NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Independent community pharmacies are a critical prescription drug
access point for patients, particularly in underserved areas,
according to the 2016 NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal
Health, released at the National Community Pharmacists Association
(NCPA) Annual Convention. The NCPA Digest also documents how
independent community pharmacies promote medication adherence,
encourage use of lower-cost generic drugs and support local
community organizations.
"Independent community pharmacies continue to be a trusted
source for prescription medication and expert counseling, according
to the newest NCPA Digest," said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA. "In towns and cities
across America, independent community pharmacies treat patients
like family, adapt to further promote safe and effective medication
use and are active local philanthropists."
According to Steve Lawrence,
senior vice president of Retail Independent Sales at Cardinal
Health, nearly 70 percent of all community pharmacy owners donated
to at least five local organizations in 2015. Plus, in addition to
filling prescriptions, 81 percent of pharmacists offer medication
therapy management; 67 percent provide immunizations; 61 percent
furnish durable medical goods and 57 percent perform blood pressure
monitoring.
"As we continue to move toward value-based care, pharmacists
become an increasingly important extension of patients' wellness,"
said Lawrence. "And health care payers are looking to reduce the
cost of care, evaluate sites of care and measure health outcomes.
The relationship the pharmacist has with the patient and caregiver
becomes increasingly important."
"While independent community pharmacies remain a significant
part of the retail pharmacy marketplace, both decreasing
prescription volume and declining prescription drug reimbursement
are warning signs to pharmacy owners," Hoey added. "To weather
these and other trends, community pharmacy owners should consider
any and all options to diversify their revenue while continuing to
focus on evaluating the economics of third party reimbursements. To
help, NCPA has identified a range of options and featured them
online."
Highlights from the NCPA Digest covering the 2015
independent community pharmacy marketplace include:
- There are an estimated 22,160 independent community pharmacies,
including single-store pharmacies, family-run regional chain
pharmacies and individually owned and operated franchisees. In the
previous year there were 22,478.
- Eighty-two percent of independent community pharmacies serve
population areas of 50,000 or less.
- More than 250,000 individuals are employed on a full or
part-time basis by these pharmacies, bolstering state and local
economies and tax revenue.
- Prescription volume decreased from 61,568 prescriptions
annually to 60,493, likely due in part to 90-day refill
requirements, economically coerced use of PBM-owned mail order
pharmacies, or exclusionary pharmacy network arrangements.
- Generic drugs comprised 82 percent of all prescriptions
dispensed. Plus 95 percent of the time community pharmacists'
generic product recommendations are accepted by doctors. Such
pharmacist-physician consultations occurred on average 9.7 times
each day.
About NCPA
The National Community Pharmacists
Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community
pharmacists, including the owners of more than 22,000 independent
community pharmacies. Together they represent an $81.5 billion health care marketplace and employ
more than 250,000 individuals on a full or part-time basis. To
learn more, go to www.ncpanet.org, visit facebook.com/commpharmacy,
or follow NCPA on Twitter @Commpharmacy.
About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:
CAH), is a global integrated healthcare services and products
company, providing customized solutions for hospital systems,
pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and
physician offices worldwide. The company provides clinically proven
medical products and pharmaceuticals and cost-effective solutions
that enhance supply chain efficiency from hospital to home.
Cardinal Health connects patients, providers, payers, pharmacists
and manufacturers for integrated care coordination and better
patient management. Backed by nearly 100 years of experience, with
more than 37,000 employees in nearly 60 countries, Cardinal Health
ranks among the top 25 on the Fortune 500. For more
information, visit cardinalhealth.com, follow @CardinalHealth on
Twitter and connect on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/
company/cardinal-health.
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SOURCE National Community Pharmacists Association