In This Issue:

MPA CEO Perspective

MPA News

• Register for ACE 2024
• Join the MPA Referral Program Today and Earn Rewards!
• MPF Adopt-a-Student Program
• It's Time to Renew Your Membership

CE Events

• Upcoming MPA CE Offerings
• Try MPA's Home Studies

Professional Practice

• FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Counterfeit Ozempic Found in U.S. Supply Chain
• COVID-19 Cases in Michigan at Highest Point in One Year
• Walgreens Cuts Quarterly Dividend to Get More Cash to Grow Its Business

Legislative and Regulatory News

• Update to Medicaid Health Plan Pharmacy Reimbursement

Happy New Year and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!

We’re already busy preparing for another great Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) Feb. 23-25 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. It’s our last trip there since we’re taking ACE on the road beginning in 2025, so make your plans now to attend and enjoy great continuing education, visit with exhibitors and network with your friends and colleagues. We’ve even extended the early bird registration deadline to Jan. 15 just for YOU!

And now’s the time to renew your membership if you haven’t already, ensuring you get member rates when registering for ACE. We also don’t want you to miss out receiving your virtual subscription to the Michigan Pharmacist journal and so many other valuable benefits, so renew your MPA membership today!

I along with the talented and professional MPA staff look forward to serving you in 2024!

ACE 2024 Registration Is Open!



Early Bird Pricing Has Been Extended to Jan. 15!

It's time to start planning for ACE 2024! The signature event of MPA, ACE, will take place Feb. 23-25, 2024, at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. This will be MPA's last ACE in the Motor City for a while as we hit the road for Traverse City in 2025 and Lansing in 2026, 2027 and 2028, so don't miss out!

ACE is the premier continuing education event for pharmacists, pharmacy students and pharmacy technicians in Michigan. There will be something for everyone at ACE.

Looking forward to seeing you all there! Be sure to sign up now, as early bird pricing has been extended to Jan. 15!

Hotel Information

Reserve your room by Jan. 15, 2024, at this link for your discounted room rate. You may also make your room reservation by calling 877-901-6632 and mention the Michigan Pharmacists Association 2024 Annual Convention for your discount.

Join the MPA Referral Program Today and Earn Rewards!

Joining the MPA Member-Get-A-Member Program is a breeze and the rewards are just a few steps away. Here's a simple breakdown of how it all works:

Share Your Passion: Log in to your MPA profile on the MPA website. Click on “Profile” in the upper left-hand corner after you are logged in. Next, click on the “Member Referral” tab and enter your colleague’s name and email address. An automated email will be sent to your colleagues asking them to join MPA. When your colleague joins MPA, they must use the email address you provided. There are no limits on the number of referrals and associated rewards you can receive.

Welcome New Members: Once your referrals have successfully joined MPA, they'll be welcomed into our vibrant community.

Earn Your Rewards: Here's where the magic happens! You, as the referrer, will be issued a reward coupon within your MPA profile as a token of our appreciation. For each pharmacist you recruit, you'll receive a generous $30 coupon and $20 for each pharmacy technician.

Use Your Rewards: In your user profile, you'll find a "coupons" section under the "My Invoices” tab. Here, you can view any coupons you've received. These reward coupons can be applied towards your membership dues or any MPA-sponsored event such as the Annual Convention & Exposition.

It's that simple! By spreading the word and bringing new members into MPA, you not only contribute to the growth of our community but also reap the rewards. Join the Member-Get-A-Member Program today and be a catalyst for positive change in pharmacy practice in Michigan.

Thank you for your commitment to MPA, and we look forward to celebrating your success as a member recruiter! 

Sign Up for the MPF Adopt-a-Student Program at ACE

Click the button below to register for ACE 2024 and be sure to select the appropriate option under "Michigan Pharmacy Foundation 2024" to participate in the Adopt-a-Student program.

It's Time to Renew Your Membership

There are many benefits to renewing your membership with MPA, including:

• Direct access to experts who can answer law and practice questions
• Networking opportunities with pharmacy professionals, such as complimentary membership in our local county associations and practice sections
• Free and discounted CE opportunities such as the MPA Annual Convention & Exposition – the state’s largest pharmacy conference
• Being part of the collective voice advocating for the future of the profession
• Competitive home, auto and business insurance through MPA’s affiliated PSI Insurance Agency

MPA exists for and is effective because of its members. Renew today to ensure that your benefits are secured and that MPA has the resources to move the mountains ahead for you, for the profession and for patients.

