the agency of change VISION Lead the industry in healthcare standards and solutions for the common good.
PURPOSE To standardize the exchange of healthcare information to improve outcomes.
CORE VALUES Collaboration Inclusiveness Integrity & Ethical Behavior Leadership Innovation Table of Contents
Letter from the President & CEO...... 4
Letter from the Board of Trustees Chair...... 5
NCPDP’s Three-Year Strategic Plan...... 6
Education & Certification...... 12
Collaboration & Consensus Building...... 18
NCPDP Products & Services...... 32
Most Valuable Participant Awards...... 34
Recognizing Members for Leadership, Service...... 35
2020-2021 Board of Trustees and Committee Chairs...... 36
2020-2021 Work Group Co-Chairs...... 38
Member Loyalty...... 40
NCPDP Staff...... 44
NCPDP Foundation...... 45
3 Letter from the President & CEO
How we respond to change, whether imposed upon us or a consequence of our choice, defines our character and shapes our future. The devastation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impacts of polarizing political and social response, suffering and death, left an indelible mark in 2020. Ironically, while the year provided great clarity, or ‘20/20 vision,’ it came at great expense. We witnessed the impact of the vulnerabilities the pandemic exposed in our healthcare system, such as the underutilization of pharmacists’ professional services for COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and other patient care services, as well as the impact of interoperability challenges. We directed our efforts towards those things we can change, and in May we issued guidance for pharmacists on administering COVID-19 tests and other services. NCPDP’s Emergency Preparedness Task Group convened a series of urgent calls and worked diligently around the clock to develop guidance to support the expansion of pharmacist- provided patient care services with COVID-19 testing. In December, we released additional guidance on vaccine administration. These are two great examples of how we mobilize to provide timely and essential industry guidance. In addition, for the first time ever, we conducted our quarterly Joint Technical Work Group Meetings virtually in August, and each quarter thereafter. The shift to virtual Work Group Meetings was critical to keep our work – and the industry – moving forward. We are the agency of change. As an organization, our capacity for responding to and leading change is rooted in our culture. Our values and the behaviors that express them support our ability to effect change. It is a herculean effort led by member volunteers and supported by NCPDP staff. Our Board of Trustees does its part, charting the course of NCPDP’s continued growth to ensure we stay true to our Vision and Purpose. In May 2020, our Board of Trustees approved NCPDP’s new Three-Year Strategic Plan. Two overarching objectives in the plan center on Standards Development and Organizational Excellence: Standards Development: Ensure NCPDP develops standards that are relevant to industry needs to advance patient care. The NCPDP standards development process inherently focuses our work on those challenges brought to us by the industry. This goal aims to ensure that the highest priority of industry needs will be actively and urgently supported by our work convening industry stakeholders to engage in learning and problem solving, and in developing or enhancing standards and solutions. Organizational Excellence: Ensure NCPDP garners the people and resources, as well as defines the processes needed, to advance our Vision and Purpose. Internal alignment and engagement in support of the plan is essential to ensuring its success. NCPDP’s Executive Management Team, its internal processes and controls, and the active involvement of our high-impact Board of Trustees will provide the foundation needed to achieve our Vision and Purpose. Everything we do is guided by these two high-level goals. I am pleased to report that, in the relatively short amount of time since its release, we have made tremendous progress on our plan, which you can read about in this Annual Report. It is our honor and privilege to be the agency of change. Get involved and bring your colleagues - together we will continue to have a profoundly positive impact on the future of healthcare for patients and all stakeholders.
Sincerely, Lee Ann Stember President & CEO | NCPDP
4 Letter From the Board of Trustees Chair
In the 2019 Annual Report, I began and ended my letter commenting on what I believed was to be my last year as Chair… and here I am yet again reporting as Chair for 2020! It was honestly just as much a surprise to me as I am sure it was to many of our members, that I was asked to serve again. This has been a pivotal year for NCPDP. As you are aware, the NCPDP’s Board of Trustees had already completed its plan to right-size its Board from 12 to 9 members. In May 2020, the Board approved its Three-Year Strategic Plan, a first of its kind for the organization, and began to work with the Strategic Planning Committee on developing the activities and metrics to implement the strategic initiatives. With so many important transitions taking place, all of which I took part in, the Board asked if I would stay on as Chair for one more year. It is truly an honor for me to serve as Chair again and as you will see in this report, NCPDP is on solid ground, remains strong and has made great progress in its new, strategic plan. One of our Five Core Values is Innovation. How appropriate it is to value and embody Innovation, particularly during this unprecedented year. Everyone across the world has been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have had to change so much in our personal lives, while also adjusting and pivoting to operate in our professional lives. With that in mind, I want to concentrate on how successful NCPDP has been transitioning itself to a new normal this past year. For over 40 years, NCPDP has enjoyed success as an in-person, office-based operation with a few exceptions for remote employees. Why change an operation if it has been successful? It works well, plus, I know how much Lee Ann values the face-to-face interaction with the Staff. However, as with all of us and our organizations, the pandemic forced changes in NCPDP’s operations overnight. Their ability to innovate and quickly and efficiently transition all staff and operations to remote work is a testament to living NCPDP’s core values. NCPDP had to design, purchase necessary equipment, train, and implement all employees working from home. Another great achievement was transitioning from in-person to virtual Work Group Meetings. We completed our third Virtual Joint Technical Work Group Meetings, and with each program, the process and use of technology improved. On a personal note, I really miss the in-person networking! NCPDP’s Board has been focused on Innovation and how the healthcare industry is changing. We know we cannot rest on what has been successful in the past; we need to prioritize a consistent focus on innovation to ensure we continue to lead the industry in healthcare standards and solutions for the common good. To that end, early in the year – prior to the pandemic - the Board had approved a new role, Senior Vice President of Innovation. The individual in this position will have direct responsibility for identifying new growth opportunities for NCPDP that are aligned with the Three-Year Strategic Plan. As we look towards new channels of success with innovation and what our new normal will be, I am proud of how this organization has remained strong, dedicated to its Vision and Purpose, financially secure, and how each NCPDP staff member contributed to an overwhelming successful year. Morale has remained high, and the staff and Board appreciate Lee Ann’s candid and uplifting, bi-weekly communications to staff. I believe as we move forward, all of us will continue to support NCPDP’ Vision and Purpose while encouraging each other through difficult paths. Thank you, Lee Ann, the Executive Team, and the entire NCPDP staff for your contributions to a successful year. You deserve a round of applause. It has been a pleasure working with you.
