NCPA releases 2023 NCPA Digest, bestows numerous awards, scholarships

The National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, being held from Oct. 14 to 17, in Orlando set the stage for a host of activities.

Among the activities was the release of the 2023 NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health, which provides an annual overview of independent community pharmacies. The Digest found that the industry in 2022 represented 35% of all retail pharmacies in the United States. It continues to be true that no single pharmacy chain has more stores than all independents combined.

“Patients across the country look to their local independent pharmacy for critical healthcare services, but crippling economic pressures from pharmacy benefit managers and the broader marketplace can make it difficult to keep the doors open,” said NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey. "The NCPA Digest report helps us demonstrate the array of patient services these pharmacies offer and what they need to survive. Like those they serve, independent pharmacies are resilient, but they aren’t invincible. Reforms to the broken payment model are needed if we are to ensure successful pharmacies and healthier, happier patients.”

The 2023 NCPA Digest identifies the wide variety of services offered by independent community pharmacies in 2022: 87% of respondents provided flu immunizations; 80% offered medication therapy management; 88% provided non-flu immunizations; 59% performed blood pressure monitoring; 62% offered compounding; and 51% offered services for long-term care patients. From a philanthropic standpoint, 66% of independent community pharmacy owners donated to at least five local organizations in 2022, with 69% of pharmacies donating more than $3,000 annually to support community organizations.

Additional highlights from the NCPA Digest covering the independent community pharmacy marketplace include:  

• The estimated number of independent community pharmacies declined, falling to 19,432 locations in 2023 from 19,479 the year prior.
• Independent pharmacy represented a $94 billion marketplace in 2022, with gross profit margin falling to 21%, its lowest point in the NCPA Digest report’s 10-year lookback window. This reflects factors like low or below-cost third-party reimbursements, inflation (which showed up in drug prices), and a higher cost of dispensing.
• In 2022, the average prescription volume was 66,218 per store, an increase from the 63,228 prescriptions dispensed in 2021. Eighty-six percent of prescriptions at independent pharmacies are filled with a generic drug.
• Government programs continued accounting for more than half of all prescriptions sold in independent community pharmacies, with 51% of total prescriptions covered by the Medicare Part D and Medicaid programs.
• Ninety-two percent of independent community pharmacy respondents identified their primary pharmacy operation as retail pharmacy.

1. Nearly 3,500 pharmacies are participating in the CPESN USA national network of clinically integrated pharmacies. To date, almost 250 national or local network contracts have been completed or activated.

NCPA also announced that it is creating a limited liability company, called Trust LLC, which will investigate and, when appropriate, litigate or arbitrate on behalf of community pharmacies to recover coerced price concessions, otherwise known as pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration fees. NCPA believes DIR fees were assessed by the PBMs and insurance plans in violation of federal antitrust law and state contract laws. It’s the second major legal effort announced in the past several weeks. In September, the group applauded a class-action lawsuit against CVS Health, CVS Caremark and Aetna brought by an independent pharmacist from Iowa who also is a member of NCPA.

“PBMs shouldn't be able to make assessing junk DIR fees against competing pharmacies a multi-billion dollar cottage industry that puts their competition out of business and compromises patient care,” said Hoey, adding, “It’s completely anti-competitive, and we’re fighting back.”

Hoey continued, “These companies have nearly unlimited resources and it’s almost impossible for a single independent pharmacy to fight them alone. The way the contracts are set up, arbitration for claims like these can top $1,000,000 for a single pharmacy. NCPA’s efforts allow independent pharmacies to assign their claims to TRUST LLC to fight the PBMs together,” said Hoey. “It’s still not an even playing field, but we have a much better chance of getting justice if we join forces.”

Trust LLC has retained the law firms of Berger Montague PC, Cohen & Gresser, and Baker Donelson to lead the litigation. Berger Montague and Cohen & Gresser are the firms that filed the class-action lawsuit against CVS Health in federal court last month.

“Community pharmacists are indispensable providers of health care in communities across the United States,” said Katie Funk, a partner with Baker Donelson. “We look forward to working with NCPA to expose the unconscionable PBM practices that are driving up costs, eliminating patient choice, and driving community pharmacies out of business.”

