November 2012 - Northeast Pharmacy Service Corporation
November 2012 - Northeast Pharmacy Service Corporation
November 2012 - Northeast Pharmacy Service Corporation
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Network News<br />
WWW.NORTHEASTPHARMACY.COM<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
SPECIAL POINTS OF<br />
INTEREST:<br />
∗<br />
Lexmark laser printers<br />
for sale (page 5)<br />
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:<br />
SXC dba Catamaran 3<br />
What I Learned From<br />
Walgreens<br />
4-5<br />
HIPAA Security Part II 6<br />
Alert Your New<br />
Vendors<br />
Medicare B Updates 8<br />
Medicare D Update 9<br />
Immunization Page 10<br />
NPSC Purchasing<br />
Program <strong>2012</strong><br />
2013 EXPO<br />
H D SMITH<br />
FLEX TRAX<br />
KINRAY<br />
INSERTS<br />
7<br />
11<br />
By: David Benoit<br />
Dinner Meeting Highlights<br />
A round of dinner meetings has<br />
pretty much become an annual event.<br />
We see so many owners at the EXPO<br />
and receive lots of valuable feedback<br />
about the challenges Participating Pharmacies<br />
are facing. About half way<br />
through the year, we sit down with network<br />
participants to get a fresh view of<br />
our world. The meetings are always informative<br />
and lively. This latest round of<br />
dinner meetings pushed the value of the<br />
meetings to a<br />
new level.<br />
We invited<br />
our wholesaler<br />
vendors<br />
to join us and<br />
were rewarded<br />
by<br />
valuable input<br />
from them.<br />
We<br />
started to build the agenda with the topics<br />
that we knew were on peoples’<br />
minds. Then as the discussions expanded,<br />
we added new topics. We<br />
never knew exactly what we would be<br />
talking about; the meetings are dynamic<br />
and in this case exciting. Since many of<br />
you were unable to attend these meetings,<br />
I’ll provide a synopsis of some of<br />
the more interesting and unusual topics.<br />
340b programs have changed.<br />
Qualified health centers can have more<br />
than one contracted pharmacy. Since<br />
that change was made, a number of companies<br />
have emerged that administer the<br />
340b program on behalf of the health<br />
center and networks of pharmacies.<br />
Such programs are being run locally in<br />
the cities of Waterbury, CT and Boston,<br />
MA. About ten NPSC Participating<br />
Pharmacies have enrolled in these programs.<br />
Only time will tell how well the<br />
expansion of 340b works for the clinic,<br />
the administrator, and the pharmacies.<br />
This arrangement allows us to compete<br />
with Walgreens who offers 340b administration<br />
and contracts to these health<br />
clinics.<br />
CMS is asking pharmacies to voluntarily<br />
report their<br />
acquisition costs for<br />
generics so that they<br />
may calculate the National<br />
Average<br />
Drug Acquisition<br />
Cost (NADAC).<br />
As you recall, pharmacy<br />
has beaten back<br />
Average Manufacturer’s<br />
Price (AMP).<br />
This is the next round in CMS’ struggle<br />
to reimburse generics at acquisition<br />
cost. There was very strong opposition<br />
to providing this data voiced at our<br />
meetings. Implementation of NADAC<br />
would require the states to raise dispensing<br />
fees to a level that reflects the<br />
cost of filling prescriptions.<br />
We talked about the New England<br />
Compounding Center’s expanding<br />
disaster. On the local front, a second<br />
sterile compounder, Infusion Resource<br />
was inspected by the Mass Board of<br />
<strong>Pharmacy</strong>. The inspectors expressed<br />
concern for the sterility of products. In<br />
addition, patients were being administered<br />
intravenous medication on-site, an<br />
activity requiring a clinic license that the<br />
Continued on pg. 2
NEW NETWORK PARTICIPANTS<br />
Cornerstone <strong>Pharmacy</strong>, Stamford, CT<br />
Neighborhood Healthmart <strong>Pharmacy</strong>, Methuen, MA<br />
Salem Health Mart <strong>Pharmacy</strong>, Salem, CT<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
company did not have. The Board issued an immediate cease and desist and quarantine<br />
notice. Subsequently, the company voluntarily surrendered its pharmacy license.<br />
NCPA has reported that Congress is considering the options relating to pharmacy<br />
compounding. Both the House and Senate Committees which have jurisdiction over this<br />
matter are currently conducting investigations. NCPA believes that it is likely that both<br />
