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Chairman’s Message

A P R I L 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 2 2 , I S S U E 4

An official publication of GPhA’s Academy of Independent Pharmacy The mission of AIP is to ensure the economic viability and security of independent pharmacy, and to

advance the concept of pharmacy care designed to enhance patient quality of life and positive outcomes.

The Independent News

A couple of years back, Drew Miller wrote an article about The Wizard of Oz

which I thought was a great correlation of our profession and where we are

headed. For most of us Baby Boomers, this movie had a tremendous impact

on our lives both then and today. I still have a hard time watching without

going back to the trials that Dorothy, Toto, and the others had to get back to

Kansas. As with most things, I have a tendency to look at past impressions

and correlate them to present situations.

Unlike Drew, the one thing I remember more than anything else was that

Wicked Witch of the West and those dang flying monkeys that she released

to create havoc on everything in their path. If you are like me, you must feel

that SHE (PBMs) has raised her stinking head up and released those flying

monkeys (Auditors) on us once again. I just walked into my office and am

faced with audit requests from several of our friendly PBMs. I know that this

is a part of life, but it sure seems to take the joy out of owning a pharmacy.

The good part of this is that I have learned (thanks to AIP) how to fight these

aggravating little monkeys and defeat them most of the time.

I was recently at a convention and everyone was talking about the new

legislation that Arkansas had just passed to give rights to their pharmacies

during the audit process. Newsflash!!!! Georgia got that legislation passed

3 years ago and went back to get it strengthened during the last legislative

session. Our GPhA/AIP Legislative Group has been the leader in the nation

for this type of change. We have the weapons in place to fight off the flying

monkeys and anything else that the Wicked Witch decides she wants to

throw at us. So what do we do now???? It's time to come together and

strategize on ways to use these resources and make our profession

stronger!!!!

The AIP Spring Meeting is coming up on April 15th. I

encourage everyone to please attend and help us fight.

It's on a Sunday and I understand that our weekends are

important to us, but this is also important and we need

your input and help. The flying monkeys are out there

and we need to show them that we work together and

will not be intimidated by them anymore.

Scott

2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

Scott Meeks, R.Ph. Chairman

Lindsay Walker, R.Ph. Chairman Elect

E. Laird Miller, R.Ph. Secretary

Drew Miller, R.Ph., CDM Immediate Past

Chairman

Hugh Chancy, R.Ph.

Bob Coleman

Ben Cravey, R.Ph.

Carolyn Florence, R.Ph.

Kevin Florence, Pharm.D.

Ira Katz, R.Ph.

George Launius, R.Ph.

Pamala Marquess, Pharm.D.

Mac McCord, R.Ph.

Fred Sharpe, R.Ph.

Tim Short, R.Ph.

Chris Thurmond, Pharm.D.

A I P S T A F F

Jeff L. Lurey, R.Ph.

Executive Director of AIP

Verouschka Betancourt-Whigham

Manager of AIP Member Services

Rhonda Bonner

Member Services Representative

Charles D. Boone

Member Services Representative

Amanda Gaddy, R.Ph.

Director of Clinical Services

Melissa Metheny

Member Services Representative

Gene Smith

Member Services Representative

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P A G E 2

Thank you to Jeff, Amanda and the whole AIP team for saving my DME business.

My major DME contract had been terminated because the Department said they did not receive an updated copy of my local business license. Unfortunately, I never received that letter. I made multiple calls trying to resolve this problem. I finally called Jeff who made the necessary contacts and within days I was reinstated. Without AIP's help, I was looking at losing thousands of dollars from primary and secondary DME claims.

AIP continues to be a valuable resource for so many issues that we face in today’s business environment.

George B. Launius R.Ph. Thrifty Mac Discount Drug, Inc - Madison, Ga

AIP Helps A Member

*********Members Please Be

Aware

When emailing AIP regarding

pharmacy issues please include your

name, pharmacy

name, address, phone number

and NPI#.

