Drug Topics - December 12, 2008 - (Page 32)

Issues & Trends BUSINESS OUTLOOK delivery services, which have been impacted by rising fuel for medications by mail. Community pharmacists who responded to the survey prices. Until the economy stabilizes, I see operating expenses indicate that one of the biggest challengcontinuing to increase.” es they face results from retail shopping Logan says that despite the foundering Wal-Mart’s $4 chains offering lower-cost generic premarketplace, signiﬁcant legislation passed generics program is changing the scription drugs. Perhaps the most notable on Capitol Hill this year should help push way pharmacists is Wal-Mart’s $4 generic drug program the industry forward in 2009. do business. launched in 2006, which includes more “The biggest positive from 2008 that I than 300 generic drugs such as allergy and expect to grow even more in 2009 is pharblood-pressure medications that are sold macists’ presence in Washington,” he said. at $4 for a month’s supply. Last year, the Logan pointed to three lobbying victories world’s largest retailer expanded the profor pharmacists this year. One addresses the gram to include generic birth control and timeliness of Medicare Part D payments to fertility products. pharmacies. Greg Hines, RPh, owner of Hines That same bill also delays MedicPharmacy in Bowling Green, Ky., said he aid’s Average Manufacturer Price (AMP) hasn’t backed down from the world’s largprovisions for est retailer, but it has come at a cost. Federal Upper “We usually match these prices, but it does have an imLimits of multi-source generic drugs until at least Sept. 30, pact on our gross proﬁt,” Hines said. With big retailers taking some business away from inde2009. As Drug Topics has reportPOWER POINTS ed extensively, pharmacy groups pendent pharmacists, mail-order companies such as Medco Lobbying in have been ﬁghting the proposed Health Solutions Inc. are pushing just as hard for a bigger Washington helps AMP guideline because it would piece of the market. The mail-order distributor and one of pharmacists at home lower a pharmacy’s reimburse- the largest pharmacy beneﬁt managers (PBMs) in the counment rate for acquiring Medi- try currently accounts for about 50 percent of the nation’s $4 generics and care drugs an average of 36 mail-order drug sales in the United States. mail-order drugs challenge community Mayer Maltz, RPh, who runs New Utrecht Pharmacy percent from current reimbursepharmacies in Brooklyn, N.Y., said that while Medco is causing a wave ment levels. A third pharmacy-friendly across the prescription medication industry, it is also creatWinning strategies measure was included in the ﬁs- ing greater opportunities for community pharmacists who focus on specialized cal 2009 National Defense Au- are differentiating themselves as providers of services such customer service. thorization Act that was signed as drug compounding. Another service that more community pharmacists such into law in October. The measure prohibits increased copay- as Maltz are offering is compliance packaging. Such packagments for military beneﬁciaries who choose to have their ing includes, for example, a multi-dose system covering a prescriptions ﬁlled by a retail pharmacy instead of opting 14-day or a 28-day period. Health-system pharmacists predicting a prosperous 2009 Health-system pharmacists face their own business issues as 2009 approaches. Still, most of the 120 pharmacists surveyed in Drug Topics’ exclusive poll expect drug budgets and salaries to increase next year. Key results of the survey include: of hospital pharmacists expect their drug budgets will decrease. Sixty-one percent of hospital pharmacists expect pharmacist salaries to increase in 2009. Regarding staffing, 26 percent of hospital pharmacists expect the number of departmental pharmacists will increase in the coming year. On the technology side, 38 percent of respondents’ hospitals have computerized physician order-entry systems (CPOEs). Among those pharmacists whose hospitals do not have CPOEs, 25 percent of respondents’ hospitals plan to install CPOE systems in 2009. Seventy-five percent of hospital pharmacists are expecting a good, very good, or excellent business year in 2009. Fifty-four percent of hospital pharmacists expect their drug budgets will increase in 2009 by 10 percent, compared with their 2008 drug budget estimates; 9 percent Andy Emont, RPh, the director of pharmaceutical services at University Hospital in Newark, N.J., says because the economic health of his pharmacy is tied to the economic state of University Hospital, budgetary constraints are the primary challenge to his operation. “Directors want to make hospitals as safe as possible, but things [such as CPOE and bar coding] carry a big price tag,” he said. — David Bennett GETTY IMAGES / PURESTOCK

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - December 12, 2008

Drug Topics - December 12, 2008 Contents Up Front Up Front In Depth Letters Health-System Edition Cover Story: Controlled Substance Disposal a Growing Problem for Hospitals Pharmacists Hope for Speedy Approvals Deaths from C. Difficile Increasing PharmMD Teams with HealthSpring RX Care Commentary Ohio Hospital Automates Pharmacy The Business Outlook for 2009 OTC The Pharmacist's Duty to Warn: Implications for Pharmacy Practice New Products Viewpoint

Drug Topics - December 12, 2008

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