In line with NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill this week, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores will hold a press conference in support of S. 274, The Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2011.

In a letter penned Thursday by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores to Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the association stated that while it shares the goal of reducing prescription drug costs, authorizing the reimportation of prescription medications — as sought in S.319, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011 — raises concerns about patient health and safety.

Two lobbying groups representing the nation's pharmacies are emphasizing how community pharmacies can help lower prescription drug costs, as well as the importance of maintaining the right of military families and veterans to choose where they fill their prescriptions through the Tricare program.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association on Friday sent a joint letter to every governor and state Medicaid director on the importance of pharmacies in Medicaid and the industry’s interest in working with state governments to cut costs.

Upon the unveiling of President Obama's budget proposal, National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and CEO Steve Anderson said the budget proposal serves as yet another opportunity to highlight the "important role of pharmacy services as a bipartisan solution to an ongoing challenge: reducing healthcare costs while improving people's lives, particularly in the treatment of chronic conditions."

Companion legislation, which seeks to change a provision in the healthcare-reform law and permit Americans to use their flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts to buy over-the-counter medications without a prescription, has the support of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Two pharmacy trade groups already have given their blessings to legislation that would support medication therapy management, and a retail pharmacy chain that has made MTM part of its mission is following suit.

A free, publicly accessible and searchable healthcare resource developed last year by the charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores dramatically has grown since its inception.

In an effort to create 30 new community pharmacy residency positions by funding programs across the nation, the charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced the grant application, review and approval process for its Community Pharmacy Residency Expansion Project.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores will host in February its annual Regional Chain Conference, designed to bring together retail pharmacy chain executives with product manufacturers and suppliers.

Helping on-the-go members stay updated with its latest efforts, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has launched a mobile website.

A total of 58 pharmacy school students from 39 colleges and schools of pharmacy have been awarded scholarships by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, the group announced Tuesday.