The Federal Trade Commission announced that it will ramp up enforcement against any illegal bribes and rebate schemes that block patients’ access to competing lower-cost drugs. The enforcement policy statement issued today puts drug companies and prescription drug middlemen on notice that…

Millions of Americans are forced to ration or go without prescription drugs because of their high cost. Yet Congress has so far failed to pass legislation to lower drug prices. Read more here.

Registration goes live June 14th.  Pharmacists will receive $100 off registration with promo code BUY100. ← Click on the picture to go to the registration page at NCPA.

With the recent Rochester Drug decision, and multi-million dollar fines being levied on wholesalers for sending CS to pharmacies that use a disproportionate amount of CS, this will only get worse.  Wholesalers would rather cut off a questionable pharmacy than…

How do patients get a free over-the-counter COVID-19 test? See the answer along with more FAQs provided by NCPA at the link below: ncpa-faqs-covid19-test

Open Enrollment: October 15th – December 7th Understanding Medicare Part D can be a challenge for customers and pharmacists. Keeping up to date with these changes will keep your stress to a minimum.  As 2022 is offering new plans to…

Click on the link from NCPA on Medicare plan D for 2022. https://ncpa.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/part-d-2022-fact-sheet.pdf

Registration is now open! Click here to register: https://ncpa.org/annual-convention

Let’s face it, you’ve worked so hard to get the COVID-19 testing and vaccinating supplies into your pharmacy, and your community is incredibly thankful. Now, with summer upon us and traveling tourists needing testing done, the recent adolescent approval for…

Historically, pharmacies have been slow to get on board with technological advances, but this is changing rapidly. The healthcare industry is in the process of being redefined by some heavy-hitting disruptions. These include increased competition, value-based care, digital health, and…

When it comes to your pharmacy one of the most significant opportunities to increase sales comes from your front-end. Ask yourself, is your pharmacy’s front-end in tip-top shape? Sure, you’ve straightened out and pulled items forward to make a nice,…

As an independent pharmacy owner, it is essential to meet with your lawmakers and invite them to visit your pharmacy to discuss issues affecting your practice and patients. Lawmakers are elected by you as their constituents. They must hear from…

It is no secret that successful, independent pharmacies do not just happen – they are the product of dedication, hard work, exceptional customer service, and innovative thinking. But even with all these qualities, sometimes it is hard to narrow down…

Pharmacy burglaries and robberies are on the rise. According to the DEA, in 2018, the United States saw over 676 retail burglaries and 107 armed retail robberies, with California, Maryland, and Texas being the top states with the most incidents.1…

Indy Health Insurance Company entered into a voluntary rehabilitation receivership with the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner. Additionally, CMS and Indy Health Insurance Company are working toward terminating their 2021 Medicare Part D contract. The rehabilitation process can be a very lengthy…

Growing your community pharmacy can be tricky work. Faced with a global pandemic, fierce competition, loads of red tape, and declining profit margins, many community pharmacies are taking on those shrinking profits with an end goal of growing their business…

Heart disease remains the leading killer of women in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s newly released 2021 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics. Every year it kills one woman approximately every 80 seconds, taking more lives than all…

Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Vaccine Providers’ Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines Effective today, the Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Health issued a new Order to increase the administration of vaccine dosages received; ensure ease…

Every time you get a prescription drug, you’re dealing with a middleman you’ve probably never heard of — one who has had a hand in how much your drug costs. The same middleman decides which drugs are covered by your…

Consumers, employers, and public health officials should consider the potential risks before they allow health insurance companies to steer patients into mail order. See graphic by NCPA here for stats: Mail Order Details

When fully optimized, our immune system helps prevent infections and destroys viruses without us ever giving this process a second thought. We usually only consider our immune system only after we have come down with something. Keeping our immune system…

2021 is upon us, and our member pharmacies are continually looking for ways to improve their standings, profits, and pharmacy’s ability to thrive and grow. Our members can increase their chances for success by placing a good portion of time…

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Oct. 20, 2020) — The National Community Pharmacists Association today launched a new campaign, “The Truth,” aimed at countering a big-money propaganda effort by the pharmacy benefit manager lobby to obscure their role in the high cost of drugs and the…

To expand access to COVID-19 services, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has authorized state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 vaccinations, once they are made available, to patients aged three years and older.1 The HHS and CDC…

Diabetes affects over 34 million people and is the seventh leading cause of deaths here in the United States. In fact, in the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American…

