April/May 2015 i d e s
l a i c e sp tion: sec lue of GPhA in
Inside:
hot or not? a p The v embershi m
Recoupment issues 99% drug discounts
Pharmacists at the Gold Dome
The state of pharmacy employment in Georgia
Coverage You Need. Service You Deserve. A Price You Can Afford.
surveyed our members to learn more about who you are and what you’re looking for from GPhA. We got a terrific response, and we learned that our members cross age, gender, and practicearea lines, but they still share many of the same preferences. Here are some highlights.
contents
STUDENT
11% 32%
11%
NONOWNER MANAGER
EMPLOYEE PHARMACIST
19%
PHARMACY OWNER
18
WHO ARE WE?
cover story: GPhA members span a wide range of age, experience, and practice areas. Hot or Not? AGE
GENDER
18-34 ItMALE wasn’t long ago that getting35-44 a job as12% a Georgia pharmacist was a 45-54 (comparative) walk 13% in the park. But times change, and 55-64 18% the outlook isn’t quite as rosy FEMALE these days. 65+ 23%
59%
PRIMARY PRACTICE AREA
YEARS LICENSED
5 and under
34%
41% Still, is it really as bad as 0%
6-20
37% Independent pharmacy
35%
25% Retail chain 10% Hospital
16%
4% Compounding
32% 31%
21-40
41+ 35%
some people seem to think? Or are there some rays of hope onWHAT the horizon? HAVE WE DONE
0%
4% Consulting/Long-term care 1% PBM or mail order
18%
4% Academic 35%
15% Other
E-MAIL PREFERRED
FOR YOU LATELY? GPhA offers a lot to members (check out GPhA.org/membership), but here are the five biggest benefits members say they get from their association. 94% Pharmacy news and information 93% Legislation and regulatory advocacy 88% Continuing pharmacy education 88% Networking opportunities 86% New drug updates and information
4 to 1
28 calendar & contact
Upcoming events and other dates for Georgia From students to retirees, the vast majority of pharmacists 6
members prefer to get their communication via e-mail. news set does like social media, too — The 18-to-24-year-old News, andas much. 30 buttrends, not nearly what’s happening in the postscript pharmacy world A note from President A new chief at Georgia Medicaid, Bobby Moody cheap Asian drugs, provider ... and a look at what members status in Congress, and more have to say about being part of GPhA.
15 association notes
How GPhA is working for you Member-survey results, pics from our Day at the Dome, new MTM and diabetes courses, streamlining membership, and more
24 PharmPAC Investors in the future of the pharmacy profession in Georgia
April/May 2015
Georgia Pharmacy
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prescript
All together, now?
scott brunner
This issue of Georgia Pharmacy has been mailed not only to GPhA’s 1,100 members, but to all 10,000+ licensed pharmacists in Georgia, member or not. I’m hoping that sentence brings to mind a few questions. For instance:
w Are there really that many pharmacists in Georgia? (Yes, there are.) w And you mean to say that the state pharmacy association — the voice for pharmacists in Georgia, the group that advocates for pharmacy in the Legislature, the only big-tent organization in the state that represents all pharmacists, regardless of practice setting — only has 1,100 members? (Yes. I like how you snuck GPhA’s value prop into that question, by the way.) w So who, then, advocates for all those Georgia pharmacists who aren’t GPhA members? (Good question. Maybe they belong to a smaller, practice setting-based association, a niche group. More likely, though... no one. They’re just out there on their own, exposed.)
timely focus on the pharmacy job market in Georgia, on our legislative priorities and substantial progress in this current legislative session, and on a range of other pertinent news and info especially for Georgia pharmacists — helps illustrate that: w As a GPhA member, you have public policy influence and business power you’ll never have on your own. w GPhA is your gateway to expertise, training, resources, and networking opportunities that can improve and expand your clinical and business skills, regardless of your practice setting. w Georgia pharmacists are stronger, more professional, and more successful when you come together in association. w The value you’ll derive from belonging is much, much greater than the annual dues you’ll pay. I say adding your voice to those of hundreds of other Georgia pharmacists in GPhA is a smart choice. But read on, and decide for yourself. Here’s what’s certain: There’s no end to what we can do when we’re all together. Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
BLACK & WHITE
OPEN
GLOSS/GRADIENT
FLAT COLOR
1
I’m also hoping that this magazine — with its
Scott Brunner, CAE is GPhA’s executive vice president & CEO. Contact him at sbrunner@gpha.org.
Georgia Pharmacy magazine is the official publication of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.
Director of Communication / Editor Andrew Kantor akantor@gpha.org
Unless otherwise noted, the entire contents of this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Direct any questions to the editor at akantor@gpha.org.
President Bobby Moody Chair of the Board Pam Marquess President-Elect Tommy Whitworth First Vice President Lance Boles Second Vice President Liza Chapman Executive Vice President & CEO Scott Brunner, CAE sbrunner@gpha.org Vice President of Communication and Engagement Phillip Ratliff pratliff@gpha.org
April/May 2015
Art Director Carole Erger-Fass Sales Coordinator (Advertising) Katie Bodiford kbodiford@gpha.org ADVERTISING All advertising inquiries should be directed to Katie Bodiford at kbodiford@gpha.org or (770) 252-1284. Media kit and rates available upon request.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Georgia Pharmacy is distributed as a regular membership service, paid for with membership dues. Non-members can subscribe for $50 per year domestic or $65 per year international. Single issues are $10 issue domestic and $20 international. Practicing Georgia pharmacists who are not members of GPhA are not eligible for subscriptions.
POSTAL
Georgia Pharmacy (ISSN 1075-6965) is published bimonthly by the GPhA, 50 Lenox Pointe NE, Atlanta, GA 30324. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Georgia Pharmacy magazine, 50 Lenox Pointe NE, Atlanta, GA 30324.
Georgia Pharmacy
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news
Augusta pharmacist receives innovation award Augusta pharmacist — and GPhA member — Jake Galdo was one of only 45 pharmacists in the nation to receive the 2014 National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations’ Excellence in Innovation Award. Sponsored by Upsher-Smith, the award “recognizes qualified pharmacists
who have demonstrated significant innovation in their practice, method, or service directly or indirectly resulting in improved patient care and/or advancement of the profession of pharmacy.” If you’d like to get an idea of what Jake is thinking about when it comes to pharmacy, follow him (@JakeGaldo) on Twitter.
read more @ gphabuzz.com
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Georgia Pharmacy
Its status as a developing nation means Bangladesh doesn’t have to enforce pharmaceutical patents.