Perry Lewis Chair | NCPDP Board of Trustees
5 NCPDP’s Three-Year Strategic Plan
NCPDP’s Board of Trustees approved its new, Three-Year Strategic Plan in May 2020. The plan is a culmination of a year-long assessment of trends, future opportunities in healthcare and pharmacy, and examining points of alignment that support NCPDP’s continued leadership and stewardship. The Three-Year Strategic Plan supports NCPDP’s Vision and Purpose. It provides clear direction for NCPDP over the next three years, as well as the flexibility to adjust its focus in a changing environment. NCPDP’s continuing priorities - the Universal Patient Identifier (UPI), powered NCPDP’s by Experian Health UIM and NCPDP Standards™; Specialty Pharmacy; Real-Time Three-Year Prescription Benefit (RTPB) Standard; and the NCPDP Standards-based Facilitators Model for PDMP, An Interoperable Framework for Patient Safety – were updated Strategic Plan and incorporated into the new plan. Directing the Activities and Implementation of the Plan NCPDP’s Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) is charged with developing and executing on targeted actions and measurable deliverables in support of the Three-Year Strategic Plan. SPC members implemented a plan of action to advance both the short-term and long-term initiatives and priorities that are established by the Board of Trustees. The SPC is comprised of voting and non-voting members including a mix of Board of Trustee (BOT) members and other invited NCPDP members who can contribute to specific areas of the Plan.
EDvocacy Broadens Awareness of NCPDP’s Work EDvocacy is key to achieving our goals. Many of our members who participate in developing standards, solutions, and guidance at NCPDP, EDvocate about our work with other industry stakeholders, government agencies and lawmakers. Because they participate in our collaborative, consensus-building process, they have a great understanding of the complexity of issues and solutions, and why ours can best address the needs and desired outcomes. Our Three- Year Strategic Plan engages our members, staff, and Board to share information about NCPDP’s solutions to increase awareness, reach and impact.
6 The Three-Year Strategic Plan has two major Initiatives: 1. Standards Development: Ensure NCPDP develops standards that are relevant to industry needs to advance patient care. 2. Organizational Excellence: Ensure NCPDP garners the people and resources, as well as refines the processes needed to advance our Vision and Purpose. On the following pages is a high-level overview of some of the progress and activities in support of several of our goals under the Standards Development Initiative over the first six months of the Plan.
7 NCPDP’s Three-Year Strategic Plan (cont’d)
STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT – Leadership in Standards Development • Increasing Awareness and Adoption of NCPDP’s UPI to Improve Patient Safety In February 2020, NCPDP President & CEO, Lee Ann Stember participated in a House Briefing, ‘The Case for Patient Matching,’ hosted by Horizon Government Affairs. Stember was an invited panelist along with Katherine Lusk, Chief Health Information Management and Exchange Officer, NCPDP’s Children’s Health System of Texas and Mike Martz, Senior VP and CIO, Mount Nittany Health. Stember outlined the need for patient matching, Three-Year the different methodologies, and the importance of accurate patient identification to reduce medical errors, improve patient safety and support Strategic Plan interoperability. Patient matching has been an issue of interest in Congress during the last two years. In 2019 and 2020, the House passed legislation to lift a 21-year ban on HHS using federal funds to support implementation of a national patient identifier. While the legislation stalled in the Senate, it still signals Congress is interested in improving patient matching initiatives. NCPDP hosted a Stakeholder Action Group in May 2020 to identify obstacles to advancing adoption of the NCPDP UPI, the outcomes of which will inform future strategies. The Universal Patient Identifier (UPI), powered by Experian Health UIM and NCPDP Standards™, is a standards-based, vendor-neutral and provider-neutral solution for accurately managing patient matching and identification across the healthcare ecosystem. The UPI is a pass-through number that is not known to the patient or provider. The ability to achieve the patient safety benefits of the UPI relies on its propagation throughout the healthcare ecosystem using NCPDP’s Telecommunication Standard and SCRIPT Standard.
