August 2024

In This Issue:

• Pharmacists Fight Back Act
• New Payment Opportunities
• CAPS Welcomes New Team Member
• APCI at NCPA Annual Convention
• On the Shelf: Addivance
• Preferred Vendor: Natrol

Pharmacists Fight Back Act: Take Action Now!

Ask Your US Rep to Cosponsor

The Pharmacists Fight Back Act represents a paradigm shift in the approach to PBM reform at the federal level as it looks to fundamentally fix the payment model while protecting pharmacies and patients from unfair practices of large PBMs.

If you haven’t already, please ask your US Representative to cosponsor the bill, then ask your patients to do the same. Click here to find contact information and talking points on the bill.

More specifically, the bill does the following in large federal healthcare programs:

• Implements a transparent pharmacy reimbursement model using market-based pricing benchmarked to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC). This bill would pay retail pharmacies fairly while capping drug costs to no more than NADAC + a fair dispensing fee + 2 percent, thereby preventing massive markups at PBM-owned and affiliated retail, mail-order, and specialty pharmacies;
• Removes the ability of PBMs to restrict patient choice via network exclusions;
• Prohibits PBMs from steering patients to PBM affiliated pharmacies;
• Prohibits several PBM practices including point of sale and retroactive fees, brand mandates, spread pricing, and tying reimbursement of a drug to outcomes, scores, or metrics;
• Requires that PBMs share 80 percent of rebates with patients at the counter while preserving 20 percent of rebate dollars for the purposes of suppressing premium growth;
• Strengthens NADAC by requiring mandatory reporting from all pharmacies that dispense outpatient drugs — including PBM mail-order and specialty pharmacies.

In addition, PBM violations of this act would constitute a felony punishable by up to a $1 million fine and 10 years in prison per violation. There is also the ability for persons to bring a civil action on behalf of themselves and the federal government.

s icing on the cake, the Pharmacists Fight Back Act was introduced on the same day as the House Oversight hearing with Congressman Auchincloss announcing the legislation after grilling the CVS executive about CVS pricing as compared to NADAC. A highlight of that exchange has garnered over 8 million views on X/Twitter.

https://x.com/RepAuchincloss/status/1816530337301774449

The Pharmacists Fight Back Act can be found here:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9096?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22hr+9096%22%7D

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APCI Offers Two New Payment Opportunities

Axe Rx Discount Cards and GoMango

APCI is pleased to offer two new opportunities for our Choice member pharmacies. While APCI will not be signing with these companies as preferred vendors, the companies have personalized programs for our APCI pharmacies.

Axe Rx is a pureplay discount card program that creates an immediate in-store, compliant cash program to compete with national chains at an ensured fair profit. It is FREE to the pharmacy and consumers with no enrollment of personal information required. The pharmacy receives a flat administrative payment per claim, a dispensing fee, and product reimbursement cost with no DIR fees or U&C Audits. For more information, click here.

GoMango is a company that works with a pharmacy to determine the best pricing solutions for their demographic location. GoMango offers profitable, rational and stable pricing; adjustments by drug class and OTC; a low $1.10 admin fee with high dispensing fees; no PBM ownership or affiliation; and analytics and reporting. For more information, click here.

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CAPS Welcomes New Team Member

Amanda Loggins

APCI recently welcomed a new member to the CAPS team, Amanda Loggins. Amanda's title is CAPS Specialist.

Amanda has a background in independent pharmacy as well as experience working with a long term care packaging facility. She is a certified pharmacy technician and enjoys spending time with family and friends in her spare time.

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Come See APCI Staff at NCPA Annual Convention Exhibit Hall

October 26-29 in Columbus, Ohio

The NCPA Annual Convention is coming up in October. Make your plans now to attend the event at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The event will be October 26-29, 2024. APCI will be in booth #512 (next to McKesson) during Exhibit Days on Oct. 27-28 (Sunday & Monday) in Hall A & B. Be sure to stop by and say hi to the APCI staff and bring your friends!

Click here for more information and to register.

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New Product: Addivance

Medella Springs, one of our Preferred Vendors, has a new product on the market called Addivance. Addivance supports focus, helps balance behavior, and is non-habit forming. The 120-count bottle is Featured in the August ad for $29.99 (Reg. $34.99).

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APCI Preferred Vendor: NATROL

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