Hep C cure available at 99 percent discount… in Bangladesh So you know about Solvaldi, right? Gilead’s blockbuster Hepatitis C cure? In the U.S., it costs about $1,000 a pill — a total of $84,000 for the full 12-week treatment course. Get this: A company called Incepta is now making a copy of it — a generic version, if you will — and selling it for a dollar a pill in Bangladesh. Legally. And it might start selling in other third-world countries as well. That’s because of two things. First, Gilead doesn’t have a patent on sofosbuvir (that’s Solvaldi’s chemical name) in Bangladesh. Second, even if Gilead did have a patent, because Bangladesh is so undeveloped, a World Trade Organization agreement means it doesn’t have to protect pharmaceutical patents.
And if you’re picturing a shady character selling unmarked pills on a street corner, don’t. The drug has already been approved for sale by the Bangladeshi version of the FDA, and the company has applied to the W.H.O. for approval as well. There’s more. If you’re thinking this might be bad news for Gilead’s bottom line, get this: Gilead will be selling branded versions of Sovaldi at the same price in India. That means you’ll be able to go there and spend $900 for the full treatment instead of the $84,000 US price. You could conceivably pay to fly round-trip first-class to India, spend three nights at a five-star hotel, pay for the drug, and still save more than $70,000. April/May 2015
Linda Wiant Named New Chief of Georgia Medicaid Linda Wiant, PharmD and (now former) pharmacy director for the Georgia Department of Community Health, was named chief of the DCH’s Medical Assistance Plans Division — the division that handles Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids programs. A graduate of Mercer University’s pharmacy program, Dr. Wiant served as pharmacy director since 2011; she oversaw the state’s Fee-for-Service, drug rebate, and prior authorization programs, including the pharmacy claims processing and PBM systems.
Including the last four years at DCH, Linda has more than 20 years of experience working with managed-care pharmacy. She took her new position March 16, replacing Jerry Dubberly, who left the post in January. “We’re delighted Georgia pharmacist Linda Wiant has been appointed to lead Medicaid,” said Scott Brunner, GPhA’s executive vice president & CEO. “Linda brings deep experience and a passion for patient care and customer service to the role. We look forward to working with her in her new role.”
New site lets doctors rate meds’ effectiveness Check out this new online-review site: It lets doctors rate various medications for different ailments. RateRx (healthtap.com/raterx), from Internet health startup HealthTap, will let doctors from around the world rate the effectiveness of certain medications for certain ailments, as well as leave comments about the drugs, and rate other doctors’ answers. For example, more than 1,200 doctors rated 24 acne treatments, with isotretinoin getting the top spot for severe outbreaks (sulfacetamide… not so much). What the company hopes will
April/May 2015
The ACA By the numbers
541,080 Georgians signed up for healthcare coverage using the federal exchange in 2015; 55 percent were new to the marketplace.
90% of Georgia consumers qualified for a tax credit. Their average subsidy was
$277 per month.
make the site stand out is that it’s not just aggregating clinical trial data, and it’s not allowing patient reviews — it’s strictly for physicians. Hopefully that will lead to more informed opinions, although it’s obvious the company should allow pharmacists to rate these drugs as well.
Private insurers to choose from in Georgia 2014 5 insurers, 22 plans 2015 9 insurers, 41 plans Georgia Pharmacy
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news Most people don’t know not to share painkillers Here’s a statistic that’ll make you shake your head: A new poll found that nearly 70 percent of people who take prescription painkillers don’t know that sharing the pills is a felony. Reality: According to the National Safety Council, most states consider sharing narcotic opioid painkillers, such as hydrocodone or oxycodone, to be the legal equivalent of selling heroin – punishable by up to seven years in prison. Just something you may want to mention to your patients.
FDA debuts drug shortages app If you’re the kind of person who’s never far from your smartphone or tablet — and also the kind of person who likes to keep up with the nation’s latest drug shortages — the FDA has a deal for you. Well, less of a deal and more of a free app. The agency released versions of its accurate if uninspiringly named “Drug Shortages” app for Android and Apple phones and tablets. With it, you can whip out your phone any time to check whether a particular drug is in shortage or not. You can browse the list by drug name or by treatment category, search by the name, and even report a shortage. It also lets you check whether a shortage was resolved, or a drug was discontinued. And you can sign up to receive e-mail alerts of shortages as well. This is version 1.0 of the app, so it’s got some kinks. It takes a long time to load, and some of the menus don’t quite work
the way you’d expect. Still, despite those version-1.0 quirks, it’s nice to see the FDA take advantage of the computers so many people carry around.
grow play connect with more than 14 hours of CPE courses
at a world-class family beach resort
with colleagues, pharmacy experts, and exhibitors The Georgia Pharmacy Convention 2015 is coming July 9 through 12 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort on Amelia Island, Florida. GPhA’s flagship event features top-notch speakers and educators, dozens of exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services for pharmacists, and plenty of chances to meet and network with pharmacy professionals and experts.
most beautiful beaches around. (And did we mention that it’s tax-deductible, too?) Discounted early-bird registration is open from April 15 to May 13. After that, the price goes up. So register and book your room now to get the best rates, and watch your mailbox for more information. GPhA.org/convention
Plus there’s the resort itself, with tennis, golf, walking and biking trails, and of course one of the
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Georgia Pharmacy
April/May 2015
Pharmacist provider-status bill introduced in Congress A bill that would give pharmacists limited provider status was introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. H.R. 592 and S. 314, the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, would allow pharmacists in “medically underserved areas” to be compensated by Medicare for Part B services they provide to patients — think immunizations, diabetes management, and blood pressure screenings. Currently, Medicare doesn’t consider pharmacists to be healthcare providers, and thus won’t pay for those services. Both versions of the bill were introduced by a combination of Democrats and Republicans, which might bode well. They’ll now be taken up in committee (The House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means committees and the Senate Finance and HELP committees), and then, if passed, to the respective floors for debate later in the session. So what’s a “medically underserved area,” anyway? For each area, the government looks at four factors in a county or section of a city: the number of primary care physicians for the population, the infant mortality rate, the percentage of the population below the poverty level, and the percentage of the population age 65 or over. It uses those data to come up with a single score, called the Index of Medical Underservice, between 0 (incredibly underserved) to 100 (well served). You can find a list of MUAs by state and county from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at hpsafind.hrsa.gov. April/May 2015
Georgia Pharmacy
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association notes
GPHA AT A GLANCE In December 2014, New South Research surveyed our members to learn more about who you are and what you’re looking for from GPhA. We got a terrific response, and we learned that our members cross age, gender, and practicearea lines, but they still share many of the same preferences. Here are some highlights.