will hold a hearing to further examine the tragic outbreak during the “lame-duck” session<br />
after the election. Congress is also interested in hearing pharmacy groups’ views on<br />
whether the FDA needs more authority to regulate compounding,<br />
and potential legislative options to address the current situation.<br />
States are also looking at possible actions, such as tightening up rules<br />
relating to pharmacy compounding and increasing inspections.<br />
What is happening in your state? Keep your eyes and ears<br />
open. The disaster keeps getting worse.<br />
Medicare began a program in October that penalizes<br />
hospitals for high re-admission rates. Poorly performing hospitals<br />
can lose 1% of their payments this year and 2% next year. This initiative<br />
focuses on congestive heart failure (CHF), acute myocardial infarction<br />
(AMI), and pneumonia (pneumonia). In most quarters, patient<br />
compliance with discharge orders and medications are seen as<br />
the weak links to be mended. Some larger hospitals actually will use their outpatient<br />
pharmacies to become more involved with managing and monitoring these patients.<br />
There is even some federal grant money around. But smaller community hospitals will<br />
not have access to the kind of pharmacy resources they need. This means that you<br />
might have the opportunity to become a critical partner with your local hospital pharmacy<br />
Director. Find the name of that person and talk to them.<br />
If you don’t think this is a viable business, consider this: Walgreens has undertaken<br />
this initiative with about a dozen hospitals. It is called Well Transitions.<br />
Fax requests for continuation of therapy on controlled substances Class<br />
III–V. We try to make it crystal clear: PHARMACIES MAY NOT SEND A FAX RE-<br />
QUEST THAT FILLS IN THE PRESCRIPTION AND NEEDS ONLY THE PHYSICIAN<br />
SIGNATURE. Most software systems have already made the necessary changes or will<br />
Continued on page 3<br />
2<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Continued from page 2<br />
make them soon. The chains are all sending the same message to the doctors’ offices that we are.<br />
We have found that there are a significant number of pharmacies<br />
using CSOS where only the subscriber (usually the<br />
owner) is authorized to order online. We found a significant number<br />
that had filled out power of attorneys and had them on file in the<br />
store; authorized employees were using the subscriber’s key. Only a few<br />
stores had done it correctly. They filled out the Power(s) of Attorney,<br />
and submitted it with all required documentation to the DEA for approval.<br />
Each authorized person was provided their own “key” to order<br />
on the CSOS system. The wholesalers were the ones who pointed out<br />
that there were inspections by the DEA and fines being issued in New<br />
York State. DEA inspections will be coming to New England. Violations<br />
can cost $10,000 per line. This can be fixed pretty simply. You will find<br />
that your wholesaler that set you up on CSOS will be well experienced in<br />
expanding the number of authorized users. They’ll be happy to help.<br />
The chains have been pre-filling prescription refills. We have heard that nearly every chain<br />
pharmacist is under enormous pressure to pre-fill maintenance meds and then call the patient to tell<br />
them it is ready. It would be one thing if the patient had opted into this kind of adherence program.<br />
But it is a starkly different matter when the patient has not initiated the refill in a federally funded program.<br />
We have read that the Justice Department, the Department of Health and Human <strong>Service</strong>s, and<br />
the states of New Jersey and California are investigating claims that CVS/Caremark filled and billed<br />
without the approval or knowledge of the patient. Since this was first published in the Los Angeles<br />
Times, the newspaper subsequently reported that Target, Rite Aid, and Walgreens are also doing this.<br />
They are all denying this practice and any pressure or quotas on their pharmacy personnel. There is<br />
the potential for this to be really painful.<br />
Of course, there is much more that was discussed at the dinner meetings. We hope that you will<br />
be able to attend future meetings.<br />
SXC dba Catamaran<br />
By David Benoit<br />
Catamaran was formerly known as SXC. SXC sometimes referred to itself as Informed Rx. In the<br />