***********

Local Collaboration = Success “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” —Henry Ford We are going through a major transition in healthcare from fee for service to value-based reimbursement. Health systems, providers, and pharmacies are expected to do more with less. All stakeholders are measured and either incentivized or penalized based on the outcomes. It is imperative for everyone to work together locally and develop programs to ensure success. If we do not collaborate, healthcare costs will continue

to rise, pharmacies and providers will continue to be financially penalized and the health of the patients will most likely not improve. The good news: Local, community pharmacies who offer services beyond dispensing are moving the needle and changing outcomes. The issue: Other healthcare providers are often unaware of the extra services local pharmacies provide which improve outcomes resulting in lower readmissions, penalties and improved adherence. The solution: Talk about it! Especially in small towns, everyone knows each other. Your kids may play on the same team. You may go to the same church or be in a local organization together. You know and trust one another. Sit down with other healthcare providers in your community and find out how they are being impacted by the changes in healthcare. Let them know about the services you provide which directly affect how they are measured and either incentivized or penalized. The time is now. You are a solution, but it will only work if others know the services you provide and develop a plan for utilizing those services. Local community pharmacies are perfectly positioned to move the needle towards better outcomes and decreased costs. You are trusted, accessible, the medication experts and see the patients more often than other healthcare providers. Collaboration between health systems, providers, and local pharmacies is truly a win-win-win. The pharmacy and provider measurements will improve while readmission rates will decrease resulting in a decrease in penalties. Most importantly, the healthcare outcomes of the patient will improve.

Amanda Gaddy,R.Ph., AIP Director of Clinical Services

We are happy to introduce

you to one of our new

sponsors for the AIP

Spring Meeting, MatchRX, now licensed to operate in

Georgia! MatchRX is a web-based marketplace that

connects 5,000+ independent pharmacies to buy and sell

small quantities of non-controlled, non-expired overstock to

satisfy a specific patient need. Sell your overstock to other

member pharmacies before it expires on the shelf, and

purchase for a specific patient need averaging 36% below

WAC. MatchRX is offering all Academy of Independent

Pharmacy members an extra incentive to join - $100 of

MatchMoney that can be used to offset selling fees. Visit the

site at www.MatchRX.com and register for FREE. When you

register make sure you include “MM100” in the “Promo

Code” field. Membership must be active before May 1 2018.

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Georgia Business Award

AIP partner and GPhA member David Pope and STRAND have won a state award from the Georgia Department of Economic Development called the ‘Small Business Rockstar Award.’ During the awards ceremony, the GDED mentioned STRAND won the award due to their work with the state and federal governments as well as GPhA. David said “We were delighted to hear the association getting mentioned in front of a large crowd of legislators and business owners by the GDED. An official press release will be released today by the state of Georgia. In the meantime, here’s an article published this morning from the Augusta Chronicle. We’re proud to work alongside you and your team!”

http://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20180319/columbia-county-business-wins-rock-star-award

Pharmacist Letter for Vaccine Recipients In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 43-34-26.1, pharmacists that provide immunizations to their patients must provide written information to the vaccine recipient developed by the Department of Public Health on the importance of having and periodically seeing a primary care physician.

[TEMPLATE – to be placed on pharmacy letterhead]

Date xx/xx/201x

Dear Name of Patient,

You have taken an important step in protecting yourself and your family from infectious disease by being vaccinated. Your pharmacist is an

important part of your health care team. Choosing a primary care physician is also important. They are the person who oversees you and

your family’s overall health and well-being.

When you develop a trusting, ongoing relationship with a doctor, you are ensuring that your health and medical needs will be met. As a

member of your health care team, your primary care physician can monitor your health and suggest changes to help prevent serious illness.

They will recommend preventive care like routine cancer screenings, or provide care for conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure and

diabetes. If you have a cough, stomach ache or fever, there’s someone you can go to when you’re sick. If you need a specialist, your primary

care physician can help arrange that too.

Having a doctor who oversees your care and coordinates tests, checkups and follow-up care can also help lower your health care costs.

The Georgia Medical Board has information that may be helpful when selecting a doctor for you and your family https://medicalboard.georgia.gov/tips-choosing-doctor. There are also options for finding a primary care physician in your area including Physician Finder, many hospitals have physician referrals on their websites, and if you are insured, most insurance providers list in network doctors on their websites.

