This issue is sponsored by PCCA

From our Board Chair

A peaceful, easy feeling

In APC’s 2021 compounder profile survey, we asked compounding pharmacy owners about the biggest pain points in their business operation. What were they concerned about? What was making them uptight?

Among a variety of responses, one stood out: An overwhelming majority of you said credit card processing fees were a major concern. “Eating me alive” is how one respondent put it.

That set us to thinking: Were escalating credit card swipe fees a problem we could help our members manage?

Led by APC’s Director of Business Development Jason Dunn, we got to work in identifying partners who could help us create a credit card processing deal – a sort of GPO – that harnessed the buying power of our PFM members to reduce your credit card expense.

Thanks to the work of the partner we identified, The Processing Brokerage, two weeks ago we signed an agreement with Worldpay that will cut the average swipe fee our members pay by more than half.

This is yet another example of how we’re stronger together, how in addition to our advocacy work, APC is also helping to ease pain points in your business.

When you think of your APC membership, I hope you get a peaceful, easy feelin'. 

I know we won't let you down.

Read more about our Worldpay deal – and other stuff, too – below.

– Anthony

Anthony Grzib is VP of quality and compliance, state-regulated pharmacies at Wedgewood Pharmacy in Swedesboro, New Jersey. You can reach him at agrzib@wedgewoodpharmacy.com

ICYMI

• Compounders make 162 congressional visits, gain bill sponsors
• Longtime Iowa compounder receives Malmberg Award
• Eight APC Fellows inducted

This week's news

It’s a Pharmacy/Facility Member-only benefit facilitated via our partnership with The Processing Brokerage.

According to a 2022 survey of PFMs, the average processing fee paid by compounding pharmacies per credit card transaction is 28 cents. Through our new GPO, the processing fee will start at just 11 cents per transaction for all participants – and as participation grows, that rate could go down as low as five cents. 

The Processing Brokerage will provide PFMs with orientation and onboarding of PFMs with Worldpay. They will also provide ongoing consulting services and industry best practices that could help lower other credit card fees, such as the interchange fee.

Note: Some pharmacy software vendors already have a financial deal with particular credit card processors, and pharmacies using those softwares will not be able to join APC’s GPO unless they change software or use a stand-alone credit card processing setup that does not connect with software. For those PFMs already using Worldpay, you’ll have to wait until your existing contract ends before you can join APC’s GPO.

You can learn more about this new PFM benefit here or contact Jason Dunn at jason@a4pc.org.

Complete our compounder profile survey – please!

Yesterday, more than 8,000 pharmacy compounders were sent – via email – APC’s 2023 Compounder Profile Survey. Please take time to complete it.

Developed with our research partners at the University of Utah School of Pharmacy, the results of this survey will provide some clarity on the state of the compounding profession – how it’s structured, what compounders are doing in their businesses, and yes, what are the challenges you’re facing.

Your responses to the survey will be aggregated to produce APC’s “Snapshot of Pharmacy Compounding in America 2023,” which will support APC’s advocacy work – especially in helping members of Congress and other policy makers better understand your profession. 

Note: The survey comes to you in the form of an email from University of Utah College of Pharmacy. The actual email address is surveys@qualtrics-research.com. Be sure to check your spam folder if you don’t receive it soon.

Board ballot voting opens October 6

It’s time for APC members to elect new members of the APC board of directors. Next week you will receive an email from Association Voting (this email address: announcement@associationvoting.com) with instructions on how to cast your ballot. Voting ends Wednesday, October 25 at 11:59pm ET.

Current individual pharmacist, technician, supporter, and prescriber members, and individuals employed by a Pharmacy/Facility Member company whose information is in our database, and who are pharmacists, technicians, supporters or prescribers, are considered voting members of the association. 

“This year’s slate of candidates for the board of directors is the largest in several years,” said APC’s Scott Brunner. “Please cast your ballot.”

Short takes

Community pharmacies go after CVS Caremark. An Iowa pharmacy is suing CVS Caremark, claiming the PBM has been charging community pharmacies with fees that violate both federal antitrust laws and state contract statutes under a Medicare prescription drug program. If the Iowa pharmacy leading the lawsuit prevails, CVS will have to return hundreds of millions – if not billions – of dollars its PBM received from independent pharmacies over the past four years.

Are you ready for November 1? Test your USP 795, 797, and 800 readiness with these free quizzes, compliments of Jackson Audit and Compliance. (You can also request a folder of the quizzes directly from Mike Anneken at MWAnneken@gmail.com.)

The “pink tax” expands its reach. According to a recent study by Deloitte, out-of-pocket health care costs for employed women in the United States are estimated to be $15 billion higher per year than their male counterparts, even with maternity-related expenses removed.

Save these dates

Now available on-demand: The FDA Compounding Quality Center of Excellence is announcing the availability of these self-guided, online courses:

• Aseptic Process Simulations (Media Fills)
• Regulatory Framework for Human Compounding
• Stability and Beyond-Use Dates
• Supplier/Contractor Qualification and Management

October 5: An APC Briefing: PFM Membership and Credit Card Processing. Free to attend but registration is required.

October 5: An APC webinar, USP 797 Best Practices - It's Not Just SOPs (Part 2): From Packaging to Handling, Stability, Documentation, and QA/QC 

October 5: OutcomeMD Lunch & Learn, a free webinar for existing users

October 24: An APC webinar, Internal Audit Processes – Facilitating Optimal Operations and Compliance

October 26-28: PCCA’s International Seminar 2023 in Houston, TX

November 9: An APC webinar, Automation and USP 797 Don’t Mix. More details coming soon.

December 12: An APC webinar on quality assurance and medication/patient safety. More details coming soon.

2024

January 28: An APC webinar, Survey of State Compounding Law Changes 2024. More details coming soon.

April 4-6: Owner Summit, La Jolla, CA

June 20-21: EduCon Virtual: The Ethical Compounding Conference

Quick links

Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding | A4PC.org

APC is committed to addressing any concerns or complaints within one business day. Please send them — and, of course, any compliments — to info@a4pc.org.