• Increasing Manufacturer Engagement in NCPDP and WG18 to Help Speed Time to Specialty Therapy Work Group 18 Specialty Pharmacy has made great progress in its first two years, and more active engagement by manufacturers is a top priority for adopting and implementing current solutions and developing new transactions, standards and guidance. An NCPDP member advisory group for manufacturer outreach reconfirmed the value proposition for manufacturer engagement and interviewed manufacturer contacts to learn more about their motivation for engagement. A challenge remains to create a compelling case for a variety of pharma professionals to join and participate when their roles change frequently, and each individual’s business interest is fairly narrow compared to the overall benefit to a manufacturer. The advisory group is tapping into members in this segment for additional guidance.
8 • Accelerating the Modernization of the • EDvocacy Among State Medicaid Pharmacy Telecommunication Standard Administrators on Available Standards & At the November 2020 Work Group Meetings, the Opportunities to Participate in Task Groups Telecommunication Agility Next Generation (TANG) In the fall, NCPDP invited State Medicaid Task Group recommended the Telecommunication Pharmacy Directors and their staffs to an Standard be converted to a modern format and introductory educational webinar to learn to support extensibility, which would allow quick more about NCPDP standards and solutions responses to changes in the marketplace. At the relevant to their agencies that help service February 2021 Work Group Meetings, Work Group 1 Medicaid members. The webinar also included Telecommunication approved moving to JSON as the complimentary access to additional webinars on syntax for the next generation Telecommunication a variety of topics of interest, including the role Standard. Maintenance and Control (MC) created a of pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic; new task group to determine the best path forward the future format of NDC and drug listing regarding harmonization of the message formats for inactivation; standards for digital therapy; a legal all standards within NCPDP. This marks a significant update on PBMs and emerging trends; standards milestone in future-proofing the NCPDP Standards. supporting specialty medication workflow; and Following the approval, the NCPDP Foundation issued medication cost transparency. Communication a call for grant proposals for a consultant to help with the contacts is ongoing. NCPDP migrate the Telecommunication Standard to a JSON format. • EDvocacy Tours on the Hill Go Virtual NCPDP held two EDvocacy Tours in 2020, • NCPDP Pivots on Its National Facilitator Model to meeting with policymakers in Washington, Support All Public Health Crises D.C. in February and hosting virtual meetings NCPDP recognized early on in the COVID-19 pandemic with Members of Congress in September. The that its Standards-based Facilitator Model could EDvocacy Tours focused on further expanding be expanded and used to address all public health NCPDP’s footprint, establishing the organization crises, beyond the opioid epidemic. Soon thereafter, as a trusted resource, and sharing information NCPDP began sharing that message on the Hill in on NCPDP’s Standards-based Facilitator Model, its discussions about the Facilitator Model and the its UPI and its Real-Time Prescription Benefit Universal Patient Identifier (UPI), powered by Experian Standard. NCPDP held a record number of Health UIM and NCPDP Standards™. meetings with Members of Congress during the Congress, the former Trump Administration, and virtual EDvocacy Tour in September and engaged the new Biden Administration all have identified with HHS, CMS and ONC. The next virtual the outdated public health infrastructure as one EDvocacy Tour will be held in March 2021. of the challenges in responding to COVID-19. In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to expand, modernize and improve existing data infrastructure, giving deference to standards published by consensus-based standards development organizations, with input from the public and voluntary, consensus-based standards bodies. This reinforces the importance and potential of NCPDP’s Facilitator Model as a solution to the challenge because it uses NCPDP’s standards that are widely implemented throughout the industry.
9 NCPDP’s Three-Year Strategic Plan (cont’d)
STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT – Speed to Standard Creation • Swim Lane Provides Clarity on Standards Development Process Controls One of our most urgent priorities is to accelerate the speed to standards development. The SPC established a subcommittee composed of NCPDP staff and members to develop a swim lane diagram. It details the process flows and timelines that are under NCPDP’s control and that fall under the jurisdiction of various regulatory agencies. The next step is to perform an NCPDP’s in-depth analysis and identify innovative ways to streamline the process and timelines to bring new standards and enhancements to the industry Three-Year faster, while still retaining the rigorous integrity of our collaborative, Strategic Plan consensus building process. STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT – Innovation • Special Committee Engages New Tech Companies to Inform Future Standards Development NCPDP established a PharmTechnology Innovators (PTI) group in 2020. The purpose of the PTI is to support new technology companies, startups and entrepreneurs by investigating ways that new and existing NCPDP Standards can help them successfully address needs for innovation. Members of the group can also tap into the knowledge, expertise and contacts of NCPDP members to support innovators’ growth and success. The PTI can also benefit NCPDP and its members through the exchange of knowledge with new industry stakeholders and exposure to emerging innovations. In October 2020, NCPDP convened its first PTI Stakeholder Action Group Meeting for an open discussion on how participants can work together to improve all of pharmacy. The group discussed a broad set of topics, many of which are on NCPDP’s Three-Year Strategic Plan. The PTI will regroup to review priority topics and how NCPDP can support them.
• Leveraging Shared Strategic Alignment with NASP During the year, NCPDP placed an emphasis on outreach and engagement with specialty pharmacy stakeholders in support of its newest work group. Efforts focused in large part on communication with the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) membership. At the 2020 NASP Annual Meeting & Expo Virtual Experience, NCPDP President & CEO Lee Ann Stember shared a brief message with NASP meeting attendees on NCPDP’s important work in specialty pharmacy. In addition, John Hill, MBAHCM, CNED, Executive Vice President & GM, NCPDP, co-presented “A Push for Data Standardization” with Lynn Pezzullo, R.Ph., Senior Director, Quality Innovation, Pharmacy Quality Alliance and Luis Rodriquez, President, Keycentrix.