last year or more leading up to the name change, SXC took over NMHCRx, MedMetrics, Innoviant,<br />
and Catalyst, which had just bought Walgreen Health Initiatives. The name change might help employees<br />
to have a common name for their employer. But the amalgam of companies is not an organized,<br />
efficient model of scale; it is a disorganized, dysfunctional collection of parts that have been aimlessly<br />
cobbled together. There does not even appear to be a central command. That opinion might sound<br />
harsh but it is honest.<br />
In mid-July, Catamaran turned on a mandatory 90-day fill for maintenance medications for the Mass<br />
Neighborhood Health Plan, initially operated by MedMetrics. At the same time, it appears that Catamaran<br />
implemented a MAC list that goes well below anything we have ever seen. Hundreds of pricing<br />
appeals were sent to challenge below cost reimbursements. So far, only one owner has told me that a<br />
price actually was adjusted. That’s not really a cause for celebration because the adjustment only ameliorated<br />
the problem. Instead of losing $20 on a 90-day supply, the store only loses $13 now. For the<br />
rest of the appeals, owners are still waiting to get a response or have been told that the MAC will not<br />
be changed.<br />
It gives us no solace to learn that Neighborhood Health Plan had a record setting year financially.<br />
Now with that as background, think what Rhode Island pharmacists can look forward to. BCBS-RI is<br />
finally getting rid of CVS/Caremark. That must be proof that there is a higher power looking after us.<br />
Or is it? The new PBM for BCBS-RI is Catamaran! I hope I’m wrong.<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong> 3
What I Learned From Walgreens<br />
Scott Campbell<br />
Last winter I noticed a Walgreen’s<br />
commercial asking people to get 90 days<br />
supplies of their medications whenever<br />
possible. I was puzzled. This is a company<br />
with pharmacies that are over 10,000<br />
square feet of non-prescription store space.<br />
They sell things like makeup, toys, school<br />
supplies, food, health and beauty aids.<br />
Doesn’t their business model require customers<br />
to enter the store, and purchase<br />
non-prescription merchandise with their<br />
prescriptions, the more times the better?<br />
Isn’t the pharmacy both a draw for customers<br />
and a profit center? According to the<br />
Walgreens annual<br />
report, 35% of their<br />
sales are nonpharmacy<br />
or front<br />
store items. CVS has<br />
similar numbers. If<br />
people are getting 90<br />
days supplies of their<br />
maintenance medications<br />
that’s only 1<br />
trip every 3 months<br />
instead of 3 trips<br />
every 3 months. Doesn’t this go against<br />
their business model? I knew there was<br />
reason Walgreens was pushing the maintenance<br />
quantities; I just wasn’t sure what it<br />
was. I mentioned this to the student<br />
NCPA chapter at URI when one of the students<br />
responded that his job the summer<br />
before was to call physicians and get approval<br />
for 90 days supplies for maintenance<br />
medications. So now I was sure. There<br />
must be a strong financial reason to dispense<br />
90 days, and my next task was to find<br />
out what it was.<br />
First, I examined the prescription filling<br />
process and tried to put a dollar amount to<br />
each step in the process. The prescription<br />
processor, the counting technician (we do<br />
not have automation), the pharmacist<br />
checking, and the cashier’s time ringing the<br />
customer out. Then, I compared the relative<br />
costs of doing all of the functions three<br />
times if you fill a prescription once a month<br />
for three months, verses once every three<br />
months. As you might imagine almost all of<br />
the costs of doing the same job three times<br />
will be three times higher. The most expensive<br />
of which is having your pharmacist check the<br />
same prescription three times. What surprised<br />
me the most was the time and expense<br />
at the cash register. It takes about 2 minutes<br />
to have people sign request or decline pharmacist<br />
counseling, request or not child proof<br />
prescriptions bottles, and then of course sign<br />
that they received the prescription. But wait;<br />
there is one last final<br />
cost, PLASTIC! Do<br />
you know how high<br />
those fees are? Our<br />
average fee when<br />
plastic is involved is<br />
$0.75. Use plastic<br />
three times and that<br />
will take a bite out of<br />
profit. How much<br />
