Pharmacy-Based Solutions to National Uncertainties Emerge As Key Theme At NACDS Regional Chain Conference

PRESS RELEASE

Palm Beach, Fla. — At the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Regional Chain Conference today, the Association’s leadership made the case for pharmacy’s pivotal role in the national dialogue about healthcare, and for NACDS’ essential value in advancing a pro-pharmacy and pro-patient agenda.

"Healthcare sectors don’t understand each others’ situations. That’s a prerequisite for collaboration and for development of an end-to-end solution, and to educate legislators and regulators. NACDS is helping to identify these end-to-end solutions, benefiting total healthcare, patients and pharmacy."

The NACDS Regional Chain Conference brings together traditional drug and grocery chains with between four and 250 locations, and their supplier partners who help to meet consumers’ needs in health and wellness and throughout the store.

The following are representative quotes from the this morning’s Opening General Session:

Kristin Williams, senior vice president, chief health officer, Hy-Vee, Inc., NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair:

“This meeting and the topics addressed in the coming days could not be timelier with the current uncertainties in the healthcare industry. Regional chains are well equipped to face these challenges and develop innovative solutions for retail community pharmacy. We deliver personalized care, we adapt to emerging community needs and pilot new products and services in partnership with the suppliers gathered here today.”

Martin Otto, chief merchant and chief financial officer, H-E-B, NACDS chairman of the Board:

“We need to participate by leading public policy solutions for healthcare. We need long-term, end-to-end thinking about healthcare, its connection to other spending needs, and how individual actions affect the overall situation ... Healthcare sectors don’t understand each others’ situations. That’s a prerequisite for collaboration and for development of an end-to-end solution, and to educate legislators and regulators. NACDS is helping to identify these end-to-end solutions, benefiting total healthcare, patients and pharmacy.

Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, NACDS president and CEO:

“Companies and associations are going to have to totally change how they address issues in health policy, and in the political world that elects the leaders that establish the policy in which we are involved. I think associations are going to need to be fleet of foot, flexibile, smart, shrewd, astute, respected and very politically savvy. It is absolutely essential that associations think more like start-ups, and position themselves more like think tanks as they come up with innovative solutions.”

NACDS’ leadership urged attendees to engage in NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, which will be held in Washington, D.C. March 14-15. At the 2016 event, pharmacy advocates met with 90 percent of the U.S. Congress. The event is one component of the comprehensive and far-reaching NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program, which also includes Congressional pharmacy tours; training programs for companies and for colleges and schools of pharmacy; get-out-the-vote programming; and other initiatives.

The NACDS Regional Chain Conference began yesterday and continues through Tuesday evening. A carefully planned lineup of informative sessions throughout the Conference will focus on political and policy dynamics; pharmacy patient care and pharmacy reimbursement given the potential changes to the Affordable Care Act; regulatory reform; direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees; the pharmaceutical market; new pharmacy services like personalized medicine; provider status for pharmacists in Medicare; third-party negotiations and audits; naloxone developments; retail dynamics; human resources law; and value-based models and their relationship to immunizations. Also, One-to-One Business Conferences bring together NACDS Chain and Associate members for company-specific discussions.