10 Stember also participated in a NASP podcast episode, All In For Specialty: How to Make Lasting Change in Patients’ Lives through Industry Standards and Guidance. In it, Stember speaks with Sheila Arquette, R.Ph., NASP President & CEO, about NCPDP’s work in specialty pharmacy to encourage NASP members to get involved in WG18 and its task groups. Stember describes why NCPDP is involved in specialty pharmacy, why it is important to have NASP members participate in our forums, what NASP members should know about the standards development process, and more. These events provided great visibility on a Work Group 18 white paper published during the year that details existing NCPDP standards that can be used to automate Specialty Pharmacy. The white paper also highlights gaps in standards and opportunities to continue to automate workflows to improve the patient journey. Read more about our progress and impact in Specialty Pharmacy in Collaboration & Consensus-Building.
Agility in Action – Pivoting for the Pandemic & Patient Medication Adherence In the past year, NCPDP witnessed its members’ interest and support of innovative ways to make our standards and solutions available faster for the industry to use. Here are two great examples: • NCPDP’s Emergency Preparedness Task Group developed urgent guidance for pharmacists’ expanded role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmacists received long-overdue recognition of their ability to provide readily accessible, front-line public health and patient care services during the pandemic when HHS authorized licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests, and later, vaccines. The task group held a series of emergency meetings to develop and publish testing guidance in early May, with guidance on vaccinations available in December. The NCPDP Foundation supported the guidance, highlighting the important work of pharmacists in filling critical gaps in care in a public service video. Read more in Collaboration & Consensus- Building. • The approval of NCPDP’s Real-Time Prescription Benefit Standard was preceded by a first for NCPDP: approval of a beta version of the standard. The standard has the potential to transform the patient-provider experience and speed time to therapy by making patients’ out of pocket prescription benefit information available to providers at the point of care. It brings an unprecedented level of transparency and actionable information to healthcare providers at the point of prescribing – a critical juncture that can make all the difference in a patient’s adherence to a treatment regimen and health outcomes. Timely availability of the standard was critical, as CMS issued a final rule mandating that each Part D plan adopt one or more real-time benefit tools (RTBTs) that can integrate with at least one prescriber’s ePrescribing system or electronic health record (EHR), no later than January 1, 2021. Then in the consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, signed into law on December 27, 2020, the legislative package directs the Secretary of HHS to adopt a real-time benefit tool standard, developed by a standards development organization, such as NCPDP. The NCPDP Foundation funded a pilot research project on NCPDP’s RTPB Standard, which proved the reliability of out-of-pocket medication cost estimates and patient cost savings at the pharmacy. Read more about the RTPB Standard in Collaboration & Consensus-Building. Read about the research project in the Foundation update in this Annual Report. These achievements exemplify NCPDP and its members’ commitment to our shared Vision and Purpose and demonstrate our ability to achieve our goal of speeding up our standards development and guidance creation process.
11 Education & Certification
NCPDP’s Education Programs cover timely, focused and rich content on topics and issues that matter most to our members. From webinars and our Town Hall Series to our Annual Conference, we curate a variety of topics – from updates on standards, best practices and implementation guidance to pressing industry issues, presented by subject matter experts. Unprecedented Year Brings Unprecedented Value to All NCPDP Members Education & In March, NCPDP announced the cancellation of its 2020 Annual Technology & Business Conference for the safety of its staff, members and other participants. Certification The cancellation of the conference became a huge membership perk when NCPDP made much of the event programming available to members at no charge. This was an unprecedented “plus,” as only a subset of the membership is able to travel and participate in the Annual Conference on behalf of their organizations. State of the Association | Video Series Traditionally, NCPDP President & CEO Lee Ann Stember delivers the State of the Association update on the first full day of Annual Conference. Quickly adapting to the new, all-remote work environment, Stember delivered the updates in NCPDP’s State of the Association Video Series. The first video, which debuted in May 2020, was a Website and Member Portal Preview, giving members an exclusive, first look at the redesigned website and MyNCPDP™ Member Portal. The second video was an update on NCPDP’s Strategic Initiatives, followed by a high-level overview of the new Three-Year Strategic Plan as the third video in the series. The next video highlighted the important work of NCPDP’s members and an update on NCPDP Products & Services. One of the many highlights of Annual Conference is the announcement of NCPDP’s award recipients. NCPDP hosted a special Awards & Recognition event on August 13, 2020, to announce the nominees and award recipients. View the recipients in Recognizing Members for Leadership, Service in this Annual Report. The event also paid tribute to Perry Lewis, NCPDP Chair, who graciously agreed to extend his term as Chair to lead the organization through early implementation of the Three-Year Strategic Plan. The Awards & Recognition is the fifth and final video in the State of the Association series, all of which can be accessed on the MyNCPDP Dashboard. The Annual Meeting of the Membership, which is co-located with the May Joint Technical Work Group Meetings and the Annual Conference, was held as a virtual meeting on August 13, 2020.