Sincerely,

J. Patrick O’Neal, M.D. Commissioner Georgia Department of Public Health

[Lead Physician or Pharmacist]

GPhA Convention 2018 ● June 21-24, 2018 ● Omni Nashville Hotel, TN

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S

P A G E 4

When preparation meets OPPORTUNITY ... By B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, National Community Pharmacists Association CEO

My sophomore year of college, I had the following ritual with my roommate, an engineering major. I would tell him "Good luck on your test." And he would reply the same way every single time: "Luck is for fools!"

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." That's what the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger said. Seneca died 2,000 years ago, but certainly he had a bead on community pharmacy today.

That's amazing foresight.

NCPA's marketing and communications team may have had Seneca's thoughts in mind when they created our new Opportunity Toolkit (https://www.ncpanet.org/innovation-center/ownership-resources/opportunity-toolkit) for NCPA members.

Our toolkit is full of helpful tools to aid you in bringing in customers when a competitor closes or a local pharmacy changes ownership. Those changes are a huge opportunity for you and your pharmacy, and with this toolkit, you're prepared to act quickly.

For example, when Walgreens decided to buy 1,932 Rite-Aid stores, they said they would close nearly 600 stores.

And when a competitor closes, preparation is everything. First, take a look at the competitor. They may be closing, but chances are there was something they offered that you don't offer. What brought people into the business? Now, look at your business and decide which of those things you can do as well or better.

Next, make sure your pharmacy website is up to date. People are in a hurry these days. They expect a website that's fast and easy to navigate. Your website is a reflection of your business — it should be friendly and informative. Make sure your address, phone number, operating hours, and a map are prominently displayed.

Once those basics are in place, talk to prescribers and employers in your area. Tell them what you offer. Make sure they understand the value of your services and ask that they refer patients to you. Reach out to the employees of the competitor — staff pharmacists, techs, and front-end employees. If they're a good fit, hire them. They can be a champion to their former customers.

These are just a few of the great tips you'll find in our toolkit. But we offer so much more. Effective tools are more than a tip sheet. Our Opportunity Toolkit gives you talking points to use in conversations with patients, scripts for radio ads, flyers, car magnets, posters, sample ads, social media messages, bag stuffers and sample letters.

Cigna agrees to buy Express Scripts New York Times (03/08/18) Bray, Chad

Health insurer Cigna announced early Thursday that it has agreed to purchase Express Scripts in a $67 billion cash-and-stock deal, including the assumption of about $15 billion in debt. A deal between the two companies would follow the $69 billion acquisition of Aetna by CVS Health. In addition, it would reflect a move toward vertical consolidation where members of a supply chain combine. Health care payers and pharmacies are responding to a shifting landscape, including rising drug prices and the threat of competition from online retailers such as Amazon. Express Scripts ranks as the largest administrator of prescription-drug benefits in the United States. Its clients range from Walmart to the U.S. Defense Department. The mega-deal comes as Express Scripts is losing its biggest client. In 2017, health insurer Anthem announced it would set up its own PBM unit, signaling a permanent and final break with Express Scripts after accusing it of overcharging by billions of dollars. The combined company would be named Cigna and would be based in Bloomfield, CT, where Cigna currently has its headquarters. Express Scripts would continue to have its headquarters in St. Louis. David Cordani, the Cigna president and CEO, would serve as president and CEO of the combined company, while Tim Wentworth, the Express Scripts CEO, would serve as president of the Express Scripts business.

Save The Date: AIP Spring

Meeting Sunday, April 15, 2018 Macon Marriott & Centreplex, Macon, GA

GPhA Convention Thursday June 21 -Sunday June 24, 2018 Omni Nashville

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T H E I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S

P A G E 6

VivaLife LLC, a new distributor of home health organizational products, is proud to offer Case-it's Med Manager exclusively to AIP members. It is a perfect compliment to MTM counseling services to improve medication adherence. To learn more about the product

and to place orders - check out caseitmed.com. Check out the AIP member discount too. Encourage your patients to "kick the bag habit"! Get organized with the new Case-it Med Manager.