This listing offers ownership of an established retail pharmacy that provides a meds-to-beds medication discharge program for a local hospital. Pharmacy also has a loyal customer base and great relationships with local physicians. The pharmacy is located within a very busy shopping center anchored by locally famous Lulu’s Coney Island restaurant and Biggby Coffee. Contact the owner at 248-859-2804.

Pharmacy Technician Immunization Administration – Self Study

Live date: Jan. 20, 2024 10-11:30 a.m.

(Self study must be complete

before live date)

Medical Cannabis Applications: Mastering the Delivery Systems, Dosages and Medical Applications for Cannabinoid Medicine

Jan. 30, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

IBT Home Study

Can't make it to one of our upcoming implicit bias training (IBT) sessions? Not to worry, our IBT home study could be right for you! This course is based on MPA's original IBT offering and meets all current Michigan licensing requirements. Click the button below to get started!

Looking for Something Else? Try MPA's Home Studies.

In addition to our other programs, MPA offers home study pharmacy CE that can be accessed 24/7/365 on our website. Click the button below to view our catalog of programs.

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Counterfeit Ozempic Found

in U.S. Drug Supply Chain

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized thousands of units of counterfeit Ozempic and is warning consumers that counterfeit needles and labels may have compromised sterility. Five adverse events have been linked to a single lot that contained counterfeits.

"It is rare for a counterfeit drug to make it past pharmacists or other safeguards and into a patient’s hands," said Shabbir Imber Safdar, the executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, a nonprofit coalition that advocates protecting consumers against counterfeit and unsafe medicines.“ There is no bargain to be had for medicine, including Ozempic. The bargain is danger."

The FDA is advising wholesalers, retail pharmacies, health care practitioners and patients to check the product they have received and not distribute, use or sell products labeled with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057. FDA and Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk are testing the seized products and do not yet have information about the drugs’ identity, quality, or safety.

COVID-19 Cases in Michigan at Highest Point in One Year

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases in Michigan rose 10% to 7,607, up from 6,903 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday. It’s the ninth straight week of increased counts, dating to the first week of November.

The current daily average of 1,087 is the highest since the first week of January 2023, when it was 1,133. The state also reported 56 additional COVID-19 deaths, up 22 percent from 46 the week before and more than triple the 17 reported the week of Dec. 19.

Walgreens Cuts Quarterly Dividend

to Get More Cash to Grow its Business

Walgreens is chopping its dividend nearly in half as the drugstore chain looks to strengthen its balance sheet.

The health care giant said Thursday, Jan. 4, that reducing its quarterly payout to shareholders to 25 cents per share will help free up capital to spend growing its pharmacy and health care businesses.

New CEO Tim Wentworth said in a statement that company leaders believe such growth “will ultimately improve shareholder value.”

Edward Jones analyst John Boylan said the dividend cut was a necessary move.

“However, this is just another step in the financial healing process, and seeing predictable and sustained growth may take time,” he said in an email.

Walgreens also announced a better-than-expected fiscal first quarter.

Update to Medicaid Health Plan Pharmacy Reimbursement

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a letter advising that as of Feb. 13, 2024, Medicaid Health Plans (MHPs) will be contractually required to reimburse pharmacies in Michigan who have seven or fewer retail outlets in total, in accordance with Section 105i of 2023 Public Act 279.

PA 279 requires that Medicaid-managed care organizations (MCO) utilizing a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reimburse pharmacies with seven or fewer retail outlets for drug products at the lesser of:

• the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a professional dispensing fee;
• the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) plus a professional dispensing fee;
• or the pharmacy’s usual and customary fee

Pharmacies with seven or fewer outlets are identified by MDHHS and PA 279 as pharmacies "where any individual owner of the pharmacy does not have 5% or more ownership/ownership interest in eight or more retail outlets."

Pulse: Free Tool to Stop Fake Meds

NABP created Pulse to allow pharmacists to verify DSCSA data for medicine easily. It’s a free tool. Click the button below to watch a video to learn how it works.