plastic do you take in<br />
these days? Do you<br />
anticipate plastic use will decrease in the future<br />
or increase? Now that’s just the cost of<br />
dispensing a prescription. What about retail<br />
pricing for 30 verses 90 days’ supply?<br />
The other day one of the technicians filled<br />
a simvastatin 10mg prescription for #30 tablets<br />
and we got paid $5.17 and our COGS (cost of<br />
goods sold) was $0.90. I noticed the physician<br />
had ordered #90 tablets. I asked the technician<br />
to reverse the claim and resubmit it for<br />
#90 tablets. We received $12.57 for #90 tablets<br />
and our COGS was $2.70. In this one example<br />
I was able to increase my profit from<br />
$4.27 to $9.87 considering the selling price<br />
alone. According to the <strong>2012</strong> NCPA digest<br />
the national average cost of dispensing a prescription<br />
is $12.19, the average cost to dispense<br />
in the <strong>Northeast</strong> region is $15.03. Figure<br />
in your net costs of filling that one $4.27<br />
three times. Assuming the NCPA average<br />
4<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
$12.19 cost to dispense a prescription is correct, we lose money<br />
both times, but we lose much less filling the prescription once for<br />
a 90 days supply.<br />
Yesterday an old customer came into the store and we were<br />
talking. Both he (asthma) and his wife (diabetes) had been forced<br />
to mandatory mail order a few years ago. His insurance had<br />
changed and he was going to Walgreens because they could do<br />
90 days supply. I said “I can do that too”! So he transferred his<br />
Advair 250/50 90 days supply. The profit for 3 months was<br />
$17.00. Now $17.00 profit on 3 boxes of Advair is a terrible gross margin of around 2.5%. If I had<br />
given him one 30 day supply my profit would have been $8.00 on one Advair 250 which would give a<br />
gross margin of around 3.5% not much better, but my net profit would have been much less. I know a<br />
2.5% gross margin is very low, but a $17.00 profit is better than an $8.00 profit. And we still pay our<br />
invoices in dollars not gross margin percents.<br />
How about our customers? I really think most would rather make one trip to the pharmacy every<br />
three months, especially with many of the low co-pays on generic medications. How many customers<br />
are not coming to me because I haven’t been filling 90 days supplies? How can I get the word out to<br />
welcome people back? Aren’t we in the customer service business? If the customers want larger quantities<br />
and fewer trips to the pharmacy, than that is what we should give them.<br />
The NCPA average cost to dispense for 2011 was $12.19. I like to use $10.00 as my break even<br />
line. If I can make more than $10, I win, if not try again. When you are filling 30 days supplies of generic<br />
maintenance medications how often do you make a gross profit of $10.00? Think of all the different<br />
medications; amlodipine, atenolol, citalopram, furosemide, metoprolol, simvastatin, lisinopril ,<br />
ramipril, quinapril, levothyroxine, fluoxetine, hctz, metformin, glyburide, losartan to name just a few<br />
that we are lucky to get reimbursed $5.00 for a 30 days supply. Do you think the list will be larger or<br />
smaller in 2013, 2014, and beyond. When I run my daily audit checking for co-pay offset cards, and<br />
checking for odd sizes or quantities to prevent insurance audits, I now add profitability to the mix. If I<br />
am not making $10.00 profit on a prescription I will investigate to see what I can do to increase my<br />
profits. Remember, with your staff it’s not their money, it’s not as important to them as it is to you. If<br />
you don’t do it, who will?<br />
One thing to do is make sure you can fill 90 day (extended day) supplies. There are some plans<br />
that allow you to fill 90 day without a separate contract, and other plans that require a separate contract.<br />
Call your PSO to find out if you can fill extended days for all contract.<br />
There are many lessons we can learn from the chains. This is one I latched onto. Does anyone<br />
else have an example of a chain program that we could all become more profitable doing? Please share<br />
so we can all learn from each other.<br />
United we stand, divided we fall.<br />
Scott Campbell is the owner of Ocean <strong>Pharmacy</strong> in Charlestown, RI. He is also a member of the NPSC Board of<br />
Directors. Connect with him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Health-Mart-<strong>Pharmacy</strong>-<br />
