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Articles

Kevin Cleveland, PharmD, urges evidence-based approaches to immunizations in an era of uncertainty.

Q&A: How ACIP Changes Could Reshape Patient Care

Following his presentation at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions, Jon Easter caught up with Drug Topics to discuss the pharmacists’ role in diabetes management.

The Opportunities, Gaps in Diabetes Care Making Pharmacists Stand Out | ADA 2025

As state-level PBM reform heats up amid dire situations for many retail pharmacies, Walgreens Chief Pharmacy Officer Rick Gates joins Drug Topics to discuss ongoing industry challenges.

The Ongoing Challenges Causing Need for Reform in Retail Pharmacy

Patients who used the Bigfoot Unity Diabetes Management System had glycemic control and reduced diabetes distress.

Smart Insulin Pen Cap System Shows Sustained Glycemic Improvement Over 12 Months | ADA 2025

Drug Topics connects pharmacists across retail, health system, and specialty practice with clinical updates, pharmacy trends, and regulatory news.

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The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) recently announced the formation of the Independent Community Pharmacy Consortium for Government Engagement. Designed to create a framework for pharmacies, organizations, and other entities within the pharmaceutical supply chain, NCPA is spearheading this consortium with hopes of alleviating future public health crises.

“Well, we're not trying to replace anything that exists and that functions well today,” said Kurt Proctor, PhD, RPh. “[The consortium] is more to be there and to be ready when something happens and somebody needs to engage independents broadly. Again, we’re the easy button for them to do that.”

To discuss this independent pharmacy “easy button,” Proctor joined 

. As President of the NCPA Innovation Center, he’s played a leading role in getting the consortium off the ground. From the COVID-19 pandemic’s direction on future public health issues to the constant readiness exhibited by independents across the country, Proctor explained exactly why he believes this is a win for patients and pharmacies in the US.

Stay tuned for weekly podcast episodes on Over the Counter every Thursday afternoon. Check out our previous episode with 

, also known as “The Nutrition Pharmacist.” She discussed new-year diets and the unique combination of pharmacy and nutrition.

PBMs Significantly Marked Up Specialty Generic Drugs

Don’t get left behind: Sign up today for our 

 and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips delivered straight to your inbox.

The new initiative is a way for NCPA to proactively engage its network of community pharmacies during a potential public health crisis.

NCPA's New Consortium Exemplifies Preparedness in Community Pharmacy

Rob Frankil, RPh, discusses how independent pharmacies in Pennsylvania are dealing with the impact of Rite Aid stores closing.

Q&A: Pharmacies Grapple With Patient Influx Amid Rite Aid Closures

Amina Abubakar, PharmD, AAHIVP, joined Drug Topics to discuss her career journey as an independent pharmacy owner and the ways in which she’s been able to grow her business.

Q&A: How Innovation is at the Heart of this Independent Pharmacy’s Growth

A conversation with Erin Albert, MBA, PharmD, JD, DASPL, chief of pharmacy relations, network and privacy, at Cost Plus Drugs.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Affiliate Pharmacy Network Aims to Support Independent Pharmacies

Douglas Hoey, CEO of NCPA, discusses what independent pharmacies can do to handle an influx of patients and what the chain’s situation means for the pharmacy landscape.

Q&A: Douglas Hoey on How Rite Aid’s Closure Will Impact Independent Pharmacies

Nearly a year after the change to direct and indirect remuneration fees, pharmacy owners talk about how the ruling has impacted their lives.

The DIR Hangover One Year Later: How Have Pharmacists Fared?

A conversation with Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, CEO of NCPA, on the chain pharmacy’s announcement of a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Rite Aid’s Closure is a Call to Action to Address Pharmacy Payment Model

Rite Aid, which was once one of the largest pharmacy chains in the United States, recently announced it has filed its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will be closing all of its stores or selling them.

The company, which has continued to face financial hardships since filing for its first Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023, said its stores will remain open for the next few months so that patients can continue to receive care.

