Message from Mike
Dynamic
2009 leads to exciting
2010
|
We
closed the books on a very successful 2009 for
American Pharmacies (APRx) and our members. This
year presented a unique set of challenges, but the
Board, membership, and staff overcame these
challenges, and as a result, we are stronger for
it.
In February, the board and staff went
through a professional strategic planning session
to ascertain how APRx can further improve and grow
in the future. It was a most rewarding and
beneficial experience. We came out of the session
more united in our objectives and goals for APRx
in the years to come.
Improve the
business and professional environment for APRx
stockholders and member stores.
The
board solicited stronger agreements by
establishing parameters for the Request for
Wholesale Proposal (RFWP) sent to our wholesale
partners at that time. Negotiations based on the
RFWP responses resulted in reduction of one
wholesale supplier and naming of two Premiere Tier
I Vendors-AmerisourceBergen and Morris &
Dickson. This action was taken with great
deliberation, as we were acutely aware that our
decision would dramatically affect a number of
members, including board members. We took this
step to ensure the APRx offering is the most
competitive possible in the market. This will
continue to be a primary goal for APRx.
We
are grateful to the stockholders and member stores
that have moved to a Premiere Tier I Vendor and
encouraged others who have not moved to consider
making a change. Unification and support of these
wholesaler partners makes APRx stronger and allows
us to offer you the best possible terms.
We
retained a majority of this purchasing power with
our approved Premiere Tier I vendors. Stronger
contracts are replacing all lost purchase volume
by the end of our fiscal year ending in April
2010. Our business development managers, Neal Head
and Kaye Stroud, are working diligently with our
suppliers to retain current stockholders and
secure additional stockholders.
We will
double those efforts in the coming year to
continue this strong momentum and I plan to play a
critical role in that effort.
Improve the legislative
and regulatory environment for independent
pharmacy in Texas.
First, I must
commend the efforts of Richard Beck, RPh, APRx
vice president of pharmacy affairs and Texas
Pharmacy Business Council (TPBC) executive
director and his talented team of professionals
who delivered the most successful results for the
independent pharmacy profession in recent history.
They are public affairs consultants Rusty Word,
Gerhardt Schulle, Todd Smith, Mike Sizemore, Cheri
Huddleston and Robert Floyd; and APRx and TPBC
General Counsel Amanda Fields and Public Relations
Counsel Pam Baggett.
TPBC is a
collaborative effort between APRx and the Academy
of Independent Pharmacists-Texas. This partnership
is a winner in the advocacy arena and is now
recognized among the independent pharmacy
profession, legislators, and regulatory agencies
as the "voice of independent pharmacy" in Texas.
The National Community Pharmacists Association and
other groups across the country recognize TPBC as
a model for achieving results in a tremendously
challenging legislative environment!
Fantastic oversight during the session was
executed by the TPBC board: Bruce Rogers, RPh,
chairman; Ed Horton, RPh, vice chairman; Robert
Kinsey, RPh, secretary treasurer; and directors
Hector "Buddy" de la Rosa, RPh; Mike Muecke, RPh;
Bruce McAnally, RPh; and Ray Carvajal, RPh. Their
input and fine-tuning of legislative initiatives
are critical in setting the agenda and executing
the tasks necessary to accomplish the mission.
Let's not overlook the biggest asset in
our advocacy efforts-APRx and AIP-Texas members.
By taking a few minutes to contact your elected
officials about an issue and by making PAC
contributions, you made an enormous difference in
ensuring our voice was truly heard at the Capitol.
Believe me when I say, "They heard you loud and
clear," and your influence is extremely important
to achieve real change. I am gratified by your
positive attitude and awesome response to the TPBC
PharmPhlashes calling
you to action. Our members ran the extra mile to
testify, send e-mails, and make phone calls, as
well as encouraging others to do the same. Your
actions made all the difference. If you have not
actively engaged in these tasks and you want
results, please don't sit on the sidelines next
time.
I extend a special thank you to
those who took the time to testify at the Capitol:
Bob McGahey, RPh, in Round Rock; Bill Moore, RPh,
in Sinton; Mark Newberry, RPh, in Austin; and Al
Wendland, RPh, in Taylor.