WHAT DO WE DO? Not only are GPhA members experienced, they’re also invested: Almost a third of GPhA membership owns or manages one or more pharmacies. RETIRED STUDENT
FACULTY 9%
TECHNICIAN OTHER
5% 3%
10%
11% 32%
11%
NONOWNER MANAGER
EMPLOYEE PHARMACIST
19%
PHARMACY OWNER
WHO ARE WE?
GPhA members span a wide range of age, experience, and practice areas. AGE
GENDER MALE
18-34
59%
35-44 45-54 55-64
FEMALE
41%
65+
5 and under
34% 12%
6-20
13%
16%
31%
21-40 18% 41+
23%
0%
35%
GPhA offers a lot to members (check out GPhA.org/membership), but here are the five biggest benefits members say they get from their association. 94%
Pharmacy news and information
93%
Legislation and regulatory advocacy
88%
Continuing pharmacy education
88%
Networking opportunities
86%
New drug updates and information
Georgia Pharmacy
35%
32%
WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
8
PRIMARY PRACTICE AREA
YEARS LICENSED
0%
18% 35%
37%
Independent pharmacy
25%
Retail chain
10%
Hospital
4%
Compounding
4%
Consulting/Long-term care
1%
PBM or mail order
4%
Academic
15%
Other
E-MAIL PREFERRED
4 to 1 From students to retirees, the vast majority of members prefer to get their communication via e-mail. The 18-to-24-year-old set does like social media, too — but not nearly as much.
February/March 2015
GPhA, DCH meet about recoupment Late last year, many pharmacies in Georgia received a letter explaining that the Department of Community Health was recouping some Medicaid overpayments (via its contractor, Catamaran). We weren’t thrilled about how that was carried out. While federal law requires DCH to recoup those overpayments, as GPhA CEO Scott Brunner wrote to DCH Commissioner Clyde Reese, “The amount of any recoupment in this situation should be paid by the entity that committed the error, not by scores of Georgia pharmacies that were affected by Catamaran’s mistake.” The letter led to an invitation from DCH to meet with its staff. DCH’s director of pharmacy services (and now chief of Georgia’s Medicaid program) Linda Wiant and director of communications and legislative affairs Lisa Marie Shekell agreed that the wording of the message could have been better. For one, it gave the impression that the pharmacies were being audited, when in fact it was an audit of Catamaran that uncovered the overpayments. As for the timing of the recoupment — more two years after the fact — while Georgia’s audit bill of
rights limits such recoupments to two years after the overpayment because this was not the result of a pharmacy audit, there was no such time limit according to the Policy Manual for Medicaid. We did ask that DCH reconsider its policy, as it seems neither fair nor logical to go back so far and demand repayment. Wiant and Shekell agreed to consider that.
DCH said it would bring GPhA into the process earlier in future recoupments They also said that DCH would bring GPhA in earlier in future recoupments. That will allow us to better help pharmacists understand the whats and whys, and if necessary defend their interests. In the end, it was a positive and helpful meeting, and we’re appreciative of DCH’s willingness to sit down with us to work together on behalf of Georgia’s pharmacists.
CONTACT LOCAL MCKESSON REPRESENTATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HEALTH MART
February/March 2015
1
Georgia Pharmacy
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association notes Jonathan Marquess named APhA Fellow GPhA past president Jonathan G. Marquess, PharmD, was named a 2015 fellow of the American Pharmacists Association, one of the association’s highest honors. The award honors APhA members “for exemplary professional achievements in professional practice and outstanding service to the profession,” and recipients are chosen by the members of their APhA academies. In Marquess’s case, that was the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management. To be named a fellow, a member must have at least 10 years of professional experience, and demonstrate that “outstanding service to the profession” through activities with national, state, and local professional organizations. For Dr. Marquess, those activities include serving as chairman of the Georgia Pharmacy Association Board of Directors, past president of GPhA, and chair of the APhA New Practitioner Advisory Committee. Dr. Marquess has served as a clinical assistant
professor of pharmacy practice at Mercer University School of Pharmacy, and today he and his pharmacist wife, Pam (current chair of the GPhA Board of Directors), own four community pharmacies in the Atlanta area. He is also chairman of the Georgia Adult Immunization Coalition. Marquess is now eligible to use the “FAPhA” designation as long as he is a licensed pharmacist and an APhA member.
MTM and diabetes CPE Thanks in part to a grant from the Georgia Department of Public Health, GPhA will be offering free, APhA-approved training in MTM and diabetes management to members for CE credit. There will be several dates available, so watch your mailbox (or check GPhA Buzz) for dates and times. This is a course that would typically set you back $400 or more, so it’s something you’ll want to take advantage of. (Independent pharmacists will need this training to participate in AIP’s new High Performance Network.)
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10 Georgia Pharmacy
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February/March 2015
This message is from the Georgia Department of Community Health and is printed verbatim as a service to our members.
Dear Providers, The Affordable Care Act mandates that states revalidate the enrollment of all providers every five (5) years. Beginning in April 2014 and monthly thereafter, DCH and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services (HPES) sent letters to providers requiring that they revalidate their enrollment within 60 days of the date on the letter. A significant number of the letters mailed to providers noted above were returned to HPES. It is critical that providers ensure that their mail-to-address is correct in the Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS). Providers can review or update their mail-to address information by logging into GAMMIS and clicking on Demographic Maintenance. Effective April 1, 2015, DCH will suspend those providers who were sent revalidation letters and have not revalidated their enrollment. In addition to the 60 day requirement noted above, DCH allows an additional 60 days for providers to complete the process and those providers who have not revalidated their enrollment within the 120 day time period will be suspended from the Georgia Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids program. The suspension will be Traditional Fee-for-Service Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids and the Georgia Families and Georgia Families 360° managed care programs which are currently administered by WellCare, Peach State Health Plan, and Amerigroup. Claims for services to member enrolled Traditional Fee-for-Service Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids and the Georgia Families and Georgia Families 360° managed care programs for dates of service on or after April 1, 2015, will not be paid. A report of those providers who have not revalidated through October 1, February/March 2015
2014, can be found online through the GAMMIS at www.mmis.georgia.gov. Click on Provider Information/Provider Notices. Providers who are on this report who have not revalidated their enrollment by April 1, 2015, will be suspended. A Frequently Asked Questions regarding revalidation can be found on GAMMIS at www.mmis. georgia.gov. Click on Provider Information/FAQ for Providers. In addition, providers may contact Medicaid’s fiscal agent HPES at 800-766-4456 (Option #1) or e-mail RevalidationEnrollment2@ dch.ga.gov for assistance.
