Current Policy Battles and Accelerated Innovation are Front and Center at NACDS Regional

At the Opening General Session of the 2024 National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Regional Chain Conference today, a central message rang clear: NACDS is committed to winning on pivotal issues and to charting the course for innovation that advances pharmacy and that benefits all Americans.

The 2024 Conference — “Within Reach” — is being held February 11-13 in Bonita Springs, FL, and is the kick-off of NACDS meetings and conferences this year.

Jackie Morse, 2024 NACDS Regional Chain Conference Chair and group vice president of pharmacy for Meijer, Inc., opened the event by illustrating Meijer’s role as the face of neighborhood health and wellness for the communities it serves across six states:

“Meijer’s commitment to community and to corporate citizenship comes to life every day in the pharmacy. Food insecurity is one of Meijer’s most substantial giving pillars. Pharmacists are not only medication experts, but they are also so much more. We are excited to see how pharmacists’ role in total health and wellness transforms in the coming years.”

Morse continued with emphasis on NACDS policy priorities. She said, “In addition to local communities and giving pillars, Meijer is passionate about advocacy — and NACDS’ overall missions. We must continue to galvanize the membership around NACDS’ top policy priorities, for the betterment of patient care and for our customers.”

NACDS Chair Mike Wysong, CEO of CARE Pharmacies, and NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson also spoke, with their remarks focused on the importance of NACDS in defending pharmacies and patients now, and innovating for the future.

Wysong issued a challenge to attendees, saying: “Remember who you are. Remember why you do what you do. And don’t forget to tell your story.”

Reflecting on takeaways from recent NACDS meetings and conferences, Wysong focused on the importance of “identity” and “innovation.”

He noted that external observers have described NACDS as having a clear “identity” – which reflects a knowledge of an organization’s “responsibility” and “faithfulness.” Regarding “innovation,” he observed that this characteristic today must accompany other core attributes – including “honor,” “courage,” and “service.”

Wysong went on describe his visits in recent weeks to NACDS-member regional chains including Discount Drug Mart, Publix, and Lewis Drug — and how each proved to be an innovator with an identity.

He said, “Innovation is a piece of art and a core component of the pharmacy business. These NACDS member companies are creating new models of care, and they are defining a comprehensive approach to serving their customers well.”

He also lauded Bob Narveson, chair of Thrifty White and an NACDS past chair and current Board member, for his remarks at last December’s celebration of NACDS’ 90^th Anniversary. He reflected on Narveson’s challenge that attendees remember what they are fighting for, and Narveson’s compelling use of storytelling to convey the industry’s passion and effectiveness.

With a nod to Jim Collins, author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … and Others Don’t, Anderson remarked how Collins’ principle of the “flywheel” represents well the industry’s ongoing work on behalf of Americans. The principle emphasizes the importance of applying continued force to generate the momentum necessary for results.

Anderson explained how another principle of Jim Collins — the business strategy of “preserving the core and stimulating progress” — can describe the opportunities, and the threats, facing the industry today. Specifically, NACDS’ work to “preserve the core” of pharmacy means protecting pharmacies, and Americans, from PBM tactics.

He said of the progress at the state level, “NACDS made our mark in many states – arm-in-arm with state partners. Over three years, we’ve had more than 130 state PBM reform bills enacted.”

Anderson also described the push for PBM reform at the federal level, urging attendees to write to Congress to emphasize the importance of completing work on vital reforms that already have advanced through bipartisan work in this Congress.

On NACDS’ work to “stimulate progress,” Anderson talked about the Association’s focus on health and wellness innovation: “Even as we fight for pharmacy’s future, we are helping to create it: fulfilling pharmacy’s potential as a ‘one stop’ for America’s health and wellness needs. The ‘total store for the total person.’ I want to thank the 48 Strategic Partners here – the suppliers. You are here – because you understand what NACDS is all about. You are right at the core of NACDS as we build this future.”

Of note, Anderson talked about NACDS’ collaborative work with leading health organizations through Nourish My Health, a national public health education campaign highlighting the connection between food and health. On this and other future-focused projects, he said, “NACDS’ vision for the future of retail health includes sophisticated approaches. It is integrating pharmacy into value-based care. It is pharmacy data interoperability – which empowers payment for services. It is a federal bill (the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act –  H.R. 1770/S. 2477) to create a payment stream so seniors in Medicare can access pharmacy services. And it is enhancing pharmacists’ scope of practice in the states.”

Anderson noted that the Regional Chain Conference program reflects the forward-leaning approach of NACDS.

In addition to a robust schedule of informative sessions, a principal feature of the 2024 Conference is the productive, One-to-One Business Conferences – a popular aspect of the schedule that fosters collaboration among NACDS chain and associate members and which sets the standard for NACDS meetings and conferences.

More information about the 2024 Conference program – with compelling speakers on topics relevant to the entire store – is available on the event’s website.

NACDS also urges member company representatives to register now for the 2024 NACDS Annual Meeting, to be held April 27-30 in Palm Beach, FL, and the 2024 NACDS Total Store Expo, to be held August 17-19 in Boston, MA.

Photos will be made available to the media.