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House Democratic Policy Committee Holding Hearing on Independent Pharmacies on May 15
The PA House Majority Policy Committee is holding a policy hearing on Independent Pharmacies issues and how lawmakers can provide support. The Committee will gather testimony from owners of two locally owned independent pharmacies and other health care advocates. The hearing is hosted by Rep. Kyle Donahue and Policy Chair Rep. Ryan Bizzarro on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Scranton Counseling Center.
Invited to testify by the committee are: Tom DiPietro, owner of DiPietro's Pharmacy, Dunmore and Eric Pusey, owner of Better Health Pharmacy & Wellness, Olyphant.
The hearing will be live streamed via YouTube, click here.
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Save Community Pharmacies #PBMReformNow | |
Pharmacy Owners Plead For Policy Reform on PBMs | |
Bipartisan bill would help local pharmacies stay in business
As dozens of independent pharmacies are closing their doors throughout Pennsylvania, state Reps. Jessica Benham and Abby Major held a news conference on Friday, May 10, 2024, with the president of Klingensmith’s Drugstores to emphasize the need for a legislative solution to pharmacy benefit managers.
“We're up to 80 closed pharmacies across Pennsylvania this year,” said Dave Cippel, president and head pharmacist at Klingensmith’s Drugstores. “Nothing good happens in a small community when their local independent pharmacy closes. We pride ourselves on a high level of service that you won't get with larger chain pharmacies.
Everything from free drug delivery to knowing our customers by name. I'm grateful to Representative Benham for coming out to my community and my pharmacy today, along with my representative, Representative Major, to highlight the need for this important reform legislation. We cannot afford to lose more independent community pharmacies in Pennsylvania.” Read PA House news release...
KDKA: With dozens of independent and local pharmacies closing their doors, local lawmakers look for a solution
Leader Times: PREDATORY PBM’S...? Ford City pharmacy hosts legislators to draw attention to need for #PBMReformNow
Indiana Gazette: Pharmacies seek legislative relief from benefit managers
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Westmont Rexall Closing After 71 Years; Owner Points to Insurance Reimbursements
Another independent pharmacy has been squeezed out of business, citing low reimbursements paid by insurance plans and their pharmacy benefit managers for medications.
Westmont Rexall Drug Store, 1741 Goucher St., a staple in the West Hills area for 71 years, is set to close May 21, owner and pharmacist Mike Gnagey said. Read The Tribune-Democrat article...
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Most Philly Health Providers Cannot Speak Vietnamese. Temple Pharmacist is Trying to Change that Through a Stroke Education Program
Van Hellerslia was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States as a refugee when she was two. She grew up in the Logan neighborhood of North Philadelphia. Her family spoke Vietnamese at home, and her proficiency in English was almost non-existent.
In 2022, Hellerslia created “Viet-Capacity,” a community-based stroke education program that prioritized reaching out to Vietnamese-speaking residents in the community. Read WHYY news...
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PPCN Delivering Enhanced Patient Care Training Scheduled for May 21
If you have pharmacy team members that intend to provide care within an active PPCN Payor program, they must complete the required PPCN Delivering Enhanced Patient Care Training (DEPC).
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Part 1 includes 10 CE hours of online modules completed at your own pace and all modules must be completed before engaging in Part 2.
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Part 2 is a live webinar and 4 hours of CE. To bill for patient care services through a PPCN contract, pharmacists must complete both the online "Part 1" and live "Part 2" trainings. You will receive access to Part 1, the online portion, upon submitting payment using the following links.
Click HERE to submit payment ($150 one-time fee for PPA members, $250 for non-members), to complete the program.
The PPCN DEPC Part 2 is being delivered as a live webinar on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Registration Deadline: Monday, May 20
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AHA Engaging Pharmacists to Improve AFib Care
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, estimated to affect about 12.1 million U.S. adults by 2030. To help ensure all patients with AFib receive the most appropriate care, the American Heart Association (AHA) is launching a new effort to educate and engage pharmacists, an important but underrepresented voice in AFib care. Read AHA news...
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Global Healthy Living Foundation Study Shows Pharmacists Are Key to Successful Vaccine Uptake
The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) has published a critical policy paper authored by Robert Popovian, PharmD, MS, Founder, Conquest Advisors and GHLF’s Chief Science Policy Officer. The paper, titled “Challenges in Adult Vaccination: Policy Strategies for Sustaining Access and Supply,” details the benefits associated with the current vaccine access and payment model for adult vaccination in the United States. It highlights the potential negative consequences if Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) subvert the vaccine reimbursement landscape, which would in turn undermine the important public health role that pharmacists play. Read GHLF news release...
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Gov. Shapiro Says His Administration is Preparing to Hire the Next Generation of State Workers
Anticipating the need to recruit and hire the next generation of Pennsylvania state employees, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday signed an executive order to ensure his and future administrations are able to attract skilled and experienced workers.
Speaking at the first Commonwealth Job Fair at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Shapiro noted that 24% of the workforce in state agencies under the governor’s office will become eligible to retire in the next five years. Read Pennsylvania Capital-Star article...
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Assistant AG Kanter Announces Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion
The Justice Department has announced the formation of the Antitrust Division’s Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC). The HCMC will guide the division’s enforcement strategy and policy approach in health care, including by facilitating policy advocacy, investigations and, where warranted, civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets. Read DOJ news release...
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USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1
The USDA has announced assistance for producers with H5N1 affected premises to improve on-site biosecurity in order to reduce the spread. In addition, USDA is taking steps to make available financial tools for lost milk production in herds affected by H5N1. Building on the Federal Order addressing pre-movement testing, these steps will further equip producers with tools they can use to keep their affected herds and workers healthy and reduce risk of the virus spreading to additional herds. Read HHS announcement...
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Fentanyl Pill Seizures are Skyrocketing, 115 million Pills Seized in 2023: Study
The number of fentanyl seizures by law enforcement more than quadrupled between 2017 and 2023, with researchers finding the drug has continued to entrench itself in the country’s illicit drug supply.
Seizures of fentanyl in the U.S. have followed an exponential upward trend since 2017, according to data from the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. Researchers on the study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), sourced data from the HIDTA. Read The Hill article...
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Contract Standoff: Walgreens Pharmacists Demand Fair Pay, Rally Against Telepharmacy
Walgreens pharmacists are advocating for improved pay and working conditions, citing concerns about the potential impact on their patient interactions.
Their grievances were brought directly to the company's headquarters in Deerfield, where they were joined by allied unions for a rally. Read Fox 32 news...
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