Rite Aid currently has 1240 stores located in 15 states, down from about 2100 when it filed its first bankruptcy. The company said in a letter to customers it is “working to facilitate a smooth transfer of customer prescriptions to other pharmacies.”

According to a previous survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), 43% of respondents said they are located near a chain pharmacy that has been impacted by closures or reduced hours.

Although nearly 90% of respondents said they would be able to absorb patients who were receiving care at one of the chain stores, but low reimbursement, and not enough staff or resources would make it difficult.

® recently sat down with Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, CEO of NCPA, to discuss how Rite Aid store closures will impact independent pharmacies across the country, what independent pharmacies can do to effectively handle an influx of patients, and what Rite Aid’s situation means for the pharmacy landscape.

“Without payment reform, pharmacies as we know them are moving toward extinction—that won’t happen—but it’s a call to action for legislators who have been sitting on their hands and employers who have been unaware of the situation that they need to do something different,” Hoey said. “What they need to do differently is they need to pay pharmacies fairly. Cost-plus, a fair dispensing fee, transparency, simplicity, [and] predictability is what is needed to fix this broken system.”

Pharmacy practice is always changing. Stay ahead of the curve: Sign up for our

and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips, straight to your inbox.

1. Rite Aid Is Pursuing a Strategic and Value-Maximizing Sale Process. News Release. Rite Aid. May 5, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. 

https://news.riteaid.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Rite-Aid-Is-Pursuing-a-Strategic-and-Value-Maximizing-Sale-Process/default.aspx

2. NCPA Survey: Chain Pharmacy Closures an Opportunity and a Threat for Independents. News Release. NCPA. September 28, 2023. Accessed May 8, 2025. 

https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2023/09/28/ncpa-survey-chain-pharmacy-closures-opportunity-and-threat

Videos

Total Pharmacy

A conversation with Jennifer Bacci, PharmD, MPH, endowed associate professor of Innovative Pharmacy Practice at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.

Community Pharmacy’s Future Hangs on Advocacy, Support From All Healthcare Professionals 

In the United States, it is projected that between 20% to 30% of all community pharmacies will close within the next year.

 Declining reimbursement for prescription medications, opaque and anticompetitive pricing practices of pharmacy benefit managers, and limited reimbursement for clinical services have left many community pharmacies across the country struggling.

According to the authors of a commentary published in the 

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association

, embracing the role community pharmacy teams play in patient care and advocating for payment transparency and transformation will be critical for community pharmacy’s survival into the future. In order for this to occur, professionals within all of pharmacy, as well as across the healthcare landscape, will need to help.

Jennifer Bacci, PharmD, MPH, endowed associate professor of Innovative Pharmacy Practice at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and an author on the commentary, sat with 

 to discuss what can be done to shift public perception of community pharmacists, how to address misconceptions about community pharmacy practice among other healthcare professionals, and how pharmacists can effectively advocate for fair reimbursement and payment transparency.

“I think [pharmacy closures] will take a toll on the health care system overall and other providers,” Bacci said. “I think about how often a phone rings in one community pharmacy in a day. All the questions that come in via phone or in person because it’s where someone can get a hold of a trained healthcare professional the most quickly. What’s going to happen if those individuals can’t get those questions answered? Where else will they be able to turn to get those questions answered? What will be the consequences to their health and medication use? I think that will have a strain on the healthcare system and healthcare providers across the system.”

1. Bacci JL, Carroll JC, Coley KC, et al. Act for the Future of Community Pharmacy. 

 (2003). 2024 Sep 25:102256. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102256. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39332524.

TaQuina Warren, PharmD: Part 1

TaQuina Warren, PharmD: Part 2

TaQuina Warren, PharmD: Part 3

TaQuina Warren, PharmD, is an independent pharmacist and owner of Focus Pharmacy in Smyrna, Delaware. She has been a community pharmacy owner since 2019 and is touted in high regard amongst community members and peers within the state of Delaware. She prides herself on being a pillar of valued care in her community, and she sat down to discuss her experience in pharmacy.

