Pharmacy First Network

The American Pharmacy Alliance (APA) serves as the primary data provider and a key technology partner of the Pharmacy First (PF) Network. This network is sponsored by the Wholesale Alliance, L.L.C. (WALLC); a consortium of independent pharmaceutical wholesalers.
PF has gained national prominence through its leadership role in helping pharmacies participate in rebate earnings available through contracts it has established with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Through its arrangement with APA, Pharmacy First takes advantage of an increased use of technology to provide access to such cost saving and revenue enhancing programs for its participating pharmacies. Since 1996, Pharmacy First has grown to become the nations largest and most successful network of Independent pharmacies.

COMPLIANCE BASED REBATES

A key reason why rebate earnings through PF have increased so dramatically is that PF now writes most of its rebate contracts to be ‘compliance based’ rather than ‘market share’. That means pharmacies can earn rebates based on their ability to help patients follow the refill regimens directed by their physicians. Most of the older, traditional rebate contracts called for pharmacists to urge patients toward certain preferred products which was a role in which they were not well positioned to perform. With the help of their pharmacy systems, pharmacists are exceptionally well positioned to monitor refill regimens and intervene when they feel it’s appropriate.

About Pharmacy First

Headquartered in Nanuet, New York, Pharmacy First is a national network of independent and small chain pharmacies that was created in 1996 by the Wholesale Alliance, LLC, a national consortium of independent pharmaceutical wholesalers. Pharmacy First members maintain ownership and control of their pharmacy’s prescription dispensing data while earning product rebates on top-selling brand name drugs. Retailer participation does not require any wholesaler-directed purchase requirements. Pharmacy First can be contacted by calling 1-888-800-DRUG or by visiting the network’s web site at www.pharmacyfirst.com.

Wholesale Alliance Member Companies

• Bellamy Drug Company
• Burlington Drug Company
• Dakota Drug Company
• Dik Drug Company
• H.D. Smith Barnes Division
• H.D. Smith Wholesale Drug Company
• H.D. Smith New York Metro Division
• H.D. Smith Texas Division
• King Drug Company
• Kinray, Inc.
• McQueary Brothers Drug Company
• Rochester Drug Cooperative
• Smith Drug Company
• Value Drug Company

About the APA

Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, the American Pharmacy Alliance is a national consortium of pharmacy system software providers that serve independent and small chain pharmacies. Due to the common goals and synergies of both organizations, the APA agreed to become a strategic technology partner for the Pharmacy First network 5 years ago, and APA computer vendors now represent a primary conduit for collecting prescription-dispensing data on behalf of network members. American Pharmacy Alliance President, Karl Steele, can be contacted by calling 859-263-1975 or by visiting the organization’s web site at www.ameripharm.com

American Pharmacy Alliance Member Companies

• Cost Effective Computer Systems, Inc
• Digital Simplistics, Inc.
• Etreby Computer Company
• Health Business Systems, Inc. (an SXC Company)
• OPUS-ISM, LLC
• QS/1 Data Systems
• Transaction Data Systems, Inc.
• VIP Computer Systems, Inc.

Pharmacy Network Support

APA can work with independent pharmacy networks to provide an array of services in support of Network based programs. Most notably, APA can provide centralized data delivery from the participating stores to the Network’s data warehouse, a capability which is generally needed to support product rebate programs. Further, APA vendors have designed a ‘Formulary Driver’ mechanism and incorporated it into their dispensing systems. This provides a means of highlighting a preferred product formulary in the pharmacy and at the time of dispensing in order to encourage stronger formulary compliance. An important element of APA’s Formulary Driver is that it allows each prescription to be checked against the formulary at the BEGINNING of the prescription entry (not later during an electronic claim submission) when the pharmacist is in the best position to act on any message or instruction.

Wholesaler Services

APA Member computer systems are installed in over 10,000 Independent and small chain pharmacies, and they are used in the dispensing of every prescription in those stores. APA can work with wholesalers to enhance the value of the connectivity a wholesaler has with their pharmacy customers. Such coordinated services include:

• Inventory replenishment
• Formulary and third party edits
• Market share rebate programs
• Patient compliance and disease state management programs