12 Updated Website & New WEBINARS FOR ALL Member Portal In May 2020, NCPDP debuted its newly-updated, redesigned and mobile-friendly website and member portal. The primary objective of the website update was to make it easier for members and non-members to access information, learn about our In addition to sharing the traditional Annual Conference State of the important work and to get involved. Association content in a video series, the Annual Conference track The website makes navigation a snap session programming was offered at no charge to all members under the with a menu icon, enhanced search WEBINARS FOR ALL Series. The WEBINARS FOR ALL Series ran from July functionality and “quick links” to fast- to December 2020 and included the following topics: track access to the most requested • How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Medication information. With a single click, access Management Work Groups and Task Groups, apply for a new NCPDP Number for your • UMS and Patient Safety: Best Practices & Pitfalls in Medication pharmacy, navigate to Products & Adherence Services or view the Standards web • Stopping the Specialty Spin: What the Specialty Prescription page. Process Could Be New are our Resources page where • Virtual Care and Healthcare Consumerism: The Next Revolution you can search using either a topic in Healthcare or keyword, and our Standards • No Time Like the Present: Creating the Optimal Prescription Correspondence page which is home Experience for Patients (and Pharmacists) to all the final correspondence generated by task groups, work • Software-as-a-Standard: How Reference Implementations Benefit groups and the Standardization Everyone Committee. • How Will Blockchain Technology Disrupt the PBM/Payer/ Other enhancements include Pharmacy Relationship? consolidated and streamlined Work • 2020 Recommendations and Guidance for Standardizing Dosing Group Meeting information and an Designations on Prescription Container Labels of Oral Liquid Events page organized by month and Medications year and searchable by date and event • Future Format of NDC and Drug Listing Inactivation type. • A Legal Update Regarding the Pharmacy Benefit Industry and The Member Portal is now Emerging Trends MyNCPDP™ - with a Dashboard that gives members visibility on those • Delivering on the Promises of Cost Transparency and Better things that require their attention. Access to Patient Records for Patients Plus, easy access to events that NCPDP was also pleased to have Doug Long, Vice President, Industry members are registered to attend, Relations, IQVIA™, present his Market Trends Report. Long’s the member-exclusive NCPDP Now presentation as a Featured Speaker has been a staple of NCPDP’s Annual eNewsletter, subscriptions to NCPDP Conference programming since the early 1990’s. Long was named a Products, and more! recipient of the NCPDP Champion Award in 2019. In addition to the WEBINARS FOR ALL Series, NCPDP hosted webinars on The Future of Pharmacy, and From Months to Minutes: Increasing Speed to Therapy in the Most Challenging Workflows, in June 2020. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are available for these webinars, thanks to a sponsorship by CoverMyMeds. The webinars are archived and available on demand through our website. 13 Education & Certification (cont’d)
NCPDP/HIMSS Town Hall Webinars Each year NCPDP collaborates with HIMSS on a Town Hall Webinar Series. The complimentary webinars are promoted to the membership of both organizations to expand EDvocacy of NCPDP’s standards and solutions. The 2020 Town Hall Series launched in the fall with the following webinars: • Pharmacists’ Role in the Emergency Preparedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Education & • Utilizing NCPDP Industry Standards for Digital Therapy • An Evolution in Standards Supporting Specialty Medication Workflow Certification All three webinars highlight key takeaways from NCPDP white papers or guidance published during the year. They are all great examples of how NCPDP, through the work of its membership, provides timely and essential healthcare standards and solutions for the common good. NCPDP sponsored the CPE credits for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians for the NCPDP/HIMSS Town Hall Webinars.
What to Watch for in 2021
Virtual Event: June 28-30, 2021
NCPDP’s 2021 Annual Conference, a Virtual Event, will be held June 28-30, 2021. NCPDP’s Educational Summit returns in 2021 as a Virtual Event. More information will be available in the fall.
14 NSC-II Certification by NCPDP,the Source of SCRIPT January 1, 2020, marked the effective date of CMS adoption of the SCRIPT Standard Version 2017071 for transmitting prescriptions and prescription- related information for covered Part D drugs and Part D eligible individuals. Many important enhancements are included in this version of the Standard such as the support for electronic transmission of compound information (including ingredients and their quantities), support for both veterinarian or non- veterinarian prescribers, and support for the reporting of allergies and adverse events. With the breadth of clinical and administrative capabilities enabled by this version of the Standard, achievement of NCPDP’s prestigious NSC-II Certification demonstrates the individual’s ability to implement and optimize use of the Standard. Later in the year, in December 2020, CMS issued a final rule requiring Part D prescription drug plans to support the electronic prior authorization transactions in NCPDP’s SCRIPT Standard Version 2017071, reinforcing the importance and value of the certification. Continued Demand for NSC-II Certification NCPDP conducted a survey in May 2020 to plan budget and resources for the program in 2021. The survey was sent to members, as well as non-members and other contacts, including a list of individuals who participate in the Collaborative Workspace and, by virtue of job function, would be most likely to have interest in the Certification Program. At the time, 24% of respondents indicated they or a colleague planned to pursue the certification within a year, signaling continued, growing interest in the program. The certification is a recognized and distinguished professional credential for anyone who designs and implements EHR systems, forecasts and prepares for organizational risks, defines pharmacy policy, develops requirements, programs pharmacy systems, defines product specifications or develops and delivers training for project teams and end users.
of survey respondents agreed that NCPDP certification represents a commitment to professionalism, upholding industry standards, 86% and continued learning.
of survey respondents said NCPDP’s NSC-II certification for technical and programming teams is valuable to U.S. healthcare. 85%
of survey respondents said that certification 80% matters when hiring a consultant.