On the federal
front, TPBC also achieved an important milestone
when CMS approved Texas' increased Medicaid
pharmacy reimbursement granted by the 2007 State
Legislature. TPBC led the grassroots campaign to
convince almost every member of the Texas
congressional delegation to sign a letter urging
CMS to finally approve the Texas State Plan
Amendment, referred to as the SPA. We are deeply
appreciative of the support TPBC received from
Congressmen Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) and Ralph
Hall (R-Rockwall) and their staff to round up the
signatures. And thanks to all of you who contacted
your U.S. representatives. As far as we can
determine, this is the only SPA approved since the
Deficit Reduction Act of 2006.
In
conclusion, thank you for another great year. APRx
is your cooperative and it is indeed a privilege
and an honor to serve you in my leadership role as
president. We have come a long way, but we are not
done yet.
Continued success,
Mike
Gohlke
President, American
Pharmacies
P.S. We will relocate the APRx
principal office from San Antonio to Corpus
Christi this summer. This transition is made
easier by the fact that my most capable Associate
of Administrative Affairs, Paula Gray, will
relocate to Corpus Christi as well. Paula has been
and will continue to be a tremendous asset to our
organization. With this move I am confident that
we will be better situated to serve our membership
with our presence in Austin (TPBC office) and the
APRx office in Corpus
Christi.
|
| CMS
continues processing DME accreditations
|
The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is
continuing to process accreditation determinations
for pharmacies even though we have passed the Jan.
1 deadline. The revocation process for those who
do not meet the accreditation requirement will be
prioritized based on any potential beneficiary
access issues as well as the Agency's
workload.
Pharmacies should proceed
with their accreditation activities and the
accrediting organization will notify the National
Supplier Clearinghouse of any newly processed
accreditations.
CMS encourages pharmacies
to complete their accreditation applications as
soon as possible and will notify pharmacies that
furnish DME items of any changes in the
accreditation
requirements. |
| You might not have seen this
one coming |
|
We all know that Medicaid and CHIP can't
manage to pay us a day in advance for holidays,
but they are able to send reimbursements a day
late. Here's a heads-up on a holiday you may have
forgotten.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a
federal holiday on Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.
Claims submitted Jan. 8-14 will have a payment
date of Jan. 19, with deposits available Jan. 21.
The next claim payment will resume on the regular
cycle.
|
CMS
sending out provider satisfaction survey
|
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services is sending a survey to approximately
30,000 Medicare fee-for-services providers and
suppliers to collect quantifiable data on provider
satisfaction with the performance of your Medicare
contractor. This is the fifth Medicare
Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS).
If you receive one, please let us know. But most
of all, be sure to complete it and send it back
ASAP. Click here for more
information about the MCPSS. Sign up for CMS Pharmacy Open
Door Forum
noification. | |
| |
|
|
Dividends
&
Rebates |
|
American
Pharmacies distributed rebates or dividends to
stockholders on the dates listed at the end of
this article. To read the letters, go to the
Members
Only
section.
To
get your password, go to the Contact Us section
and type your preferred password in the Comments
area.
If
you would like to become an American
Pharmacies stockholder to receive extra
$$$, contact an American Pharmacies business
development manager.
North
Texas
972.523.2064
ee
ee
aa
Kaye Stroud
South
Texas 512.623.9900
Source
/Date
Morris
& Dickson / 22 Oct 09
AmerisourceBergen /
21 Oct 09
APRx FY 2009 Year End / 7 August 09
McKesson / 12 March 09
Morris & Dickson
/ 20 Feb 09
McKesson / 20 Feb
09
AmerisourceBergen / 21 Jan 09
McKesson /
19 Dec 08
Morris & Dickson / 19 Dec
08
McKesson / 21 Nov
08
|
Members
only
|
 Expert business advice for
APRx stockholders
- Medicaid Integrity Program provider audits
- Complaints
made against you to the Texas State Board of
Pharmacy
- The
independent pharmacist's duty to warn
- Auditing
loopholes in Medicare Part D
- Safeguard
your business from employee fraud
- Hiring
and firing tips
- The
pharmacist's guide to on-site audits
- Contracting
tips for independent
pharmacists
APRx
members, go to Contact us section of APRx Web
site. In the "comments" section, type in your
preferred
password.
|
| Your
APRx board |
Vance
Oglesbee, RPh
Chairman
Robert Kinsey,
RPh
Vice Chairman
Bruce Rogers,
RPh
Secretary/Treasurer
Lynn Everett,
RPh
Immediate Past Chairman
DIRECTORS
Ray Carvajal,
RPh
Buddy de la Rosa,
RPh
Alton Kanak,
RPh
Michael Muecke,
RPh
Dennis Song,
RPh |
| |