During the convention, the NCPA Foundation announced the recipients of this year’s NCPA Foundation scholarships. The NCPA Foundation proudly awards scholarships each year to college students pursuing community pharmacy ownership, recognizing those with demonstrated leadership qualities, academic achievement and an interest in independent pharmacy. Scholarship awardees receive funds to be put toward tuition as well as a complimentary registration to this year’s NCPA Annual Convention and a travel stipend. 

Congratulations to the following NCPA student members receiving a 2023 NCPA Foundation scholarship:

J.C. and Rheba Cobb Memorial Scholarship in Government Affairs

Bailey Deas, Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy

Neil Pruitt Sr. Memorial Scholarship for Entrepreneurism

Natalie Novak, Mercer University College of Pharmacy

William B. Simmons Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy Management

Joann Hi, The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy 

Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship

Jordan Conner, Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy

Fay Hussain, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy

Ashley Vazquez Negron, University of Puerto Rico, School of Pharmacy

Jubin Saji, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in Saint Joseph’s University

Caroline Sockwell, Union University College of Pharmacy

Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship, sponsored by Salvatori-Scott in memory of Steve Salvatori

Anisha Jackson, Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Sam Smith, Mercer University College of Pharmacy

PresidentialScholarship, sponsored by McKesson/RxOwnership

Emilie Barleben, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

Mary Christine Buehner, Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy 

Collin Kruczek, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy

Caitlin Rohrbaugh, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy

Destiny Rogers, Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Daniella Salawu, Regis University School of Pharmacy

Josuah Tilus, Palm Beach Atlantic University Gregory School of Pharmacy

Haley Weaver, Harding University College of Pharmacy

Allison Welsh, North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy

Joshua Wilson, Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Additionally, Kelly Selby, co-owner of Community Pharmacy in Denton, Texas, was named the recipient of the 2023 National Preceptor of the Year Award by the NCPA Foundation. This award recognizes a pharmacist who has made a significant contribution to the education of pharmacy students as a preceptor in a community practice setting.

Selby graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1981. He has an extensive background in sterile and nonsterile compounding and has received the distinction of Fellow from the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. By sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience he helps shape the next generation of pharmacists, instilling in them the values of professionalism and excellence. For many he is a go-to resource for all things pharmacy-related, making a positive impact on the lives of those he serves.

He is passionate about promoting the pharmacy profession and tirelessly advocates for its importance in health care. Selby remains active in multiple national and state pharmacy organizations and serves on the board of Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the PCCA Pharmacist of the Year (2016) and the Southwestern Oklahoma State College of Pharmacy Professional Achievement Award (2017) and Outstanding Alumnus Award (2019).

Johnathan Hamrick, adjunct clinical assistant professor at the Mercer University College of Pharmacy, has been named the 2023 Outstanding Faculty Liaison of the Year, which recognizes a faculty liaison who demonstrates exceptional leadership and commitment to independent pharmacy, their NCPA Student Chapter, and the community.

Hamrick’s passion for this field began early during his college years, when he started as a delivery driver at Adams Drug Store in Cordele, Ga. He quickly recognized the vital role of independent community pharmacists in fostering strong patient connections. After earning his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2010, he took on the role of pharmacist-in-charge at Kenmar Pharmacy in Marietta, where he also served as a preceptor. In 2014, he returned to his alma mater, Mercer University College of Pharmacy, to serve as a clinical assistant professor and director of introductory pharmacy practice experiences.

Hamrick’s dedication to student growth and community pharmacy innovation shone brightly at Mercer. He created and coordinated an Advanced Community Pharmacy elective, providing students with hands-on opportunities to explore the innovative services and endless possibilities of community pharmacy practice. He also served as the faculty adviser for the NCPA Student Chapter for more than seven years. In this role, he encouraged student engagement with NCPA which led to several students serving on the Student Leadership Board; wrote countless NCPA Foundation Scholarship recommendation letters; served as a mentor for the chapter’s Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition team; and proctored exams remotely during NCPA conventions to ensure students would be able to attend the meetings.

Recognizing his expertise and leadership, Hamrick was recruited to serve as the Lead Network Facilitator for CPESN Georgia, where he plays a pivotal part in promoting collaborative care and patient-centered services. He remained connected to Mercer as an adjunct clinical assistant professor and faculty adviser for the NCPA Student Chapter, ensuring independent community pharmacy was still represented.

Hamrick also serves as a clinical pharmacist at Poole’s Pharmacy in Marietta. He continues to mentor student and early-career pharmacists through precepting introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences and serves as the site coordinator for participation in the NCPA Innovation Center/CPESN Community Pharmacy Fellowship.