For pricing and orders please call (706)-424-8398 For more info please email info@vivalife.care

" An extremely helpful product for the patient and should go a long way in improving adherence"

Jonathon Marquess AIP Member

V O L U M E 2 2 , I S S U E 4 P A G E 7

AIP NOMINATES OFFICERS FOR

2018-2020

The AIP Nominating Committee has met and nominated a

slate of officers for 2018-2020. The nominees are the

following:

CANDIDATE FOR CHAIRMAN ELECT

IRA KATZ, R.Ph.

Ira Katz is owner of Little Five Points Pharmacy located in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated with a BS in Chemistry from Emory University in

1975 and a BS in pharmacy in 1978 from St. Johns University located in Queens, NY. He currently serves on the AIP Board of Directors and is chairman of the Alternate Income Committee. He also serves on the GPhA Governmental Affairs Committee. He is a member of NCPA, AIP and GPhA. He has been the Drug Topics - Outstanding Young Pharmacist, the 1998 AIP Pharmacist of the Year and Atlanta Magazine’s Best Neighborhood Pharmacy in Atlanta. Ira and his wife Mindy, have two daughters, Jessica and Leanna.

CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY

LAIRD MILLER, R.Ph.

Laird Miller is owner of Habersham drug located in Demorest, Georgia. He is a 1978 graduate of the University of Georgia college of Pharmacy. He

currently serves as a Georgia State Board of Pharmacy Member and was a past Chairman to the Academy of Independent Pharmacy. He also has served on the Georgia Pharmacy Association Board. He is a member of NCPA, GPhA and the Lanier Pharmacy Association. He is married to Amy. They currently attend the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville

According to the Bylaws, these names will now be submitted

at the Annual Meeting (April 15, 2018) in Macon. Any

additional nominees may be made from the floor. A ballot

will then be sent by approved means to the membership no later than 25 days after the Annual Meeting and voting must be completed by midnight of the 40th day following

adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

To advance the concept of pharmacy care. To ensure the economic viability and security of Independent Pharmacy; To provide a forum for Independent Pharmacy to exchange information and develop strategies, goals and objectives; To address the unique business and professional issues of independent pharmacies; To develop and implement marketing opportunities for members of the Academy with emphasis on the third party prescription drug program/benefit market; To provide educational programs designed to enhance the managerial skills of Independent Pharmacy Owners and Managers; and, To establish and implement programs and services designed to assist Independent Pharmacy Owners and Managers.

AIP Mission Statement

If you change wholesalers please be sure to let us know. Please contact Verouschka Betancourt-Whigham “V” at

vbwhigham@gpha.org or 404-419-8102. Thank You

KEEP INDEPENDENTS INDEPENDENT

Please don’t forget, if you have a desire to sell your pharmacy or if you have an interest in buying a pharmacy, please contact Jeff Lurey at 404-419-8103. We have been quite successful during the past several years at keeping independents independent. We maintain a list of pharmacists who want to buy additional pharmacies and we also keep a list of young pharmacists who want to own a pharmacy. All information is kept strictly confidential.

Compounder’s Corner Shawn E. Hodges, PharmD, AIP Compounding Section Vice Chairman

Greetings Fellow Compounders!

Although it’s difficult to be out of the pharmacy, but would you be willing to spend one day with us on

Capitol Hill sharing your personal stories and your patients' stories? Face-to-face visits are so

powerful and no one can tell your story like YOU. You are far more influential than you

realize. Your visits to Congress are invaluable and we can't do it without you.

Compounders on Capitol Hill (CCH) brings together the top-level compounding pharmacists and

technicians from across the country with the same goal - to preserve patient access to vital compounded

medications. Network and Reconnect with old friends and meet new colleagues who share your

passion and interest in preserving patient access to compounded medications.

The 24th Annual Compounders on Capitol Hill will be held June 23-26, 2018 at the Renaissance

Washington DC Downtown Hotel. With more than 300 expected attendees in 2018.

We especially need a strong delegation from this Great State as many of the Congressmen that are

involved on the practice of pharmacy are from Georgia!

Please email me if you need additional information. hodgesrx@yahoo.com

Adapted from 3/28/18, IACP E-Newsletter.

6065 Barfield Road, Suite 100 Sandy Spring, GA 30328