Georgia Pharmacy 11
association notes New dues process arrives later this year GPhA dues are about to get a bit simple when we roll out our new “Easy Dues” program in June. You’re going to be hearing plenty about the changes, but here’s the gist: Instead of billing each member on his or her membership anniversary, we’re going to set a single renewal date for all members: September 1. That means if you’re expecting your annual renewal between now and September 1, you’re going to get a prorated bill to carry you to September 1. After that, your membership will renew on September 1 every year. Once we get past this changeover period, the
Does Designing your pharmacy seem like a Daunting task?
new system will make things a lot simpler for staff, which means they can spend less time on administration and more time on providing services for your dues dollars. So watch your mail (snail and e-) for more information about Easy Dues, or visit GPhA.org/easydues for more info.
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12 RXPlanningHalfAd2.indd Georgia Pharmacy 1
www.displayoptions.com February/March 2015 1/22/15 4:33 PM
Pharmacy Day at the Dome recap
We could barely fit all the pharmacists, technicians, and student pharmacists who attended Day at the Dome onto the steps in the Capitol. Just right of center are Governor and Mrs. Deal. More than 400 pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and pharmacy students showed up at our annual Day at the Dome event (you might remember it as VIP Day), to meet with legislators and get a primer on our latest efforts at the capitol. For more on those efforts, check out the legislative update on page 14. But first admire these photos from the day itself.
JACK DUNN HONORED BY GEORGIA HOUSE Jack Dunn, RPh, pharmacist owner of Jasper Drugs and Gifts in Jasper (and past president of the Georgia Pharmacy Association), was honored at the state capitol by the Georgia House of Representatives for being named the 2014 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year.
Allie Jo Shipman, a student pharmacist from Mercer University, checks the blood pressure of a state employee during the 2015 Pharmacy Day at the Dome. Jack Dunn (center) speaks at the state capitol while being honored by the Georgia House of Representatives. Rep. Rick Jasperse (left) and Speaker David Ralston (right) look on.
February/March 2015
Georgia Pharmacy 13
legislative update At press time, the prospects look good for all three GPhA priority bills this year: MAC transparency, expanded immunization protocols for pharmacists, and clarification that the actual prescriber’s name may appear prescription labels.
MAC transparency
appeal no later than 14 calendar days after the date the appeal was received. w If an appeal is denied, the PBM must provide the reason for the denial and the NDC number of the drug that can be purchased at a lower price. w If an appeal is successful, the PBM must adjust the MAC price on the drug on the day after the appeal is decided, and must apply the MAC price to all similarly situated pharmacies.
Status: Passed the House, passed the Senate, and is awaiting Governor Deal’s signature. It’s been a long, multi-year battle, but this year, with the leadership of House Insurance Committee Chairman Richard Smith of Columbus, GPhA was able to bring the PBM industry to the table and negotiate david knight major reforms to the Audit Bill of Rights and the statute regulating PBMs. The result, HB470, sponsored by Representative David Knight of Griffin, is a bill that goes a long way toward rectifying anticompetitive practices and policies that did not allow pharmacists to be reimbursed fairly for the medications they sold. Here’s a brief summary of what HB 470 does: w It gives Georgia’s Commissioner of Insurance enforcement authority over the Audit Bill of Rights and PBMs, including the ability to impose fines. w It requires that PBMs update their MAC pricing no less than every five business days, and the notification must include where the drug can be purchased at that price. w It prohibits PBMs from compensating auditors based on a percentage of the amount they recover. w It requires that any recoupment be limited to the amount overpaid. w It prohibits PBMs from placing a drug on a MAC list unless there are at least two therapeutically equivalent, multi-source generic drugs, or at least one generic drug available from only one manufacturer, available for purchase by network pharmacies from national or regional wholesalers. w It limits the right to appeal a reimbursement to 14 calendar days following reimbursement of the initial claim. And the PBM must respond to an 14 Georgia Pharmacy
Other legislation we are following Cannabinoid oil (HB 1) Status: Signed by the governor into law Allows patients with any of eight disease states to legally possess cannabinoid oil with low THC. (The original House version allowed for nine conditions.) Pharmacists are not a part of the dispensing regime. It will also set up a panel, including a pharmacist, to look at ways to use medical marijuana in Georgia.
Biosimilars (SB 51) Status: Passed the House, passed the Senate, and is awaiting Governor Deal’s signature. The bill will determine the procedure for substituting biosimilar medicines, once they are approved by the FDA, and makes those substitutions protected under the Pharmacy Audit bill of Rights.
Eye drop refills (HB 47) Status: Passed the House and is in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. This legislation will allow for certain eye drops to be refilled without a new prescription up to 70 percent of the amount of the original prescription. This will help patients with the continuity of care if they put too many drops into their eyes at a time or if other similar problems arise.
April/May 2015
We owe our thanks to several members of the house who championed HB470 and helped bring it this far: w Rep. David Knight of Griffin, the bill’s lead sponsor w House Insurance Committee Chairman Richard Smith of Columbus w Reps. Bruce Broadrick, Buddy Harden, Butch Parrish, Jason Shaw, and Ron Stephens w Senators Charlie Bethel and Hunter Hill, who carried the bill in the Senate
Prescribers’ names on labels Status: Passed the House, passed the Senate, and is awaiting Governor Deal’s signature. GPhA engineered an amendment in this year’s Drug Update Bill (which updates the list of dangerous narcotics) to clarify that pharmacists may put the name of either the supervising physician or the actual prescriber on a label. This brings Georgia law in sync with federal Medicare and Medicaid requirements, and reduces confusion for pharmacists who had to choose between following state law or federal requirements.
