April 2024

In This Issue:

• APCI Welcomes Experienced Faces to Expanded Board
• APCI's Longest Practicing Member
• Be on the Lookout: Part D Contracts
• APCI Members Well-Represented at Record-Breaking NCPA Fly-In
• Register Now for McKesson ideaShare
• On the Shelf: Allergy Season Stock Up!

APCI Welcomes Experienced Faces to Expanded Board of Directors

Steve Dawson

Brandall Lovvorn

Ron Poole

Shawn Sams

Frank Southall

The APCI Board of Directors Election was held at the 2024 APCI Annual Convention and Stockholders Meeting in Savannah, Ga. Board Members Shawn Sams and Frank Southall were reelected, and Brandall Lovvorn was elected to fill an empty seat left when former board member Eric Larson chose not to run again.

“We were lucky to have very good candidates this year,” APCI CEO Tim Hamrick said. “All of the candidates would have been tremendous choices for the board.”

Sams has been in the pharmacy industry for 27 years with 14 of those in independent pharmacy, including owning Louis Morgan Drug #4 in Longview, Tx., for the last 13 years. He has been a member of APCI for five years.

Southall has been a pharmacist for 40 years and owned Southall Pharmacy in Lebanon, Ky., for the past 34 years. He has been a member of APCI for 23 years and has served on the board of APCI for the past five years.

Lovvorn has been in the pharmacy profession for 38 years and has owned his own pharmacy, Lovvorn Drugs in Bremen, Ga., for 22 years. He has been an APCI member for four years and this was his first time running for the board.

Additionally, the APCI Board created two new seats – bringing the total number of members on the board to 11 – to add APSC board members Ron Poole and Steve Dawson for three-year terms, effective March 24, 2024.

“The board as a whole is interested in continuing the legacy of APSC,” Hamrick said. “Having two board members from APSC to help guide the company during the transition and provide valuable insight was very important to the board.”

The APCI Board had an average of about 5 ½ years of board service prior to adding the APSC members. Poole and Dawson each have more than 20 years of board service, giving the new APCI board a great mix of youth and experience, Hamrick said.

“We’re blessed with a very good board,” he said.

Former board member Eric Larson, owner of Prescriptions Unlimited in Saint Cloud, Fla., chose not to run for re-election. Larson is heavily involved in his community and with his family. During his one term on the board, he proved to be very passionate and a great young man, Hamrick said.

“He is full of good ideas and willing to speak up and challenge ideas he doesn’t agree with,” Hamrick said.

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APCI Celebrates Clemont Carpenter, Longest Practicing APCI Member

APCI CEO Tim Hamrick (left) recognizes Clemont Carpenter as "APCI's Longest Practicing Member" at the 2024 Annual Convention in Savannah, Ga.

Clemont Carpenter, owner of Foster Pharmacy in Luverne, Ala., was honored as APCI’s Longest Practicing Member during the Stockholders meeting at last month’s APCI Annual Convention and Stockholders Meeting. Carpenter, who is 94 years old, has been practicing pharmacy for 70 years.

“Clemont is always full of vigor and a lust for life,” said APCI CEO Tim Hamrick. “He has a tremendous outlook on life. He is the life of the party, and if there isn’t a party, he will start one.”

Carpenter rarely misses an APCI or Alabama Pharmacists Association meeting. He attends these meetings to learn about new technologies that will help his store better take care of his customers. He was inducted into the APA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Carpenter served his community as a Cub Scout Master, on the school board, and several other boards and commissions. He was elected to the Luverne City Council in 1964. He also served 12 years as mayor of the small town, where even now, at 9 p.m.each night, he turns off the red lights and streetlights.

“He is definitely one of a kind,” Hamrick said.

He also was appointed to the Alabama Board of Pharmacy in 1986 for a five-year term, serving one year as president of the board.

The Carpenter family has more than 100 years of experience in independent pharmacy, as Clemont’s father was a pharmacist, and three of his sons followed in the family business, including Alan, who works with his father at Foster Pharmacy, and John, who owns Hayneville Drug in Hayneville, Ala.

