NCPA are working
on your behalf everyday to either fight against legislation detrimental
to your practice or fight for legislation that would benefit
your practice. In either case, your organizations cannot do it
alone; you must get involved politically in your region because
when they meet with legislators, they are very often told that
"they do not hear anything from the pharmacy grass roots";
that being you as a store owner. Please, get involved.
MEDICARE MODERNIZATION ACT
It is still coming and hope you are ready. We may all agree
that this ACT benefits the PBM's and manufacturer's, but the
fact remains that you will have to deal with it beginning January
1st, 2006. In a few weeks CMS will announce which Pharmacy Drug
Plans (PDP's) will be approved and marketing will begin October
15th. All PDP's are mandated to offer Freedom of Choice, meaning
you cannot be excluded BUT, some of these PDP's are offering
reimbursements well below the normal Market Place pricing. Again,
we suggest that you be part of a Managed Care Program such as
AmerisourceBergen's PPN, Cardinals Leadernet, United or EPIC.
They have the personnel and expertise to read & understand
these plans. They send their members ALL the information they
need and have Help Desks that can immediately answer your questions.
CMS & the Social Security Administration say that everything
will run smoothly January 1st DON'T BET ON IT.
COMPLIANCE
IS THE KEY
IN KEYSTONE
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