Warren has always wanted to serve her communities and take care of the people who make those communities thrive. She first wanted to pursue a career as an OBGYN but was later encouraged to consider a profession in pharmacy, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Known as “Dr. Tee” to her patients, Warren has become somewhat of a celebrity in her community. Appearing on programs like “Good Morning America” and being recognized by pharmacy customers on a daily basis, she has garnered a reputation for providing care and always being a resource for the patients within her community.

, Warren discussed her experience as a pharmacist and their expanding role within health care, and she touched on some of the inner workings of her pharmacy practice.

Our coverage of American Pharmacists Month continues all October. To view all of our interviews, 

visit our American Pharmacists Month landing resource center

In an interview with Drug Topics, TaQuina Warren, PharmD, discussed what it means to serve her community and how she has garnered a reputation within her profession.

The Celebrity Pharmacist Bridging Gaps in Community Care

Benjamin Jolley, PharmD: Part 1

Benjamin Jolley, PharmD: Part 2

Benjamin Jolley, PharmD: Part 3

Benjamin Jolley, PharmD, is an independent pharmacist at Jolley’s Compounding Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, Utah. With nearly 20 years in the profession, Jolley shared his insights on the industry as a whole and what his pharmacy experience has been like.

Jolley grew up around the pharmacy profession: His grandfather was a pharmacist, which encouraged Jolley to follow that same career. His entire career has been in independent community pharmacies and he has since evolved into consulting within the independent space.

analysis of pharmacy locations across the country

, detailing the 2000-plus stores that have closed in 2024 alone. And amidst ongoing pressure toward pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, Jolley has teamed up with independents across the country to fight back as an advocate for community pharmacies.

, Jolley discussed his experience as a pharmacist and their expanding role within health care, and he touched on some of the inner workings of his pharmacy practice.

Our coverage of American Pharmacists Month continues all October. To view all of our interviews, 

Drug Topics sat down with Benjamin Jolley, PharmD, of Jolley’s Compounding Pharmacy, to discuss the pharmacy industry and his experience in a myriad of roles within the profession.

An Independent Pharmacist’s Journey to Championing Community Care

At AAP 2024, Kathy Campbell, PharmD, discussed obstacles that pharmacies may face when transitioning to a wellness-focused approach.

How Pharmacies Can Effectively Transition to a Wellness-Focused Model

At the American Associated Pharmacies (AAP) Annual Conference, held April 4 to 6 in San Diego, California, Kathy Campbell, PharmD, pharmacist and patient advocate at Medicap Pharmacy in Owassa, Oklahoma, and CEO of DrKathy Health, sat down with 

to talk about some obstacles pharmacies may face when transitioning to a wellness-focused approach and how they can overcome them, as well as how pharmacies can communicate and engage with their communities to promote the adoption of proactive health behaviors and wellness initiatives.

“The big 3 obstacles that I know I’ve had to overcome and assist others in overcoming, I’ve got broken down into identity, who as a pharmacy do you see yourself as,” Campbell said. “Is it a dispensing model? And granted, that’s part of it. Or is it a clinical, proactive, consultation model? So, the identity of pharmacy as a profession and the pharmacist is something that they really have to identify.”

The second obstacle that Campbell said pharmacies may face when transitioning is inertia. Campbell said that inertia can take many shapes, such as being consumed by day to day tasks or the cash flow of filling more and more prescriptions. She added that this inertia can get pharmacists stuck and it’s important to take a critical look at how to change the model.

“The third one [and the one] that’s probably hardest for me is isolation,” Campbell said. “I’m not an independent pharmacist, I’m an isolated pharmacist. A lot of pharmacists are a little introverted and we tend to, or at least I tend to, just try and make it work and often don’t seek help outside of myself, outside of my business…So, if you want to break out of that, you often have to collaborate, both for the health of our business, and also for the health of our patients or ourselves.”

to follow along with all of our AAP 2024 coverage.