15
EHR/EMR Vendors
Standards Development Professionals
HIT Professionals
Product Owners
Who Consultants Should Be Engineers
Certified? System Developers/Analysts Education & Certification (cont’d)
About the NCPDP Certification Program NCPDP’s Certifications are designed to help professionals achieve and showcase industry-recognized levels of proficiency and mastery of specific NCPDP standards. The NCPDP Certification Program providesof survey respondentsmembers, and agreed qualifying that NCPDP non- certification represents a commitment to members, an opportunity to obtain a distinguishedprofessionalism, upholding certification industry standards, based on the ability to demonstrate86% knowledge and understandingand continued of implementing learning. NCPDP Standards accurately and effectively. Education & New Certification Program Enhancements NCPDP announced in January 2020 the availability of two test aides to reference Certification while taking the certificationof survey respondents exam: said theSCRIPT NCPDP’s Implementation NSC-II Recommendations certification for technical and programming document and the SCRIPTteams Standard is valuable toV2017071 U.S. healthcare.. Making these85% documents available during the exam relieves test takers from having to memorize fine details that, in the daily course of business, professionals would likely reference the documents. Test takers still must be familiar with the documents to find the answers to questions in a timely manner. Also, during the year, NCPDP transitioned third-party exam administration to of survey respondents said that certification our own in-house administration, a cost-savingmatters measure when hiring for athe consultant. organization. Registration has been80% streamlined and is now a one-step process. The exam is administered in two parts, each consisting of approximately 60 questions, and both of which must be completed within 90 minutes.
EHR/EMR Vendors
Standards Development Professionals
HIT Professionals
Product Owners
Who Consultants Should Be Engineers
Certified? System Developers/Analysts
16 Organizations with SCRIPT V2017071 Certified Individuals:
• Allscripts • Kaiser Permanente of survey respondents agreed that NCPDP • CoverMyMeds • PharMerica Corporation certification represents a commitment to professionalism, upholding industry standards, • Department of Veterans Affairs • PointClickCare 86% and continued learning. • EagleRx Consulting • PrescribersConnection • Enclara • Pro Rx Consulting • Evernorth • SoftWriters, Inc. • Express Scripts • Surescripts of survey respondents said NCPDP’s NSC-II certification for technical and programming teams is valuable to U.S. healthcare. 85% Congratulations to the following NSC-II Certified Professionals: • Andrea Kent, MBA, NSC-II, CoverMyMeds • Ashley Maples, CPhT, NSC-II, Evernorth of survey respondents said that certification • Co Lai, NSC-II, Department of Veterans Affairs matters when hiring a consultant. 80% • David Kilgo, R.Ph., NSC-II, Retired • Jerry Krupa, R.Ph., NSC-II, Veradigm/Allscripts • Kori Eastman, NSC-II, Surescripts • Mark Fulton, MBA, PharmD, NSC-II, SoftWriters, Inc. • Michelle Wilcox, MBA, PharmD, NSC-II, Enclara • Mike Menkhaus, R.Ph., NSC-II, Pro Rx Consulting
EHR/EMR Vendors • Samantha Ramberg, NSC-II, Surescripts
Standards Development Professionals • Sonya Oetting, NSC-II, PrescribersConnection, LLC • Tatiana Cole, NSC-II, PointClickCare HIT Professionals • Tim McNeil, NSC-II, Surescripts Product Owners • Valerie Ray, M.S., NSC-II, Kaiser Permanente Who Consultants Get NSC-II Certified by NCPDP, the Source of SCRIPT! For more information, Should Be Engineers visit: https://www.ncpdp.org/Certification-Program.aspx. Certified? System Developers/Analysts
17 Collaboration & Consensus Building
Use Modification Mandate Affects Telecommunication D.0 Implementation Guide and “Quantity Prescribed” White Paper June 2020; Republished July 2020 Updated in June, the guidance document, Recommended Use of Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) in NCPDP Telecommunication Standard Version D.0, reflects the Final Rule CMS-0055-F: Modification of the Requirements for the Use of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) D.0 Standard published January 24, 2020. Vision in The document was developed to provide guidance to retail pharmacies on the Practice proper use of the Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) field in the Telecommunication Standard for all Schedule II controlled substance claims, when Schedule II medications need to be dispensed in increments less than the amount prescribed. CMS mandated the modification for covered entities to clearly distinguish if a prescription is a “partial fill” versus a refill of a full prescription. The changes made will help prevent refills of Schedule II drugs from occurring and yield better data for researchers to enhance their understanding of prescribing trends. Companies needed to demonstrate compliance with the use of the Standard by September 2020. The requirements are: • Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) must be treated as required when the transmission is for a Schedule II drug as defined in 21 CFR 1308.12. • This modification is applicable for a claim or equivalent encounter, referral certification and authorization, and coordination of benefits transactions. In response to the final rule, NCPDP released an update to its white paper Recommended Use of Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) in NCPDP Telecommunication Standard Version D.0. The paper is available on the NCPDP website at https:// ncpdp.org/White-Papers.aspx. To read more about the use modifications adopted in the final rule, visit https:// www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-01-24/pdf/2020-00551.pdf. Task Group Formed to Address Billing for Pharmacist-Provided Patient Care Services Ongoing discussion in many task groups in 2020 focused around the most effective way to support the administration and billing of COVID-19 vaccinations. The pandemic gave members an opportunity to view many of NCPDP’s Standards with a new perspective. Formed in August, a new task group, under WG1 Telecommunication, called the Pharmacy Services Billing Task Group, will focus its efforts on how NCPDP standards can be used to support billing for pharmacist-provided direct patient care services. The group began a technical gap analysis between the NCPDP Telecommunication Standard Version D.0 Service billing (“S”) transaction and the HIPAA adopted X12 837 Professional implementation guide. The group will capture the results of this analysis in guidance that will support future versions of the Telecommunication Standard to assist in industry decision making regarding policies and billing standards for direct patient care services provided by pharmacists.