Sacramento pharmacy owner Clint Hopkins has received this year’s NARD Ownership Award from the NCPA Foundation. 

The NARD Ownership Award recognizes an independent community pharmacist who embraces entrepreneurial spirit through promotion and demonstrated excellence in the field of community pharmacy ownership. NARD, or the National Association of Retail Druggists, was for a century the name associated with independent pharmacy. The organization was founded in 1898, and now as NCPA, represents the nation’s community pharmacists.

Hopkins graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis with his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2007. Before becoming a pharmacy owner, he worked across the pharmacy industry, serving as a pharmacy manager for several chain stores, a hospital staff pharmacist, an operating room pharmacist, an informatics pharmacist, a pharmacogenomics consultant and an electronic health records consultant. After years of being on the road consulting, Hopkins found that his true passion was in providing compassionate, culturally aware, community-based pharmacy care. He found independent pharmacy to be the best place to make a difference in the profession. 

He and his husband Joel Hockman relocated to Sacramento in 2016 to purchase Pucci’s Pharmacy from Tom and Linda Nelson, who had already set the stage for providing quality care to the local LGBTQ+ community. Hopkins and Hockman opened Pucci’s LTC Pharmacy earlier this year and, in April 2023, acquired Eddie’s Pharmacy in Los Angeles along with their business partners. They pride themselves on expanding health care access to those who are underserved. Hopkins advocates for pharmacists across California and the nation to be practicing at the top of their license and to be recognized by payers for their contributions to the health and well-being of their communities. 

Hopkins is currently serving on the Community Pharmacy Advisory Group Steering Committee for the California Pharmacists Association and is also serving on the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Advisory Board for AmerisourceBergen. He was also recognized with the 2023 California Pharmacists Association’s Pharmacist of the Year Award.

Additionally, a team of student pharmacists from the University of South Carolina was named the winner of the 20th annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. A team from the University of Georgia was the runner-up, and a team representing the University of Texas at Austin finished as the second runner-up.  

“For independent pharmacy owners, having a solid business plan helps you confront whatever challenges inevitably arise,” said NCPA president Hugh Chancy. “Students participating in this competition grow both personally and professionally; they move into their careers better equipped to roll with the punches and be successful owners and leaders in the industry. While we applaud each team that took part, one was a cut above the rest. Congratulations to the University of South Carolina for rising to the top of a very strong group!”

The business plan competition is the first national competition of its kind in the pharmacy profession. The contest is named in honor of two great champions of independent community pharmacy, the late Neil Pruitt, Sr. and the late H. Joseph Schutte. Its goal is to motivate student pharmacists to create a business model for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new one. Through this competition, NCPA is helping to prepare tomorrow’s pharmacy entrepreneurs. The competition is supported by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, and the NCPA Foundation.

The three finalist teams presented their business plans in a live competition at the convention. The judges for this year’s live competition were Mike Bollinger, Melissa Jostand, Bill LaRose, John Schutte, Ken Thai and Gabe Trahan.

“The NCPA Foundation helps cultivate the next generation of independent community pharmacy owners and the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition is our crown jewel in those efforts,” said Jerry Shapiro, president of the NCPA Foundation. “Many past participants in the competition have gone into ownership and point to this experience as being an important steppingstone in achieving that goal.”

The winning team from the University of South Carolina is comprised of team captain Jacob King and team members Farehaa Hussain and CharLeigh Steverson. The team adviser is Patti Fabel, and the dean is Stephen J. Cutler. Their chapter received $3,000, and an additional $3,000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent community pharmacy at the college of pharmacy. The team members, team advisers, and dean also will receive complimentary registration, travel and lodging to NCPA’s 2024 Multiple Locations Conference this February in Florida.

The runner-up, the University of Georgia, is comprised of team captain Noah Gurr and team members Dallas Hardin, Will Marquess, and Jack Reynolds. The team advisers are Ashley Hannings and Matt Lastinger, and the dean is Kelly Smith. Their chapter received $2,000, and an additional $2,000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent community pharmacy at the college of pharmacy.

The second runner-up, the University of Texas at Austin, is comprised of team captain Daniel Flores and team members Weston Esplin, Samantha Padilla, and Vraj Patel. The team advisers are Terry Weaver and Nathan Pope, and the dean is Samuel Poloyac. Their chapter received $1,000, and an additional $1,000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent community pharmacy at the college of pharmacy. 