Charlestown/10150101968710436<br />
CLASSIFIED: Attention QS‐1 users. We have 4 used Lexmark laser printers<br />
for sale, one T‐630, two T‐640 with extra draw, one T‐642 with extra draw,<br />
all in perfect working order. All have nearly full high yield toner cartridges<br />
as well. No reasonable offer refused. Contact John or Steve at Johnson<br />
Compounding and Wellness Center 781‐893‐3870.<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong> 5
HIPAA SECURITY: A FOUR-PART SERIES<br />
By Karen Hekeler<br />
In the September issue of the Network News, we brought you through the first three<br />
steps of the HIPAA Security rule. Hopefully, you have set aside some time to complete<br />
those three steps. We will now continue with Step 4.<br />
Part II of IV<br />
HIPAA SECURITY<br />
Step 4:<br />
Step 5:<br />
Step 6:<br />
Step 7:<br />
In Tab 4 of the HIPAA Security binder, you will find a document titled<br />
“Risk Management Chart for Protecting Patient Information in Electric<br />
Form Administration Safeguards.” Please go through the chart and enter<br />
the date you completed each action item.<br />
The Security Regulations require you to have a BUSINESS ASSOCIATE<br />
AGREEMENT (BAA) on file with any entity you share PHI with that is<br />
not in itself a covered entity. Examples of who needs to have BAA on<br />
file include: IVR companies, <strong>Pharmacy</strong> and/or DME software companies,<br />
DME billing companies and any facility you deliver to where you<br />
are not delivering directly to the patient. Tab 4 has a copy of the BAA.<br />
Please go through your files and ensure you have a signed BAA on file<br />
for any of the business partners you are sharing PHI with.<br />
Under Tab 5, we have provided you with Security Policy and Procedures<br />
for all Employees. Please take a few minutes to familiarize your<br />
self with this policy and have your staff do the same. We have also<br />
provided you with a sample employment application.<br />
In Tab 6, you will find Personnel Policies Employee Sanctions. The Se<br />
curity Rule requires that all covered entities have appropriate sanc<br />
tions in place for employees who fail to comply. Please review this<br />
policy with your staff.<br />
Part III of this series will be included in the January issue of the Network News. If at<br />
any time during this process you have questions, please feel free to contact the<br />
NPSC office or your pharmacy consultant.<br />
6<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Alert Your New Vendors!<br />
By Dianne Shaffer<br />
From front-store to pharmacy supply, NPSC has contracted with many different types of<br />
vendors to assist you with your pharmacy’s needs. Pharmacies that are in our Prime Vendor<br />
Program meaning their primary wholesaler is H.D. Smith, McKesson or Kinray, will see<br />
additional incentives paid to them when they use any of our authorized vendors. Pharmacies<br />
that use any other primary wholesaler and are on our fair share program will see incentive<br />
credit applied to their quarterly statement.<br />
Please remember that if you place an order with one of our contracted vendors and you<br />
haven’t purchased from them before, or in quite a long time, you must inform them that<br />
you are a part of the <strong>Northeast</strong> <strong>Pharmacy</strong> <strong>Service</strong> network. If they are not aware of your affiliation<br />
with NPSC, the data necessary to process your incentives may not be entered correctly. This<br />
can lead to incentives missing from your quarterly statement. Research and “detective work” will need<br />
to be done so that you may receive proper credit. We want the process to be a smooth one for our<br />
network stores, so please keep this in mind when ordering from any vendors.<br />
Are you working with a vendor that you think would be a terrific fit for NPSC? Let us know! We are<br />
always interested in new vendors that may be beneficial to our stores! If you have any questions about<br />
the vendor program, or would like to refer a vendor to the program, please feel free to contact your<br />
field consultant or contact the office at 800-532-3742.<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong> 7
ABN - REMINDER<br />
Latest Advance Beneficiary<br />
Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) Dated 3/2011<br />
The ABN, Form CMS-R-131, is the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved<br />
