We appreciate the Department for enforcing Act 2025-36 also known as the Community Pharmacy Relief Act. These actions wouldn't happen without our members' participation by filing complaints. Please continue to stay engaged by reporting compliance issues. 

The order also asks HHS to create pathways for manufacturers to sell directly to American patients at MFN prices. That provision could shift some prescription volume away from community pharmacies and reduce opportunities for patients to access critical pharmacist-provided patient care services.

If implemented, three issues stand out for pharmacists to consider:

1. Channel changes. Direct-to-consumer sales or expanded personal-import programs could alter traditional dispensing patterns.
2. Contract adjustments. Lower list prices would ripple through reimbursement formulas based on WAC, AWP, or AMP.
3. Supply-chain logistics. Any certification of broad medication importation will have important effects on pharmacies and the security of the drug supply chain.

APA will continue to track next steps related to this Executive Order and will share updates affecting pharmacy operations and patient care.

“GoodRx’s business model already potentially misleads consumers by preferentially listing some large chain pharmacies in their search results despite the higher-ranked pharmacies having higher prices, excluding nearly all independent pharmacies from appearing in the results,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey. “The actions alleged in this class action suit further disadvantage small businesses and cater to PBMs.

”The class action suit alleges GoodRx is aggregating competitively sensitive data from the named pharmacy benefit managers, including their reimbursement rates for independent pharmacies, and then distributing each discount card transaction to the PBM with the lowest rate. In other words, the PBMs agree not to compete with each other for pharmacy services, and in exchange they are guaranteed never to reimburse independent pharmacies more than the rock-bottom rate.

NCPA will be joining a case in the Central District of California brought by Community Care Rx, an independent pharmacy in Michigan. Community Care Rx alleges that GoodRx and several PBMs, including CVS Caremark and Express Scripts, are violating federal antitrust law by sharing competitively sensitive information and using it to set the lowest possible reimbursement with no apparent benefit to the patient.

“Adding insult to injury, GoodRx charges pharmacies an additional fee for each transaction that it processes for the PBMs,” Hoey said. “Then it splits the fee between the PBM with the lowest pharmacy reimbursement and the PBM handling the drug benefit for the patient. Often, after the lowball price and fees have been forced on the pharmacy, there’s no margin left or, outrageously, the pharmacy may actually be paying GoodRx for the ‘privilege’ of being paid below its cost to acquire the drug. We are suing to stop this!”

Looking for a chance to serve in a leadership role while you're still in school? As a student member of APA you can apply for one of two 2025-2026 Designated Student Trustee positions on the APA Board. One will be filled by a Samford-McWhorter student and one will be filled by an Auburn HCOP student. The deadline to submit your name as a candidate is March 31.

What an Opportunity!

Here is your chance to step up and serve as a student-leader. APA is the Voice of Pharmacy in Alabama, advocating for all practice settings at the Statehouse, and with all the entities that affect patient care statewide. (Alabama Board of Pharmacy, Medicaid, Blue Cross, AL Dept. of Public Health, and others.) The student trustees will serve as representatives for student members and will assist with APA activities and membership recruitment on campus. You'll also be able to network with long-time state leadership as you work together to promote, defend and expand the profession of pharmacy and its essential role in patient care.

Ready to Go?

Email Louise Jones with your name, a headshot, phone, email, school, year of graduation, and a bio of 150 words or less to be included on the ballot.

Don't Wait.

The deadline is March 31

Qualifications:

• Must have been an APA Student member in good standing for a minimum of nine (9) months from when you take office.
• Must be enrolled full-time in an Alabama College/School of Pharmacy program.
• Must have a record of involvement with APA.

Term:

• Designated Student Trustees shall serve a term of one (1) year.
• Installation will be at the APA Annual Convention in June.

Election:

• An online election will be held in April 2025 when APA will distribute ballots.
• Student members in good standing shall vote in the election of the Designated Student Trustee position for their respective school.

Candidates receiving the majority of votes will be elected and take office in June.

Key Details:

• Extension Period: The PREP Act Declaration now extends through December 31, 2029.
• Effective Date: The amendment takes effect on January 1, 2025.
• Reason for Extension: Despite the public health emergency for COVID-19 ending on May 11, 2023, HHS has determined there remains a credible risk that COVID-19 may again pose a public health emergency in the future. This extension aims to prepare for and mitigate that risk.
• Scope: 
  • Provides liability immunity to covered persons against claims of loss related to the administration or use of designated medical countermeasures, except in cases of willful misconduct.
  • Authorizes state licensed pharmacists to order and administer certain vaccines and authorizes pharmacy interns and qualified pharmacy technicians to administer certain vaccines, when specified requirements are met.
  • Authorizes state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer certain point-of-care tests and authorizes pharmacy interns and qualified pharmacy technicians to administer certain point-of-care tests, when specified requirements are met.
    
• More information: For more information, please see the notice in the Federal Register.