Immunization Expansion Status: Passed the House, passed the Senate, and is awaiting Governor Deal’s signature. After several years’ effort, GPhA reached an agreement with the Medical Association of Georgia on the parameters of this bill, which would allow Georgia pharmacists to provide adult vaccinations for three additional sharon cooper vaccinations without a prescription. Under the bill, pharmacists would be allowed to provide immunizations for pneumonia, shingles, and meningitis — in addition to influenza — without a prescription (but in a “vaccine protocol agreement” with a physician). The end result is good for pharmacists and their patients, as it helps made immunizations more accessible, geographically and financially, especially to people in rural areas. We owe a special thanks to House Health & Human Services Committee Chairman Sharon Cooper of Marietta and to Senate Health & Human Services Committee Renee Unterman of Buford, who shepherded this bill through their respective chambers. Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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Inspiring confidence GPhA/UBS Wealth Management Program We know pharmacists think about much more than prescriptions. You think about your future and retirement, making the right financial decisions for your family, and helping your employees so their future looks confident too. UBS provides GPhA with exclusive UBS benefits for the complexities of your life and pharmacy. Contact us today and let us help you plan with confidence. Wile Consulting Group UBS Financial Services Inc. 3455 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1700 Atlanta, GA 30326 ubs.com/team/wile
Harris Gignilliat, CIMA®, CRPS® First Vice President–Wealth Management Senior Retirement Plan Consultant 404-760-3301 harris.gignilliat@ubs.com
As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at ubs.com/workingwithus.UBS Financial Services Inc., its affiliates and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. Clients should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. CIMA® is a registered certification mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. in the United States of America and worldwide. Chartered Retirement Plans SpecialistSM and CRPS® are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning®. ©UBS 2014. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. 7.00_Ad_7.5x4.875_AX0220_WileConsultingGrp2 GphA
April/May 2015
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Georgia Pharmacy 15
cover story
hot or not? The state of pharmacy employment in Georgia
By Andrew Kantor
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Pharmacy is hot. Pharmacy is one of the country’s fastest growing professions, with plenty of opportunity. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy says that, “There is good potential for advancement and competitive salaries within a pharmacy career,” citing “A shortfall of as many as 157,000 pharmacists is predicted by 2020 according to the findings of a conference sponsored by the Pharmacy Manpower Project.” The Georgia Department of Labor lists pharmacist as one of “Georgia’s HOT Careers t0 2022.” And Forbes said that, “Pharmacists reigned supreme in Forbes’ list of the best health care jobs in 2015.” Sharon Deason, a pharmacist with Publix in Atlanta, has been in the business since 1975. “There do seem to be a lot of pharmacists graduating,” she agrees, “but I have not seen many problems with finding jobs. At Publix right now we have six openings I know of!” April/May 2015
Pharmacy is cold. There are too many pharmacists out there, and not nearly enough jobs for them, especially with what’s coming down the pike from pharmacy schools. Perhaps the most-cited story supporting this perspective is Katie Zavadski’s September 2014 article in New Republic, “The Pharmacy School Bubble Is About to Burst.” Since 1987, Zavadski wrote, the number of pharmacy schools in the United States has almost doubled from 72 to more than 130. And she quoted Palm Beach Atlantic University pharmacy professor Daniel Brown, who estimated 20 percent unemployment of new pharmacy graduates by 2018. As Brown wrote in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education in 2013, “[N]o goose harbors an infinite supply of golden eggs, and the inordinate rate of academic growth that ensued has put the academy at risk, along with its students.” Georgia Pharmacy 17
cover story “The supply and demand for pharmacists is quickly changing and not for the better. With the openings of multiple pharmacy schools Across the nation, the job market is drying up.” So what’s the deal? Is the market for pharmacists oversaturated thanks to all those new graduates coming down the pike? Or are there some factors coming into play that might mean the sky isn’t falling after all? First, let’s look at the numbers. There are, according to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, about 14,123 licensed pharmacists in Georgia as of the beginning of 2015. About 73 percent of those live in Georgia; most of the rest live in neighboring states. Of those, according to the Georgia Department of Labor, about 210 will leave their positions each year, either to retire or to change jobs, and about 90 new positions will open statewide thanks to growth. And the supply of pharmacists is growing as well. Each year, Georgia’s four pharmacy schools are expected to turn out a total of more than 500 graduates, the majority of whom will look for jobs in chain and independent pharmacies. Those simple numbers seem to imply that yes, there are a lot more student pharmacists on their way to graduation than there are jobs for them.
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As one long-time pharmacist in southeast Georgia put it (he asked that we not use his name), “Over the last 10 years, open pharmacist positions have become few and far between.” From his perspective, it’s clear cause and effect — and the cause is new pharmacy schools and increased class size. “I’ve seen pharmacy go from a pharmacist shortage to a glut,” he said. Certainly that’s what students are hearing. Victoria Jackson, a third-year student pharmacist at the University of Georgia, said that, like many other students, she was attracted to a career that seemed to offer everything from flexible hours and personal fulfillment to signing bonuses and the respect that comes with being a healthcare provider in the community. “Who wouldn’t want that job?” she asked. “I thought this career path would be a mecca of job opportunities.” But that changed. Jackson wasn’t alone in her perception of the career, and pharmacy schools had expanded to meet the increased demand. The demand for students that is — not necessarily for pharmacists. “My opinion quickly shifted after starting school and talking to other pharmacists and upperclassmen,” Jackson said. “The supply and demand for pharmacists is quickly changing, and not for the better. With the openings of multiple pharmacy schools across the nation, the job market is drying up.” Jackson isn’t alone in that opinion. “After starting my first semester of pharmacy school, our program’s dean came to give us a ‘talk,’” said Sarah Williford, a 2015 PharmD candidate at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia campus. “[H]e laid it all out there and said the field of pharmacy was extremely saturated, and the job market was very hard and competitive. He told us that we would be lucky if we even had one job lined up by the time we graduated, and to not expect that first job to be our dream job. That was a huge reality check.” April/May 2015
But wait, there’s more demand Reality for Jackson, Williford, and their colleagues might not be quite so gloomy, however. There’s no question that supply is growing — and growing quickly. But supply, obviously, is only half the equation. It’s the other half — demand — where the action is. Once again, let’s start by looking at some numbers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted the country would see about a 15 percent growth in pharmacy positions between 2012 and 2022. Georgia is expected to fare even better, with a 17 percent growth in pharmacist jobs during that period. That’s a big reason Forbes and the Georgia Department of Labor consider pharmacy such a hot field (and the BLS’s estimate of a $115K average starting salary doesn’t hurt). But while 17 percent growth might seem like a lot, the actual numbers are more sobering: That translates to about 300 annual openings according to the GDOL, while the BLS’s estimate is slightly rosier: about 370 in Georgia. But here’s the kick: Those numbers are based on previous growth. For the most part, they assume that past experience will predict future results. And that’s not necessarily the case, because there are several factors in play that are likely to increase demand for healthcare workers, including pharmacists, faster than in previous years. Baby Boomers. The biggest generation is living longer than ever, and they’re now hitting the age when they’ll start to need more medical care. It’s no surprise, of course — it’s one of the reasons 20 of the 25 fastest-growing jobs for people with master’s degrees on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ list are in healthcare; pharmacist is number 49. Obamacare. It’s simple cause and effect: “As a result of the Affordable Care Act, more patients will be insured, which also translates to more patients that need our care,” explained Ashish Advani, director of the Drug Information Center at Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy. How many more? More than 536,000 Georgians signed up for coverage through Healthcare.gov in 2015, including about 200,000 new enrollees, most from the ranks of Georgia’s 1.8 million uninsured, according to government data and the Kaiser Family Foundation. April/May 2015
A different point of view Amanda Westbrooks, RpH, Kennesaw: “I honestly don’t know about the demand for pharmacists going up much more significantly. It’s possible that there will be more prescriptions being filled, but along with the ACA, MAC pricing, and increasing wholesale prices of drugs, I don’t know that there will be enough extra money coming into pharmacies to pay for more pharmacist hours. “If anything, I think the demand on the currently employed pharmacist is going to increase, and without much extra tech help.”
