Survey: Pharmacists feel squeeze
By HME News Staff
Updated 3:40 PM CST, Wed November 10, 2021
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Independent pharmacies are struggling to fill staff positions and deal with supply chain disruptions, as well as deal with market pressures like pharmacy benefit manager direct and indirect remuneration fees and vertical integration, according to a new survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association. “Pharmacists have worked heroically throughout the pandemic so to have insurance middlemen push so many of these small business owners to the edge is troubling,” said B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist and NCPA CEO. “Policymakers in Congress, the Biden administration, and in the states should keep this in mind. There are important policy changes they can make to lower drug prices for seniors and protect small businesses, like eliminating pharmacy DIR fees.” Among the findings of the survey: 60% of respondents say they are dealing with supply chain disruptions, and nearly 70% say they are struggling to fill staff positions, with the pharmacy technician and clerk/front-end staff slots being the most difficult to hire.
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