National Community Pharmacists Association

08/10/2025

🌟 Meet Thad Schumacher, owner of Fitchburg Family Pharmacy in Fitchburg, Wis.

Since opening in 2013, Thad has built a practice rooted in trust, access, and innovation — offering free metro-area delivery, adherence packaging, test-to-treat, long-acting injectables, and more.

💬 “If I can be the person that answers that question on the fourth time, then you have that person’s trust," says Thad.

With a strong team and community focus, Thad is proud to be part of the NCPA network, working to lower barriers and improve care.

📖 Read more in America’s Pharmacist® August issue: https://ncpa.org/americas-pharmacist

08/09/2025

📍 Don’t miss out on in New Orleans, Oct. 18-21, the premier business event for independent pharmacy! 🎉🌟

The housing deadline is Sept. 23, and to lock in the best hotel rates, you must register for the convention and book your housing by that date. 📅

👉 Secure your spot now: https://ncpa.org/ac-reg-and-housing

08/08/2025

This week, Becky Snead, senior director of strategic initiatives and the Long-Term Care Division at NCPA, joined representatives from the Alliance for Long-Term Care Pharmacy @ Home to meet with the White House Domestic Policy Council to express the need for expanded access to LTC pharmacy at home.

For more information on our offerings and advocacy in this space, visit https://ncpa.org/ltc.

08/08/2025

Patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and kidney disease face a higher risk of serious illness, but many aren’t receiving recommended vaccines early enough.

Vaccine expert David Ha, PharmD, explains how pharmacies can use medication profiles to identify eligible patients and why timely pneumococcal and RSV vaccination is critical for these vulnerable groups.

📺 Watch now on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/fRskymMsFCY

David Ha, PharmD, discusses the importance of vaccinating patients with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, COPD, and as...

08/07/2025

🎙️ New episode alert! The latest Independent Rx Forum podcast is out now.

Join America’s Pharmacist® correspondents Chris Linville and Sam Manas, along with NCPA Foundation Executive Director Sonja Pagniano, as they share inspiring stories of independent pharmacists who stood strong through floods in North Carolina, wildfires in East Tennessee and LA, and more — all to keep their communities cared for.

🎧 Listen now: https://ncpa.org/rxforumpodcast

08/06/2025

Your diabetes patients already trust you — they’re picking up their medications, asking questions, and seeking your guidance. Do they know you can also educate them on managing their diabetes?

🩺 Diabetes self-management education lets pharmacists deliver personalized care that goes beyond dispensing — and it’s billable.

The key? Communicating that this is a clinical service — just like a doctor’s office visit — that can directly impact their health outcomes.

Diabetes Accreditation Boot Camp, kicking off Aug. 27, shows you how to get accredited and build trust and confidence with your patients.

Sign up: ncpa.org/dsme

08/06/2025

🚨 NCPA partnered with the Tennessee Pharmacists Association and American Pharmacists Association on a joint amicus brief in support of Tennessee’s law to regulate PBMs, which includes provisions banning PBMs from engaging in patient steering and from excluding pharmacies from preferred networks. "Nearly every state in the country has enacted, or is trying to enact, PBM reform to curb these abuses," said NCPA General Counsel Matthew Seiler. "Patients in Tennessee should have access to the health care providers they trust."

McKee Foods, the maker of baked goods such as Little Debbie snacks, challenged the law, arguing that states are preempted by ERISA.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/45o7ROD

08/05/2025

Last chance to register! Join us tomorrow, Aug. 6, for the All Pharmacy Townhall examining recent changes in vaccine policy and how they affect pharmacy practice and patient care.

Hosted by NCPA and several national pharmacy organizations, this joint webinar will cover updates to vaccine recommendations, what they mean for pharmacy personnel, and how to prepare for the upcoming respiratory infection season. A live Q&A will follow each session.

You can attend the live session from 1–2 p.m. ET or a replay session from 7–8 p.m. ET. Both include Q&A, so pick the time that works best for you!

🔗 Register here: https://ncpa.org/webinars

Join us for live one-hour webinars to discuss topical information for pharmacists and pharmacy owners.

08/05/2025

🖥️ Join us Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. ET for Harnessing the Pharmacist-Patient Relationship — a webinar on improving diabetes outcomes and boosting revenue through community-based education.

Discover how strong communication, bias recognition, and patient engagement can empower pharmacists to deliver better care, with a real-world case study and practical strategies you can apply right away.

🔗 Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MLH90kn1SZqHrQHgk8CvyA

Discover how pharmacist interventions over those of other healthcare providers drive better diabetes outcomes through patient-centered communication. This session utilizes a case study to demonstrate how language, provider bias, and engagement strategies directly impact patient health outcomes and c...

08/04/2025

🏥 “The community will support us, I’m sure they will. I’m not concerned,” Gordon says. “We’ll give it a try; we’ll rebuild.”

In January 2025, the Palisades Fire swept through Pacific Palisades, destroying Knolls Pharmacy — a beloved independent pharmacy owned by Gordon and Shirley Wong for 36 years.

But from the ashes came a wave of support. Neighbors, patients, and fellow pharmacists rallied behind them, showing what community truly means. Now, the Wongs are navigating loss, insurance hurdles, and the question of whether and where to rebuild.

📖 Read their powerful story in this month's issue of America’s Pharmacist®: https://ncpa.org/americas-pharmacist

08/01/2025

Vaccine-preventable conditions are growing in frequency, and pharmacies are on the front line. Many groups can benefit from specific vaccines but may have differing feelings and expectations around immunizations or health conditions that prevent them from being able to safely take certain kinds of vaccines. In a new video from NCPA, vaccine expert David Ha walks through key things to know about working with adolescents in particular.

🎦To watch, head to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/45iOWVn

We'll have more of these short videos in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

David Ha, PharmD, highlights the critical need for adolescent vaccinations. He emphasizes the effectiveness of vaccines like HPV and meningococcal, discusses...

07/31/2025

Want your patients, state lawmakers, and members of Congress to understand how essential is to the survival of community pharmacies? Here's a one-pager to help you give them a dose of reality. https://bit.ly/4lP8LKY