standard notice. Failure to use this notice as mandated could result in the notice being<br />
invalidated and/or the supplier being held liable for the items or services in question.<br />
MEDICARE B<br />
On May 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid <strong>Service</strong>s (CMS) released an updated<br />
version of the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) (form CMS-R-131),<br />
which replaced the 2008 version of this form. The 2011 version contains no substantive<br />
changes from the 2008 version of the notice and was approved by the Office of Management<br />
and Budget. Suppliers are reminded that effective January 1, <strong>2012</strong>, only the<br />
ABN dated 3/2011 should be used when executing an ABN. Any ABNs that are executed<br />
on or after January 1, <strong>2012</strong>, must be the latest version. The latest version is identified<br />
by the release date of 3/2011 printed in the lower left-hand corner. If an older version<br />
of the ABN is issued on or after January 1, <strong>2012</strong>, it will be considered invalid.<br />
If you need the ABN dated 3/2011, you can go to our website, log in and go to Accreditation/Medicare<br />
B. The ABN is located under Medicare Billing Requirements.<br />
TUESDAYS AT 10<br />
There will not be a Tuesday at Ten program scheduled for December, but Tuesdays<br />
at Ten will resume in January. In the meantime, did you know that past<br />
Tuesday at Ten presentations are on our website? Log in, click on the Accreditation/Med<br />
B tab, and then scroll down to Medicare Billing Requirements. The<br />
first item is Tuesday at Ten Presentations. You can scan through the various<br />
presentations at any time to brush up on numerous Med B topics!<br />
Got a questions? Are you confused about<br />
Medicare B, Accreditation, the Exemption,<br />
Billing Immunizations to Medicare Part B,<br />
CMS 855B, CM855S, HIPAA, FWA, etc ?<br />
NPSC is here to help. Just give us a call.<br />
Don’t make a costly mistake that could cost<br />
you additional money in application fees, etc.<br />
Ask us first!<br />
1-800-532-3742.<br />
8<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Medicare D Update<br />
By David Benoit<br />
As you know we are in the open enrollment period for Medicare D enrollees and eligibles. You probably<br />
want to make certain that the patients who want to continue their care in your pharmacy know which plans to<br />
avoid.<br />
This is shaping up to be the year of the “Preferred” plans. Last year there were four networks that we<br />
could not participate in: Humana-Walmart, Aetna/CVS <strong>Pharmacy</strong>, RiteAid Envision Rx Plus, and First Health Part<br />
D Value Plus (Target, Walgreens and Walmart).<br />
For 2013, there is a new “Preferred” network for all AARP plans. I don’t have a lot of information about<br />
this plan. There have not been any changes to my network contracts regarding these new “Preferred” plans.<br />
When I searched for preferred pharmacies, I found Walgreens, Target, and Stop&Shop. In 2013, Community<br />
Care Rx will disappear. CCRx Basic will be rolled into the Silverscript Basic open network. CCRx Choice will<br />
be rolled into Silverscript Plus preferred network, which can include independents.<br />
Finally there is SmartD, the preferred network that RxAlly is partnering. As you know, this plan has very<br />
deep discounts and a $2 per prescription chargeback. While we have enrolled nearly all NPSC Participating<br />
Pharmacies, we have not elected to market the plan. SmartD has qualified for $0 premium LIS in our regions.<br />
Therefore, there will be some Medicaid enrollees who will be placed in SmartD. Otherwise, we want to see<br />
how SmartD helps RxAlly to develop Medication Therapy Management programs. It is these RxAlly programs<br />
that attracted us in the first place.<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong> 9
Free Tool to Promote Your Adult<br />
Immunization <strong>Service</strong>s<br />
ATTN: IMMUNIZING PHARMACISTS (NCPA e-news 9/25/<strong>2012</strong>)<br />
An enhanced, free, and online immunization locator is now available through HealthMap,<br />
a global disease-tracking resource overseen by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston<br />
Flu season is rapidly approaching, and with it, the launch of the newly redesigned and<br />
expanded HealthMap Vaccine Finder. Vaccine Finder now is highlighting the availability of<br />
all forms of influenza vaccine (traditional flu shot, nasal spray, intradermal and high dose).<br />