The teams rounding out the top 10 of the competition, listed alphabetically, are Harding University College of Pharmacy; Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy; Palm Beach Atlantic University; Rutgers University; the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy; and the University of Oklahoma.

What's more, William Letendre of Cornelius, N.C. and Naples, Fla., was awarded the 2023 John W. Dargavel Medal.

The McKesson Corporation sponsors the annual award that honors an individual whose contributions on behalf of independent pharmacy embody the spirit of leadership and accomplishment personified by John W. Dargavel, who was executive secretary of the National Association of Retail Druggists, now NCPA, from 1933-1961. In fact, the NCPA Foundation was established in 1953 to honor Dargavel.

Letendre received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, his Master of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Early in his career, he owned and operated six community pharmacies, two home infusion pharmacies and a home care supply company located in the state of New Hampshire.

He has held appointments as adjunct professor at several colleges of pharmacy in the United States during his career and has been honored as a Fellow in the American College of Apothecaries, the American Pharmacists Association and the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. Letendre is the recipient of the American Pharmacists Association Distinguished Achievement Award in Specialized Pharmaceutical Services and the Texas Pharmacy Association Pharmacist of the Year, and also has received NCPA’s Outstanding Faculty Liaison Award. 

He is a past president of the American College of Apothecaries, the New Hampshire Pharmacists Association and the Texas Pharmacy Association, and recently completed his third term on the Board of Commissioners for the Accreditation Commission of Health Care, where he serves as the treasurer of the organization. Letendre also served as president of the Sanibel-Captiva (Florida) Rotary Club for two terms (1987-1988 and 2021-2022).

Letendre retired in 2022 as vice president of pharmacy management services for the Professional Compounding Centers of America, in Houston, Texas. He and his wife, Lise, recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. They have three sons and four grandchildren.\

Lastly,  NCPA and Upsher-Smith announced that Theresa Tolle, owner of Bay Street Pharmacy in Sebastian, Fla., is the winner of the 2023 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award.  The annual award is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to community and commitment to independent pharmacy. This year marks Upsher-Smith’s 15th year of sponsoring the prestigious award in conjunction with NCPA. The award is named in honor of Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (then known as the National Association of Retail Druggists) and a longtime trustee of the NCPA Foundation.  Tolle, a second-generation owner and pharmacist, has led Bay Street Pharmacy alongside her husband, Joe, since 1999 offering a wide range of patient services immunizations and testing, diabetes education, compounding, medication therapy management and pharmacogenomics. The pharmacy also serves as a postgraduate year one community-based residency program site affiliated with the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.   Beyond her pharmacy, Tolle's professional impact extends across local, state and national pharmacy associations. She has held leadership roles in the Florida Pharmacy Association, the American Pharmacists Association and the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network Florida. Tolle actively participates in NCPA committees and plays a pivotal role in the development of clinically integrated networks for independent pharmacies, serving as the Lead Luminary of CPESN Florida. She actively contributes to numerous committees within CPESN USA, furthering the reach of independent pharmacy care.   In her community, Tolle chairs the Board of Trustees for her local hospital, Sebastian River Medical Center, and also contributes to Substance Abuse Free Indian River. She previously served as a board member for the Sebastian Chamber for more than 14 years.  Tolle's illustrious career has earned her several distinguished professional awards including the 2023 Kappa Epsilon Fraternity KE/Merck Vanguard Leadership Award, 2019 UF College of Pharmacy Outstanding Alumnus recognition and the 2018 NCPA Preceptor of the Year, among others.   “Upsher-Smith is honored to partner with NCPA in recognizing the invaluable contributions of independent pharmacists and extends our warmest congratulations to Theresa Tolle whose dedication to her profession, community, and, most importantly, her patients, serves as an inspiring example for pharmacists nationwide, said Rich Fisher, president and chief operating officer of Upsher-Smith.   Hugh Chancy, president of NCPA added, “Theresa’s remarkable achievements exemplify the essence of independent pharmacy where pharmacists like Theresa make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and communities. Theresa’s commitment to patient care and professional excellence is a source of inspiration for pharmacists and makes her a deserving recipient of this year’s Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award. We congratulate Theresa on this well-deserved honor and thank Upsher-Smith for its continued support in highlighting the outstanding work of community pharmacists.”