Pharmacy Services Continue in Turbulent Times

Pharmacy trends in 2024 NCPA Digest: Reimbursement strain, staffing shortages, closures, expanded services, and community focus highlighted. | Catalyst Corner

By Marsha Millonig, B.Pharm., M.B.A

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) released its 2024 NCPA Digest at its recent annual meeting, showing financial, practice, and service trends among the nation’s independent pharmacists. The NCPA Annual Convention and Expo was held in October in Columbus, Ohio. Trends reported in this year’s digest reflect many issues occurring within the profession: reimbursement pressure from government payers and PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers), staffing challenges, pharmacy closures, increased nonprescription patient care services, and community involvement. Let’s look at some key highlights reported at the meeting.