Later this year, the Vaccine Finder will expand to cover 10 adult vaccines and help individuals<br />
locate practices that administer the wide spectrum of adult vaccines.<br />
HealthMap Vaccine Finder will use geo-mapping to identify providers from the database<br />
within an identified radius who meet the vaccination criteria of an individual. Listing order<br />
will be based upon distance from the patient. All providers have the opportunity to<br />
enter information on their vaccine services into the database. The system allows you to<br />
upload a spreadsheet for multiple practices (template provided online) or manually enter<br />
information on a single practice.<br />
If you already have a Vaccine Finder account, enter your data on vaccines and vaccination<br />
services. Log-in at http://healthmap.org/vaccinefinder/admin/ to get started.<br />
If you have not already signed up for an account and would like to have your practice<br />
listed on HealthMap Vaccine Finder, go to http://healthmap.org/vaccinefinder/admin/<br />
signup/.<br />
2013 Practice Based Immunization Training for Pharmacists:<br />
Thursday, March 14, 2013<br />
Foxwoods Resort<br />
8:00AM-5:00PM<br />
Contact: joanne.nault@uconn.edu<br />
Check your insurance policy to ensure you are covered to provide<br />
immunizations. If your policy does not clearly state you are<br />
covered, it is more than safe to assume, YOU ARE NOT COV-<br />
ERED!<br />
Contact Al Martinelli at Pharmacists Mutual for a quote that will<br />
include coverage for pharmacists providing immunizations!<br />
al.martinelli@phmic.com 401-339-5902<br />
Attention Immunizing Pharmacies!<br />
ARE YOU COVERED?<br />
10<br />
IMMUNIZATIONS<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
By Pat Monaco<br />
NPSC Purchasing Program <strong>2012</strong><br />
The results are…<br />
More money back to you!<br />
For the 1 st quarter of <strong>2012</strong>, we returned $162,473.75 in incentives back to the network.<br />
The wholesaler program changed in April, <strong>2012</strong> to include higher generic<br />
incentives from H.D. Smith and Kinray, so the 2 nd quarter payout to the network increased to<br />
$188,402.31! McKesson’s new generic incentives went into place July 1, so the third and 4 th quarter<br />
payments are expected to increase as well. We are predicting that for the year of <strong>2012</strong> we will return<br />
approximately $700,000 to the network. This number surpasses any in our 20 year history!<br />
We added Quest Pharmaceuticals to the generic distributor listing this year to join Anda and Harvard.<br />
Letco (compounding supplies) which is owned by Harvard re-signed an agreement with NPSC<br />
for another year. Castine Candle joined the program right after the Expo and is doing well; Harmony<br />
is a new vendor for front end products that many of you will be very interested in (see advertisement<br />
enclosed), and Speedscript is a pharmacy system that also has long term care. If you have<br />
some vendors that you would like to recommend to us for the network, we want to hear from you!<br />
Once again, we appreciate your participation in our programs and look forward to returning record<br />
levels of incentives back to you in upcoming quarters!<br />
NETWORK NEWS - NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong> 11
NPSC Board of Directors<br />
Ed Schreiner Doug Pisano Steve MacQuarrie Mark Dumouchel<br />
Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer Clerk<br />
Stoll’s <strong>Pharmacy</strong> MA College of <strong>Pharmacy</strong> Marketing Consultant Eaton Apothecary<br />
Waterbury, CT Boston, MA Wellesley, MA Holliston, MA<br />
Darlene Able Scott Campbell Greg Conz<br />
Able Care <strong>Pharmacy</strong> Ocean <strong>Pharmacy</strong> Williamsburg <strong>Pharmacy</strong><br />
Enfield, CT Charlestown, RI Williamsburg, MA<br />
Walter Douglass James Garvey Paul Hackett<br />
Durham <strong>Pharmacy</strong> Apothecare Olden’s <strong>Pharmacy</strong><br />
Durham, CT Hyannis, MA So. Weymouth, MA<br />
Kim McDonough Shane Savage Rocky Tenaglia<br />
Adv <strong>Pharmacy</strong> Concepts Fairfield <strong>Pharmacy</strong> Nantasket <strong>Pharmacy</strong><br />
Kingston, RI Fairfield, ME Hull, MA<br />
<strong>Northeast</strong> <strong>Pharmacy</strong> <strong>Service</strong> <strong>Corporation</strong><br />
1661 Worcester Road, Suite 405<br />
Framingham, MA 01701<br />
Phone: 800-532-3742<br />
Fax: 508-875-6108<br />
www.northeastpharmacy.com<br />
www.facebook/northeastpharmacy.com