NACDS lays down gauntlet against PBM lobby at Regional Chain Conference

NAPLES, Fla. — In the five years since he has led the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, president and CEO Steve Anderson has operated under a sound policy; so simple, it is the advice he gives his own children: “We don’t start any fights — but we sure are going to finish them.” Earlier this month, Anderson and NACDS chairman Bob Loeffler, who also serves as H-E-B chief administrative officer, told NACDS Regional Chain Conference attendees here that now they are going to take that fight to the pharmacy benefit management lobby.


NACDS used the meeting to introduce the PBM threat as a new, third pillar to the critical policy issues it currently faces along with Medicaid average manufacturer price rule legislation and medication therapy management reimbursement.


In addition to running its own ads that tell the industry’s simple story — “Pharmacies. The face of neighborhood health care” — Anderson and Loeffler also urged attendees to participate in its RxImpact Day meetings March 21 to 22 in Washington, D.C.


NACDS noted that retailer attendance at the event exceeded 2011 levels by 15%. Key programs included a state of the pharmacy market report by IMS Health VP industry relations Doug Long and a panel discussion on how to forge relationships with lawmakers led by Kerr Drug VP pharmacy/government affairs Mark Gregory and Thrifty White EVP pharmacy Tim Weippert, and featuring special guest N.C. State Rep. Tom Murray.