Independent Rx Forum

Hosting a legislator at your pharmacy can turn policy issues into personal conversations. Host John Beckner talks with NCPA member Dave Randolph, pharmacist, and owner of Dave's Pharmacy in Hemingford and Alliance, Neb., about his experience building relationships with elected officials. Randolph shares practical advice for securing a pharmacy visit, preparing for a short meeting, working with legislative staff and local media, and showing policymakers the services pharmacies provide. He also discusses how those relationships can keep community pharmacy priorities, from PBM reform to patient access, top of mind. For resources on getting involved and hosting your legislator: https://ncpa.org/months-action

CMS is asking pharmacies to help shape the future of Medicare Part D contracting. From the podcast booth at #NCPA2026, Ronna Hauser, NCPA senior vice president of policy and pharmacy affairs, joins host John Beckner to unpack CMS' request for information on reasonable and relevant Part D pharmacy contract terms. They discuss what CMS is seeking, why independent pharmacy owners' real-world experiences matter, and how to make comments specific, meaningful and data driven. The RFI is open through Nov. 23, 2026, and covers issues including reimbursement, dispensing fees, contracting practices, performance measures, and audits. Personalize your submission with NCPA's template here.

What happens when NCPA puts national marketing muscle behind independent community pharmacy? Host John Beckner sits down with NCPA's senior vice president of public affairs, Jack Mozloom, to share an update on "Neighbors, Not Numbers,"NCPA's multi-year campaign promoting the personal, community-focused experience independent pharmacies provide. They discuss the campaign's move from national television to targeted digital advertising, early results, including over 220,000customers driven to member locations, and how NCPA members can download campaign materials or request customized ads for their pharmacies. The conversation also highlights the power of peer-to-peer learning ahead of the 2026 NCPA Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo. Learn more about the campaign: https://ncpa.org/neighbors-not-numbers-branding-campaign Personalize your ad: https://adcampaign.ncpa.org/ Statistics shared in this episode were accurate as of July 2026. As of September 2026, the campaign has generated over 220,000 customer visits.

This week, host John Beckner sits with Ed Cohen, founder and COO of PharmTeam Associates, to discuss the value of associations. For Cohen, involvement in associations is rooted in lifelong learning and incorporating your network into your professional life. Beckner and Cohen discuss the importance of keeping the door open to opportunities that can be found through state and national associations, as well as strategies to engage students and young professionals. The conversation rounds out with a peek behind the curtain of #NCPA2026, highlighting what you can expect from the meeting and how to get further involved in your professional home here at NCPA.

This week, host John Beckner and guest Ed Cohen, COO of PharmTeam Associates, explore the critical differences between retail and community pharmacy practices. They share insights on the evolving expectations of patients after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opportunity community pharmacy has to exceed those expectations through branding, mentorship, and personalized patient care. But it's not just a job for pharmacists, as Cohen emphasizes the role pharmacy schools and associations like NCPA must play in differentiating retail from community practice. This episode provides a fresh blueprint on how to set you and your pharmacy apart from the big chain down the street.