There is room to grow, too. While 90 percent of people who bought their insurance through Healthcare.gov were eligible for a subsidy to offset the cost of insurance, about 282,000 Georgians still fall into the coverage “gap”: They earn too little to qualify for subsidies under the ACA, but too much to meet Medicaid guidelines. That gap would close if and when Georgia elects to expand Medicaid. In fact, a February 2013 report from the University of Georgia concluded that Medicaid expansion in the state would support more than 70,000 jobs statewide through 2023 — with half of those in the healthcare industry. Provider status. In early March, a bill that would give pharmacists limited provider status was introduced in Congress. It would allow pharmacists in “medically underserved areas” to be compensated by Medicare for Part B services they provide to patients — immunizations, diabetes management, blood pressure screenings, and so on. It’s a major step toward pharmacists being considered full healthcare providers under Medicare, which would considerably expand their patient pool, thus increasing demand. In Georgia, GPhA is behind efforts to enhance pharmacists’ role as full-fledged healthcare providers. The association is leading efforts to expand pharmacists’ immunization protocols, which will also create more demand for other services, with the side benefit of bringing more healthcare options to many Georgians, as close as their local pharmacy. It could be a whole new ball game. “With the advent of pharmacists gaining provider status, there would open a completely Georgia Pharmacy 19
cover story estimates of future pharmacy openings are at least partially based on outdated information: the economic doldrums of the mid- to late-2000s. Past performance in this case may underestimate future results. different outlook for the face of pharmacy,” said Dr. Curtis Jones, dean for South University’s School of Pharmacy. “Not only are jobs going to be there, but pharmacists — at some level — are going to begin to practice at the level of their licenses.” The end of the recession. In the economic downturn of the mid-2000s, the stock market, and with it the portfolios of many potential retirees, did a nosedive. It didn’t begin recovering until 2009. That meant that pharmacists, like many others, were, in Advani’s words, “clinging to jobs during the recession.” Now that the economy is back on solid footing,
, CFP TM
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they can reconsider retiring or moving. And as they do, they’ll create openings for both graduating students and for other pharmacists looking to change positions. All these factors mean that estimates of future pharmacy openings are at least partially based on outdated information: the economic doldrums of the mid- to late-2000s. Past performance in this case may underestimate future results. Of course, knowing that there probably will be jobs doesn’t tell you where those jobs will be.
Location, location, location When you look at the Georgia numbers, they’re Georgia numbers. Statewide. There aren’t breakdowns by county or ZIP Code, so when we talk about expansion and job openings, it’s not obvious where exactly those openings are. Word on the street, however, seems clear. “Based on what I am hearing about employment, larger cities are saturated with pharmacists, and it’s the rural areas that need staffing,” said Mandy Irvin, a student pharmacist at South University. “Cities where pharmacy schools are located are also an issue for employment, since students tend to stay where they were educated.” Stephanie White, a student pharmacist at Mercer, agreed. “I’ve heard that while the job market is more saturated than in the past, there are plenty of jobs available if you are willing to relocate,” she said. That’s nothing new, according to South University’s Dean Jones. “The higher demand in rural areas vs. metropolitan areas has always been there,” he explained, because more pharmacists prefer to stay in urban areas. Back in the early 2000s, when demand for pharmacists peaked, “they had greater choice, and a good number of them chose to stay in the cities.” That perceived saturation of the urban market might not be the case for long, though. And again, one of the main drivers could be the Affordable Care Act. Because where the patients are, so too April/May 2015
will be the demand for healthcare workers. In 2014, about 68 percent of Georgia’s 2014 health insurance enrollees were in the Atlanta metropolitan area, according to Dr. William Custer, a health insurance expert at the Georgia State University’s Center For Health Services Research. But the numbers shifted somewhat this year, when, Custer said, 200,000 additional people signed up for one of the various policies available — this time, they were mostly in rural areas. “So what that tells you,” Custer said, “is that about half of the new money (and therefore new jobs) coming into Georgia is going to the Atlanta metro and about half to more rural areas of Georgia.” And if Georgia expands Medicaid, he said, it would also help create jobs in cities. “When we looked at the effects of [potential] Medicaid expansion in Georgia, we estimated that about 40 percent of the new jobs created would be in urban areas,” Custer said.
Bottom line? “I would tell pharmacists that, looking at the ACA effect alone, there will be new opportunities in both rural and urban areas of Georgia.” There are, of course, a long list of variables and estimates — too many, in fact, to say for sure whether the market for pharmacists will be hot or cold. While the cries of “oversaturation” and fears of 20 percent unemployment for pharmacists are likely overblown, the increased supply suggests that students shouldn’t expect thosee immediate six-figure salaries they may have been counting on. Jordan Loggins, a 2015 PharmD candidate at the UGA College of Pharmacy, isn’t terribly concerned. “The market for pharmacists is much larger than some students might think,” he said. “Finding a job might not be easy, but neither is pharmacy school. As long as you are willing to put in the time and effort into it, jobs are out there for the taking.” Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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financial planning
Money Matters It’s never too early — or too late — For pharmacists to plan their financial futures.
