DIR Fee Reform, Reimbursement Issues Front-and-Center at NACDS Regional Chain Conference Event also features insights and collaboration on diverse health-and-wellness and front-end topics

2019-02-04T11:13:20-05:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: , , |

Rebecca Bubel, RPh, 2019 NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair and senior director of store operations, Kinney Drugs, Inc.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ (NACDS) campaign-style approach to the issues crucial for pharmacy value and viability dominated today’s opening session of the 2019 NACDS Regional Chain Conference.

NACDS’ top-priority issue of direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fee reform headlined the discussion of the Association’s “Access Agenda” – which emphasizes that pharmacies provide access to health policy solutions, just as they provide access to vital health services every day in neighborhoods across the nation.

Mark Panzer, NACDS Chairman of the Board and senior vice president, pharmacy and health & wellness, Albertsons Companies, said, “NACDS talks about our Access Agenda, and its three parts: offense, defense, and addressing the wellbeing of our communities. On offense, we are enhancing access to newer services. When we talk about defense, we are talking about preserving patients’ access to care. And that means DIR fee reform. The third area – working as partners for stronger and safer communities – includes helping to solve opioid abuse. This remains an important issue, where we have seen progress and where we remain committed.”

“Across all of our NACDS issues and services, here is the message that I want to give to you today, and it’s from my view as the NACDS chairman and as an industry veteran. NACDS has never been better equipped to deliver the value that we as members expect, and need – even on the toughest of issues.”

NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, led an interactive discussion including members of the NACDS senior staff regarding advocacy on DIR fee reform, broader reimbursement issues, opioid-abuse prevention and expanding pharmacy’s scope of business.

“What we are not doing is just ‘working the issues,’” Anderson stated. “What we are doing is waging campaigns – tough campaigns. Working the issues is waiting for things to happen. Waging campaigns is making things happen, and doing so with everything we have – consistently, creatively, aggressively, passionately, cohesively, and as a modern political and advocacy organization.”

In the pursuit of DIR fee reform and other ways to help [ READ MORE ]

NACDS Regional: Know before You Go

2019-02-01T15:56:06-05:00Categories: Video|Tags: , |

Headed to NACDS Regional, February 3-5 in Palm Beach? Watch this video to find out everything you need to know before you go.

NACDS Regional Chain Conference Delivers Forum for “Igniting Possibilities” Event opens NACDS’ 85th anniversary celebration

2018-02-06T15:36:24-05:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: , , , , |

Alex Gourlay, NACDS Chairman of the Board and co-chief operating officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance and president, Walgreen Co., said, “Pharmacy is beautifully positioned, as it always has been, to take care of changing shifts in the customer and in the marketplace."

Headed to NACDS Regional Chain Conference? Watch This.

2018-01-30T14:03:29-05:00Categories: Video|Tags: , |

Ready to ignite possibilities at the upcoming NACDS Regional Chain Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, February 4-6? Watch this video before you go to maximize your experience.

Creating the Unique NACDS “Shopping Experience”

2017-04-26T02:03:36-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: , , , |

During the NACDS Annual Meeting this week, one of the often-discussed trends was the need for retailers and supplier partners to collaborate for a truly positive shopping experience – one that makes consumers enjoy and value their time in the store. I thought a lot about the extent to which NACDS focuses on reflecting the chain and associate membership in this regard. Members tell us often that NACDS meetings and conferences create highly positive experiences that make them uniquely desirable and effective venues for advancing one’s business. In addition, NACDS constantly looks to reinvent itself and its events, for the good of the members.

 

“NACDS remains focused on keeping our events on the leading edge of member experience – just as you strive to remain on the leading edge of consumer experience.”

I want to thank everyone who made the 2017 NACDS Annual Meeting a tremendous success. Also, thank you to those who did the same at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference in February, and to those who already are thinking ahead to the NACDS Total Store Expo in August. I hope you find the extensive preparation materials to be powerful and effective, and I hope your on-site experience is second-to-none. NACDS remains focused on keeping our events on the leading edge of member experience – just as you strive to remain on the leading edge of consumer experience.

Collaboration, customer-focus, the pursuit of shared value for partners and for society, and other key themes resonated consistently from the conversations at the NACDS Annual Meeting. Through your engagement and input, thank you for helping to keep NACDS focused on the related theme of creating a highly competitive, productive and rewarding experience that constantly delivers satisfaction. In other words, thank you for helping NACDS to operate exactly the way it should: in your image.

Pharmacy’s Potential Front and Center at NACDS Regional Chain Conference

2017-02-09T12:28:00-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: , |

The value pharmacy brings—and its potential to step up in a rapidly shifting healthcare landscape—stood out at this week’s innovative and collaborative NACDS Regional Chain Conference. The conference provided a leading-edge forum to explore business-to-business partnerships and a public policy agenda that is focused on solutions in healthcare policy, which will benefit patient outcomes and reduce overall healthcare costs.

I think NACDS runs the best meetings…it’s very productive for us, and this marketplace function is essential.

NACDS Chairman of the Board Martin Otto, chief merchant and chief financial officer of H-E-B, spoke of the challenges ahead in the industry and healthcare delivery. Otto outlined NACDS’ role in addressing these challenges as threefold:

  • Provide a supplier and retailer marketplace. “I think NACDS runs the best meetings…it’s very productive for us, and this marketplace function is essential.”
  • Advocate for pharmacy. “I look at the key elements as being access, cost and quality.”
  • Participate and lead in public policy solutions for healthcare. “We need end-to-end solutions for healthcare…[which will] create solutions for the industry, for healthcare, for patients, and for pharmacy.”

Otto also urged participants to engage in the NACDS RxIMPACT on Capitol Hill, March 14-15. He said, “It’s a chance for hundreds of us to go meet with the different legislators, both in the House and the Senate…and my hope is that everybody here will participate and spread the word and get everybody that you know who is not here to participate as well because it really does make a difference.” Otto cited his firsthand experience as a participant of the conference, and said, “I’ve seen a dramatic difference in the level of education on the part of the legislators in terms of what they know about our industry and what pharmacy can do.”

NACDS Regional Chain Conference Chairman Kristin Williams, senior vice president and chief health officer of Hy-Vee, Inc., said, “This conference is about sharing, collaboration and discussion on the issues and opportunities now and in the future.” She noted that the conference was very timely, especially given the current uncertainties in healthcare, and emphasized that pharmacy is well-equipped to develop solutions that will address the growing needs of [ READ MORE ]

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