'Give community pharmacies a seat at the bargaining table'

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Map) - ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. House Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force today held a hearing on H.R. 971, the Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007. The bill would create a narrow exemption to anti-trust law that would allow independent pharmacies to compete fairly and improve patient care when negotiating with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). In response Bruce Roberts, RPh, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) executive vice president and CEO, issued the following statement:

"Through passage of H.R. 971, independent pharmacies will be given a seat at the bargaining table, therefore allowing them the ability to improve services and choices for their patients. Our pharmacists need true negotiating power when settling on contract terms, such as reasonable audit procedures and less red tape when dealing with PBM customer service.

"I would like to thank U.S. Representatives

To learn more about H.R. 971 and the Senate companion bill S. 2161, go to the following link: http://www.ncpanet.org/pdf/leg/hr971_s2161.pdf

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines. To learn more go to http://www.ncpanet.org.