Pharmacists have some unique needs when it comes to planning their finances, but they have many of the same issues as any employee or busiHarris Gignilliat ness owner. Knowing this, GPhA formed what we call an affinity partnership with UBS Wealth Management — specifically, the Atlanta-based Wile Consulting Group. Through this partnership, GPhA members have access to some useful financial-planning tools, including in-person meetings with a UBS wealth planner. (This isn’t a quick meeting where you’re given generic advice about diversifying investments and balancing portfolios. These are personal, in-depth sessions by experts, and GPhA members get them free.) So when we look to get investment and planning advice for members, we turn to Harris Gignilliat. He’s Wile’s first vice president for wealth management, and the man who administers our partnership with UBS. We asked him a few questions about pharmacists and their finances.
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Pharmacists often find themselves at transition points in their careers. Maybe it’s deciding to venture out and buy your first pharmacy, or to open an additional location; maybe it’s contemplating retirement and selling your pharmacy; it could even be the idea of investing in a new business model or creating a new pharmacy business tool. Are there any general financial principles you can share to help pharmacists navigate those transitions? Your question illustrates and magnifies the need for pharmacists to have a comprehensive financial plan. I like to say that without a map, any road will get you to where you want to go. With a plan you get to identify efficiencies to get you there quicker. Because of these transitions and opportunities, financial planning for the pharmacy profession should almost be mandatory. I don’t see how pharmacists can make decisions like this without some form of financial planning to help navigate. Whether it’s starting a pharmacy, opening a new location or going into retirement, a financial plan can shed light and make difficult decisions much easier by providing perspective and a longer term time horizon. If an employee pharmacist hopes to own her own pharmacy in the next five to 10 years, what kind of advice can you give her to begin preparing for it today? Start a savings plan that is based upon the size and scope of the pharmacy they want to buy. Owning a business takes a considerable financial commitment on the front end. In addition you want to make sure you have your financial house April/May 2015
in order, especially when leveraging a bank loan. Think about the number and type of employees, the location, and the size of business you want to acquire and build. Look for a mentor who can talk to you about mistakes and how to avoid them. Leverage the GPHA and AIP as they are great resources and have access to valuable information. How can a pharmacist use his everyday experiences to become a better investor? The best advice I can give is to ignore their everyday experiences. Too many times investors use their specific personal perspective as a barometer for investment decisions. They like a product, a service or a company that they have a personal interaction with and want to buy the corresponding stock. This is a recipe for disaster. By the time they make that correlation, typically the investment opportunity is already gone. But there are some rules of thumb that apply to everything. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buy when everybody is selling and sell when everybody is buying. These are all well-known clichés, but they all make sense and cents! The markets have been on an unprecedented run since the 2008 recession. What do you and your firm see as opportunities and challenges in the near term? We are entering one of the longest bull markets in the history of the stock market. Common sense tells you that markets don’t go straight up and with return comes risk. We are seeing the general investor become complacent and it reminds me of other market times in history when investors lost sight of the risk involved in the stock market. I believe the longer term trajectory is still positive, but we need to prepare investors for an increase in volatility and large potential swings in the market in the short term. I think the next 6-12 months has the potential to get very choppy. We’ve already seen this increase in volatility since the beginning of the year. As far as opportunities, investors need to start broadening their horizons and start looking outside the US. We see very favorable valuations in international and emerging market stocks and believe this is a good time to engage those markets. The career path for a pharmacist can vary by practice settings, and many pharmacists may cross back and forth among practice settings in their career. How do you develop a financial
“Financial planning for The pharmacy profession should Almost be mandatory i don’t see how pharmacists can make decisions like this without some form of financial planning to help navigate.”
plan that positions you to achieve your goals regardless of practice setting and pharmacy role? First, having a plan is crucial. The biggest mistake we see with pharmacists and financial planning is that they create one and then never return to it. The best advice I could give is to create a financial plan and update it as your transitions happen. Plans are not definitive. Life has many twists and turn along the way, but if you keep your financial plan up to date, the likelihood of reaching your goals increases dramatically. I like to say that every plane flying from NY to LA gets off course at some point during the trip, but the key is that the plane always ends up at the final destination because the pilot has a map. Student-loan payments can last decades after graduation. Some people prefer to make the minimum payments each month, while others try to pay them off more quickly. What’s your advice? There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The basis for this decision needs to be based around the interest rate of the loan. If you have a competitive interest rate, meaning you can identify investment and opportunities that will grow faster than the debt accumulates, it benefits you to make the minimum payment and offset the difference with these outside investments. For those with higher interest rates it behooves them to eliminate the debt as soon as possible. The biggest mistake we see is pharmacists not taking the time to come up with a strategy to handle their debt. The second biggest mistake is pharmacists ignoring their savings strategies in order to pay down debt quicker, thereby losing the power of compound interest. Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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pharmpac
Investing in PharmPAC is investing in your business.
our goal is your goal PharmPAC funds help elect legislators who are friendly to pharmacy. As of March 15, 2015, we still had a long way to go to meet our goal for the year. $14,312
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GPhA’s lobbying can only be as effective as the support behind it. Your association works every day to help ensure that legislation passed in Georgia is the best possible for you and your business.
Visit GPhA.org/PharmPAC to find out more. 24 Georgia Pharmacy
April/May 2015
The Georgia Pharmacists Political Action Committee — PharmPAC — provides the resources for your association to lobby and advocate on behalf of pharmacy professionals across the state. GPhA works at the local, state, and even federal level, leading the way in influencing pharmacyrelated legislation. Investors in PharmPAC understand the importance of this to their business, and they make financial commitments of support.
“I don’t have time or the knowledge to keep up with all the legislative bills that can affect pharmacy. GPhA puts the bills into terms I can understand so I am able to communicate effectively with my representatives.“ —Sharon Deason
2015 PharmPAC investors The following pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students, and others have joined GPhA’s PharmPAC. The contribution levels are based on investment for the calendar year as of March 15, 2015.
