Revenues, Gross Profits Dip to Lowest Levels Since Medicare Part D, Great Recession

The 2018 NCPA Digest revealed that 92% of revenue for independents comes from prescription drugs, but margins are hampered by low reimbursement rates.  

The 10-year trends show that, since the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit was introduced, pharmacists’ gross margins have declined steadily. In 2017, 36% of prescriptions in independents were covered by Medicare Part D, and 17% by Medicaid; more than half of independent volumes are now paid by a government program. Most of the Affordable Care Act came into effect during this time as well. 

Pharmacists have cut payroll to help fill in the lost revenue, but it isn’t enough.