Healthcare in the United States is evolving. Factors such as politics and policy to generational differences affect how healthcare is approached. As more millennials enter the healthcare market, it’s becoming clear that their wellness approach is much different than those…

Independent pharmacies consistently ask themselves what they need to make their organization more professional, engaging, and, in return, more profitable. Many pharmacies stick to the same worn-out approaches and concepts, resulting in decreased revenue and increased challenges for remaining competitive…

From October 15th to December 7th, customers aged 65 and older will be reviewing their medical coverage and health care needs, including Medicare Part D plans. The detailed information needed for 2021 (premiums, copays, formulary tiers, gap coverage, etc.) will…

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA) Science and Research Program has awarded a grant to the Universities of Maryland and Michigan to establish the Center for Research on Complex…

Drug overdoses remain a public health threat in Philadelphia, where 1,150 people died from unintentional overdoses in 2019. More than three- quarters of these deaths involved fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is now commonly found in heroin, cocaine and…

Nutrition and vitamin supplement sales are a big pill to swallow – and a profitable one, say health care market researchers. According to Hamacher Resource Group, supplement market value in the retail sector reached almost $7 billion in the U.S.…

  2021 Medicare Part D Annual Enrollment Benefit Training 9/21/2020 to 9/24/2020 Indy Health is excited to announce our webinars to review the Indy Health SaverRx and Indy Health EliteRx Plan information the week of September 21, 2020. The webinar…

When was the last time you spruced up your pharmacy? I’m sure your answer may come as a surprise. Updates do not have to break the bank. Fortunately, there are quite a few updates you can apply to your pharmacy…

A pharmacist’s relationship with their customers plays a defining role in how their pharmacy is perceived as a valuable resource. Independent pharmacists want their patients to feel comfortable and their pharmacy to be accessed by the community it serves. It…

Chances are you may find that your pharmacy doesn’t appear for relevant searches in your area. If you can’t find your pharmacy, then it’s time to improve your info. Providing and updating information can help your pharmacy’s local ranking on…

As the world anxiously awaits a vaccine for COVID-19, Operation Warp Speed has identified several possible candidates, all of which are in phases of testing for safety, dosing and response. Now, volunteers are needed for the clinical trials. Pharmacies can…

When putting a marketing plan together, independent pharmacy owners often forget about an important segment to reach out to – your local prescribers. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including not knowing what to say, feeling like…

Today, during the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine is evolving, and providers are regularly using telehealth to visit with patients. We are seeing many private insurers adopting rules to provide guidelines around how services are distributed and paid for. Most health insurance…

With over 560 million professionals around the globe using LinkedIn today, it is an industry standard for business-based, peer-to-peer social media platforms. It’s become a no-nonsense way for professionals to network themselves, build their brands and credibility, and cultivate thought…

Posted by Marvin C. Knapper Jr. on Sunday, June 7, 2020

Due to the unfortunate events that have occurred over the last 24 hours in the city of Philadelphia, we have put together a list of documents and information for those stores that have suffered losses through the rioting and looting.…

With stay-at-home orders starting to lift, restrictions on businesses and public places easing, and states implementing re-opening phases, many pharmacies are left wondering just how their business can resume “normalcy” and open their doors back up to their patients and…

From every angle, the edifice of Richard Ost’s Philadelphia Pharmacy at the corner of North Front Street and East Lehigh in West Kensington is a sight to behold, one of the jewels of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts program. Artist Cesar Viveros painted bright…

Posted on May 10, 2020 By Jack Tomczuk Philadelphia Pharmacy in Kensington is helping man a hotline for people having trouble with their medications. Mural by Cesar Viveros. PHOTO: Steve Weinik for Mural Arts Earlier this month, a woman called…

Independent Pharmacy Press Release Since 1898, The PARD, an Association of Community Pharmacies (previously named the Philadelphia Association of Retail Pharmacies) has been serving our patients and been an important part of the community they serve. Their goals in the…

In these times of COVID-19, our Independent Pharmacies are on the front lines serving their patients like they have for over 100 years.  Where they use to deliver 10% of the prescriptions they dispensed, they are now delivering (FREE OF…

If your pharmacy is not efficiently managing your expired pharmaceutical returns, you could be leaving money on the shelf. In an independent community pharmacy where every dollar is important, the value of expired products can be significant. Pharmaceutical returns companies…