Joe McKamey, general manager at Marcrom’s Pharmacy, highlights the potential pitfalls or misconceptions when opening a Medicare-focused insurance agency.

Addressing Misconceptions Around Opening A Medicare-Focused Insurance Agency

At the American Associated Pharmacies (AAP) Annual Conference, held April 4 to 6 in San Diego, California, 

sat down with Joe McKamey, general manager at Marcrom’s Pharmacy in Manchester, Tennessee, to talk about potential pitfalls or misconceptions that pharmacies might encounter when opening their own Medicare-focused insurance agency and why it’s essential for the insurance agency to operate as a standalone business separate from the pharmacy.

“One of the common misconceptions is, ‘Is this legal?’ It’s totally legal,” McKamey said. “It’s basically like if you owned an ice cream shop and you were telling your patients ‘Hey, I own this ice cream shop, you should go get this great ice cream.’ Nobody has any problem with that. It’s really the same thing. You just own another business that you’re referring people to. I think that’s something that a lot of people struggle to get over.”

McKamey also discussed why it's crucial to keep the insurance agency separate from pharmacy operations. This is important because steering a patient towards a certain insurance plan is not something patients or other insurance companies would see as good business practice. Keeping patient information private is also critical. If you would not share some patient data from your pharmacy with another insurance company, than you also should not share it with your own.

“There’s not really a lot of downside to it,” McKamey said. “Because here’s the truth. In any business, what we’re all looking for are people. What we’re all looking for are potential customers and that’s especially true in a business like insurance. With that being the case, we already have access to people. We’ve got a huge blessing in that we’ve got people walking in the door all the time. The business is there. People need it. It’s just a matter of connecting the dots and doing it.”

Joe McKamey, general manager at Marcrom’s Pharmacy, highlights the potential pitfalls or misconceptions that pharmacies may encounter when opening a Medicare-focused insurance agency.

Eric Fromhart, co-founder and chief growth officer at Aventi Health, discusses how pharmacies can use 340B to increase profits.

How Pharmacies Can Successfully Leverage 340B

At the American Associated Pharmacies (AAP) Annual Conference, held April 4 to 6 in San Diego, California, Eric Fromhart, co-founder and chief growth officer at Aventi Health, sat down with 

 to discuss how pharmacies can successfully leverage the 340B drug pricing program to expand service offerings and improve patient care, and how pharmacies can mitigate any potential risks when participating in the program.

“One is educate yourselves,” Fromhart said. “I think there’s been some complacency…I think pharmacists have generally thought of 340B as ‘[It’s} not really my program, it’s for the hospitals and health centers. If I get a call that there’s an opportunity, I’ll consider it.’ Whereas if you are proactive and educate yourself on how it can be beneficial to your business and take some ownership of that, I think the clear benefits would almost fuel a proactive type of mentality in pharmacists. I think that’s really what it takes.”

Fromhart added that if pharmacists are interested in participating in the 340B program, there are many steps along the way to stay on top of. For example, having relationships or networks with vendors is important and can help the process go more smoothly. As far as any potential risks for pharmacists looking to participate in 340B, Fromhart said there are a few to keep an eye out for.

“There’s countless experiences and probably anecdotal stories that pharmacists could tell you about how 340B has burned them or how it wasn’t a great thing,” Fromhart said. “I would say, again, back to education, that having a contract slapped on your desk and signing that without understanding what it actually means is not always going to lead to you being in a successful situation. Again, understanding the program and how best to structure it. In my opinion, 340B can and should be a no brainer. You can’t not make money if you do it the right way.”

Eric Fromhart, co-founder and chief growth officer at Aventi Health, discusses how pharmacies can use 340B to increase profits and how they can avoid any potential risks when participating in the program.

Independent Pharmacy

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