18 Telecommunication Standard Moving to Modern Guidance for Billing Safe Disposal of Medication Format in Future Version Product and/or Counseling Service During the November 2020 Interim Work Group Many state and federal programs require pharmacists to Meetings, WG1 Telecommunication approved the provide counseling to patients on how to safely dispose of Telecommunication Agility Next Generation (TANG) medication, including opioids, controlled substances and Task Group’s recommendation to convert the other substances with environmental impact. Telecommunication Standard from Electronic Data In February, the WG1 Clinical and Safety Edits Task Group Interchange (EDI) to a modern format for a future HIPAA collaborated with safe disposal stakeholders to develop a named version after Version F6. The recommendation process for pharmacists to request reimbursement for safe was made to address the lack of agility of the current EDI disposal products and services from insurance companies. format. The group created guidance, which was approved During its Interim Joint Technical Work Group Meetings in November 2020 and published in the document in February, the Work Group approved moving future Telecommunication Version D and Above Questions, versions of the Standard to the JSON format. To support Answers and Editorial Updates. the work, the NCPDP Foundation announced a call for The current editorial document illustrates four scenarios grant proposals for a consultant to help in replacing the for billing a claim for a safe disposal product and/or NCPDP Telecommunication EDI syntax. counseling service. The scenarios help pharmacists determine the appropriate values to submit when using White Paper Offers Solutions to QMB the Telecommunications Version D.0 Standard. The Coordination of Benefit Challenges guidance includes specific values to submit in the DUR/ The NCPDP white paper, Qualified Medicare PPS segment, Incentive Amount Submitted (438-E3) and Beneficiary Part B Coordination of Benefit Barriers and the Basis of Cost Determination (423-DN) segment. Recommendations offers pharmacy billing professionals The four scenarios are: electronic data solutions to support QMB program requirements using the NCPDP Telecommunication • Safe Disposal Product Only Standard. • Safe Disposal Product and Counseling Service Many documents have discussed the complexities of the • Counseling Service for a Safe Disposal Product with QMB program. A major focus of these publications has No Associated Product Cost been to prohibit the practice of balance billing. Balance • Drug Product and Counseling Services for Safe billing refers to the Federal laws which bar Medicare Disposal providers and suppliers from billing an individual enrolled in the QMB program for Medicare Part A and Part B cost- The task group is continuing work on future guidance for sharing under any circumstances. how payers should respond to claims and/or counseling services for safe disposal, which will be addressed in a While the Medicare cost share amount can be billed to different FAQ. state Medicaid agencies, current processes are convoluted and lack the benefits of using standardized electronic NCPDP recommends that if a payer provides solutions. The white paper offers solutions to the hurdles reimbursement for safe disposal products or services in a that pharmacists, patients and payers encounter. claim billing transaction, that it is clearly communicated in the payer sheet or a pharmacy bulletin.
19 Collaboration & Consensus Building (cont'd)
NCPDP Standards-based Facilitator Model for PDMP: Phase I and II Two phased updates were completed in 2020 that significantly impacted NCPDP’s Standards-based Facilitator Model for PDMP, an Interoperable Framework for Patient Safety. The resulting white paper is available to provide industry education on the facilitator model’s ability to enhance prescription drug monitoring efforts to provide clinicians with actionable information at the point of care. It also outlines the changes that were deemed necessary for further adoption during NCPDP’s PDMP Stakeholder Action Group Meeting on March 12, 2019. Vision in The changes were made to address PDMP efficiency for providers and improved industry functionality including facilitator workflows and requirements; patient Practice matching, providing methods to identify and edit duplicate patient records; and state-specific scenarios for how providers can best work with their state’s PDMP facilitator. Phase I describes the development of the facilitator model. It illustrates how providers report to the facilitator and how the facilitator then populates the participating state and local PDMPs with information on controlled substances and other drugs of concern. It shows how to leverage patient matching technology and other data validation/editing enhancements to produce higher quality and more effective PDMP databases. Providers are shown how to check the appropriate PDMP, pursuant of jurisdictional requirements, to access patient information and assess risk. Phase II illustrates further how the Standards-based Facilitators Model for PDMP supports real-time reporting and risk response when paired with the functionality described in Phase I. The paper explains how the facilitator model leverages current industry technology and clinical expertise to create and/or communicate potential risks using an algorithm (e.g., risk score). Using this score, the paper illustrates how the facilitator model supports prescribers and dispensers with information to assist in clinical decision making. The white paper can be downloaded from the NCPDP website at https://www. ncpdp.org/White-Papers.aspx Quick Reference Guide to Standardized Communications to Address Opioid Epidemic Published in April, NCPDP Recommendations for Standardized Communications to Address the Opioid Epidemic, was created by the WG1 Clinical and Safety Edits Task Group to submit to state Medicaid programs and other interested stakeholders. The document introduces readers to, or offers a reminder about, standardized communications available to address the opioid epidemic. Designed specifically to be one page so it is easy to distribute and access, the document contains links to available guidance, including NCPDP’s Telecommunication Standard Version D.0 and Above Questions, Answers and Editorial Updates Document; Recommended Use of Quantity Prescribed (460- ET) in NCPDP Telecommunication Standard Version D.0; and NCPDP’s SCRIPT Implementation Recommendations; and both an introduction and an invitation to readers to participate in NCPDP’s task groups to find answers to specific questions not covered by current guidance.