Diamond Investors ($4,800 or more)
April/May 2015
Titanium Investors ($2,400)
Scott Meeks Douglas
Ralph Balchin Fayetteville
T.M. Bridges Hazlehurst
Greg Hickman Monroe
Fred Sharpe Albany
Brandall Lovvorn Bremen
Jeff Sikes Valdosta
Danny Smith McRae
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2015 PharmPAC investors
Silver Investors ($300) Nelson Anglin Gregory Drake Amanda Gaddy Willie Latch Kalen Manasco Bill McLeer Donald Peila Austin Tull Bronze Investors ($150) Robert Bentley Nicholas Bland Mark Cooper Michael Crooks Rabun Dekle Ann Hansford
John Hansford Larry Harkleroad Hannah Head Henry Josey Brenton Lake Susan McCleer Erica Veasley Member Investors Renee Adamson Claude Bates Robert Bentley Nicholas Bland Stuart Bradley Kristin Brooks Waymon Cannon Mark Cooper James Darley Rabun Dekle Amy Grimsley
(continued)
Platinum Investors ($1,200)
Gold Investors ($600)
William Cagle Hugh Chancy Keith Chapman Dale Coker Al Dixon Jack Dunn Andrew Freeman Robert Hatton Ira Katz Jeff Lurey Eddie Madden Pamala Marquess Ivey McCurdy Drew Miller Laird Miller Mark Parris Houston Rogers Chris Thurmond Danny Toth Alex Tucker Tommy Whitworth
William Brewster Bruce Broadrick Mahlon Davidson Sharon DEASON Robert Dickinson Benjamin DuPree Kevin Florence Kerry Griffin Micheal Iteogu Bobby Moody Sherri Moody Brian Rickard Andy Rogers Michael Tarrant Chuck Wilson William Wolfe
Larry Harkleroad Hannah Head Lise Hennick Kameron Huffman Willie Latch Carroll Lowrey Ralph Marett Max Mason Roy McClendon Sheila D. Miller Sheri Mills Mark Niday Corey Rieck Kimmy Sanders Jim Sanders Olivia Santoso Terry Shaw Jeffrey Smith George Wu Anonymous Contributor
PharmPAC Board of Directors Dean Stone, Region 1 Keith Dupree, Region 2 Judson Mullican, Region 3 Bill McLeer, Region 4 Mahlon Davidson, Region 5 Mike McGee, Region 6 Jim McWilliams, Region 7 T.M. Bridges, Region 8 Mark Parris, Region 9 Chris Thurmond, Region 10 Stewart Flanagin, Region 11 Henry Josey, Region 12 Bobby Moody, Ex-Officio R. Scott Brunner, Ex-Officio
Get invested today. Visit GPhA.org/PharmPAC or contact Andy Freeman afreeman@GPhA.org • (404) 419-8118 26 Georgia Pharmacy
April/May 2015
calendar Reach out to us
spring region meetings Get together with fellow pharmacists and pharmacy professionals from your neck of the woods for an evening of good food, great conversation, and a chance to hear the latest information from one of GPhA’s industry partners. You can find details of each region meeting online at GPhA.org/spring2015 (where you need to register, because this year all the dinners are free).
Tuesday April 14 Region 3 - Columbus Region 7 - Acworth Region 8 - Waycross
Thursday April 16
Our phone number is 404.231.5074 Our Website is GPhA.org Our blog is GPHABuzz.com
July 9-12 140th GPhA Convention Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Fla. You won’t want to miss the biggest event of the year for Georgia pharmacists: GPhA’s annual convention. We’ll offer hours of continuing education, lots of family fun, a chance to mingle with hundreds of your fellow pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students from across the state, and an exhibit hall full of top-notch industry vendors. GPhA.org/convention
MAY 12–13
July 11
Tuesday April 28
NCPA Legislative Conference Hilton Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, Arlington, Va.
GPhA general membership business meeting Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Fla.
July 8, 12
July 17–19
GPhA Board of Directors meetings at the GPhA Convention Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Fla.
Georgia Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists Summer Meeting Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Fla.
Thursday April 30 Region 2 - Valdosta Region 5 - Atlanta Region 9 - East Ellijay
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President Bobby Moody coliseumpharmacy@gmail.com Chair of the Board Pam Marquess eastmariettadrugs@yahoo.com
President-Elect Georgia Pharmacy Tommy Whitworth
Region 1 - Statesboro Region 4 - Fayetteville Region 12 - Dublin
Region 6 - Macon Region 10 - Athens Region 11 - Augusta
GPhA Leadership
A S S O C I AT I O N
twhitworth@corleydrug.com First Vice President Lance Boles lanceboles@hotmail.com Second Vice President Liza Chapman liza.chapman@kroger.com Executive Vice President and CEO Scott Brunner, CAE OPEN sbrunner@gpha.org
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postscript postscript
Value proposition A few months back you received a survey from GPhA asking for your feedback about the association. We’ve been working hard to make sure you receive value for the dues you pay. We had around a 30 perbobby moody cent response rate, and we found that most members joined GPhA to network with other pharmacists and stay current on pharmacy issues and news (so I hope you are enjoying GPhA Buzz and this magazine for timely updates on all things that involve pharmacy). Rounding out the top three reasons for joining
was serving as a voice for pharmacy. Most respondents say that they would recommend GPhA to a colleague. We’ve grown by more than 100 members in the past few months, and we’re working hard to continue that momentum. I want to challenge you to encourage your pharmacist friends to join the association and attend our Georgia Pharmacy Convention 2015 and take advantage of all that GPhA has to offer. Most members believe that GPhA promotes the profession and provides a voice, but we need every pharmacist to help raise that voice. Like our EVP said in his Prescript column: There’s no limit to what we can accomplish when we’re all together. Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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You told us... Perception of value
“high value”
86% Of respondents were willing to recommend the GPhA to a colleague (59% would “definitely recommend”)
More continuing education opportunities, preferably year round.
s
Believed their GPhA membership had
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80%
Benefit most requested
More face-to-face networking.
Education was so popular
Why did members join?
39% The biggest reason members had for joining GPhA was networking opportunities
28% Second was staying current on pharmacy news
that 48% said they would like to see education programs included in their dues, and 40% wanted regular webinars on relevant topics.
21% Third, GPhA is the voice for pharmacists in Georgia
Based on a survey conducted by New South Research of Georgia Pharmacists, on behalf of GPhA. 28 Georgia Pharmacy
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Introducing the AIP CriticalKey High Performance Network Georgia’s AIP pharmacies are now under contract with private Georgia payers and Accountable Care Organizations to provide clinical services through our partnership with CriticalKey, LLC.
As part of this CriticalKey-powered network, AIP member pharmacies will be able to expand patient offerings to provide care coordination and clinical services for MTM, smoking cessation, obesity control, diabetes management, and more. Network members will get the training they need to up their game and be ready to provide the services payers are asking for.
Look for more information about the AIP High Performance Network in your mailbox, or talk to your AIP member service representative, and get paid for doing what you were meant to do.
Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
50 Lenox Pointe NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
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