The National Community Pharmacists
Association (NCPA) is fighting against the
commoditization of pharmacy, the marginalization
of pharmacists as front-line health
care providers, and the concentration of
power over the pharmacy benefit in the
hands of third-party intermediaries. Therefore,
NCPA is directing its resources to focus
on fundamental priorities that will protect
the long-term interests of pharmacists and
begin to redefine the pharmacy profession.
The priorities include the following:
- Enlisting and leveraging the grass-roots
power of >24,000 independent pharmacists
- Demonstrating the value of pharmacists
in the health care delivery system
- Enacting HR-1671, the pharmacy
negotiation bill, to create a level playing
field for pharmacists by allowing
them to negotiate with pharmacy
benefit managers
- Working with state governments to
recognize the value of pharmacists and
guarantee fair compensation for their
professional services so that patients
continue to have access to medication
and to community pharmacists
- Lobbying for legislative amendments to
the Medicare Part D prescription drug
program
- Encouraging broad adoption by community
pharmacies of electronic prescribing
technology