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Be on the Lookout: Medicare Part D Contracts for 2025

Health Mart Atlas has received updated information from Caremark regarding 2025 Medicare Part D contracts. The process will be the same as for 2024 where the pharmacy must OPT OUT of the contract before the due date of April 29, 2024.

Any agreement finalized by HMA as the PSAO will supersede any direct decision made by the pharmacy, but the individual pharmacy reviewing the contract and making the decision on their participation level will be vital to protect future flexibility with contracting. For example, if a pharmacy does not act prior to April 29, they will be considered by Caremark as participating and they will not be able to get out of participating later. In the event a pharmacy wants to contract directly with Caremark, the decision made on the individual solicitation will stand if they try to move to a direct contract.

Look for more information coming directly from Health Mart Atlas on this issue.

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APCI Members Well-Represented at Record-Breaking NCPA Fly-In

APCI's Bill Eley and Bruce Harris were joined by pharmacy owners, pharmacists, and students in the Alabama delegation at the NCPA Congressional Fly-In. The delegation visited Rep. Mike Rogers (center, back row) and other elected officials from Alabama to promote PBM reform and pharmacy legislation.

The 2024 NCPA Congressional Fly-In set a record for attendees with more than 320 individuals attending in the event’s 55^th year. Attendees represented 36 states, including 27 states with APCI members.

This year’s event message focused on the active PBM reform legislation currently introduced in this Congress. Earlier this year, legislation passed the U.S. House by a vote of 320 to 71 that included around 15 separate bills regarding reform efforts in the Medicaid and Medicare space. The Medicaid portions of this package would fix many issues in the Medicaid Managed Care space and would make general corrections in the Medicare space, but more must be done in the Medicare and TRICARE space. There is a similar package of bills waiting for Senate floor action.

The NCPA Fly-In group asked members of the House and Senate to encourage leadership in their respective parties to make this legislation a top priority and to take action ASAP.

“This legislation is the most bipartisan legislation currently in Congress, and we must continue to encourage quick action,” said APCI Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Eley, who attended the Fly-In and shepherded the Alabama delegation to elected officials’ offices. “Pharmacists, students, and advocates for independent pharmacy made their presence known during the Fly-In, swarming the halls and meeting rooms for two days. We saw many of the folks lobbying for independent pharmacy all up and down the halls of Senate and House offices. Most, if not all offices seemed supportive of our message.”

Visiting with the elected officials was the most important part of the Fly-In, but there were several presentations featuring elected officials and senior committee staff before visits in the afternoon. Rep. Buddy Carter kicked off the Fly-In activities on Wednesday morning letting everyone know that our voices are being heard, but we must not stop now. After the afternoon meetings with elected officials, there was a Congressional Reception which was well attended. On Thursday morning, attendees heard from senior staff members from committees of jurisdiction who said that they understand the plight of independent pharmacies -- and how industry needs to keep reaching out to elected officials and encouraging them to act.

“Even though the Fly-In is over, we must not let up in our engagement with our elected officials regarding the help we need to be able to serve our patients and our communities,” Eley added. “Continue reaching out to your elected officials and ask them to pass these bills now.”

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Register now for McKesson ideaShare!

The birthplace of jazz and the home of Creole cuisine will host McKesson ideaShare 2024. Mark your calendars now for June 23-26, 2024, and make your travel arrangements to New Orleans. Registration is now open and more information is available at mckessonideashare.com.

The convention will focus on recognizing the crucial role your independent pharmacy plays in the community you serve as America’s frontline healthcare provider. Participants will celebrate stories of success, share insights, and empower each other to continue making a difference in the lives of patients.

You will be able to earn up to 11 continuing education credits, network with your peers and engage in exciting keynote sessions and events. Most events will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Once you register, you’ll receive an email with links to hotels with special rates for the event.

Click here to register.

Click here for the schedule.

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Allergy Season Stock Up

It’s allergy season! Pollen, dander, dust and mold are causing sneezing, coughing, runny noses and itchy eyes. Make sure you have the remedies ready by stocking up on OTC remedies like Flonase, Nasacort, Allegra, Claritin, Xyzal and A2Z.

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