20 NCPDP Releases Emergency Preparedness Guidance for Pharmacy- led COVID-19 Testing In its efforts to support pharmacists and their expanded role in administering COVID-19 related tests, including serology tests and related services, NCPDP released an updated NCPDP Emergency Preparedness Guidance document. The document outlines the different types of tests available, specimen collection and testing procedures, and product and/or service identifiers for FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests and test kits. It defines the scope of pharmacist- provided services, which may include patient risk assessment, test ordering, test dispensing, specimen collection, and interpretation of test results, patient counseling, and reporting of test results to the patient’s primary care team, as well as state and federal designated agencies. The guidance also provides information on testing certifications, lists test products supplied through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), and provides guidance on how to complete a claim request and submit the claim for payment. The latest version of the document can be viewed on the NCPDP website at: https://www.ncpdp.org/NCPDP/media/pdf/ NCPDPEmergencyPreparednessInformation.pdf NCPDP Follows with Emergency Guidance for Pharmacist- Administered COVID-19 Vaccines When the federal government-initiated Operation Warp Speed (OWS) in December to ensure patient access to emergency vaccines released to protect against COVID-19, the Maintenance and Control (MC) Emergency Preparedness Task Group initiated another emergency response of its own to develop a guidance document to expeditiously support standardization within the claim adjudication process to address the unique factors associated with administrating and billing for these vaccines. This guidance offers examples of how the individual COVID-19 vaccines should be billed based on the quantity dispensed; how the days supply field should be calculated regardless of whether a patient is receiving his/her first or second dose of a vaccine; which data elements and values should be entered when submitting a B1/B3 billing transaction through the Telecommunication Standard when there is no associated cost for service; which Product/Service ID and/or clarification codes should be used to distinguish single dose vaccines from two dose vaccines; and whether a patient is receiving the first dose of a vaccination series or has completed treatment. The paper also outlines use cases for the industry in the event claim clarifications are necessary due to differences in processing systems, patient safety edits are needed, or if vaccine administration is not covered by a patient’s insurance plan. In addition, there is guidance illustrating how to handle unique pricing and patient care setting considerations when administrating currently available and future COVID-19 vaccines. Currently a separate standalone document, this guidance is slated to be incorporated into the comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Guidance Document v1.9 in May 2021.
21 Collaboration & Consensus Building (cont'd)
NCPDP Calls for New Product Identifiers for FDA-Approved COVID-19 Tests As COVID-19 testing increases across the United States, with the need to continue even after the severity of the pandemic passes, NCPDP alerted the FDA’s Director of Drug Registration and Listing Staff, to the need for the assignment of new product identifiers to all COVID-19 testing products when they are approved for commercial use. During the Federal State of Emergency, Emergency Use Approved (EUA) COVID-19 Vision in tests are administered free of charge to the patient by pharmacies under authorization of a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments lab waiver. Practice This waiver is dependent upon the payment of directly invoiced subsidies from the federal government for the administration of tests received from the Federal Stockpile. Once COVID-19 tests are FDA-approved to be administered in non-emergency circumstances, mixing free goods and commercial products, with the same product unique device identifiers (UDI) in the marketplace, could lead to confusion at every level of the healthcare ecosystem tied to the test administration, payment recordkeeping and inventory tracking of these testing products. Ultimately, this could negatively impact patient care by delaying or denying testing and affect accuracy of recordkeeping. NCPDP Creates Product Identifier for COVID-19 Test Specimen Collection to Facilitate Billing In an effort to address the need for a proper product identifier to use in pharmacy claims when a specimen collection product does not have an assigned product ID like a National Drug Code (NDC) number, theMaintenance and Control Emergency Preparedness Task Group created the product identifier of 99999- 0992-11 (COVID-19 Test Specimen Collection). This product identifier was added to all drug data compendia in June. This product identifier aligns with existing pharmacy and payer systems and may be used by a pharmacy to submit a claim to a patient’s pharmacy benefit administrator for a test specimen collection product or service. Use of this identifier ensures consistency in billing of COVID-19 tests administered during the pandemic.
22 Specialty Pharmacy Benefit Coverage Identification White Paper Calls for Industry Collaboration WG18’s Benefit Coverage Identification Task Group developed the white paper, NCPDP Specialty Pharmacy Benefit Coverage Identification to highlight the current challenges experienced by providers, dispensers and organizations in being able to timely and accurately identify the appropriate benefit coverage, whether from the medical or pharmacy benefit, for a specific, prescribed specialty medication. Determining the patient’s out-of-pocket costs for these medications brings another layer of complexity to the process. The paper outlines the specialty pharmacy industry’s current process for prescribing and dispensing of medications and identifies gaps in current standards and opportunities to leverage existing standards. It identifies opportunities for industry collaboration to improve upon the benefit identification process to limit manual verification processes; reduce duplication of effort; and mitigate the differences in how medical and pharmacy benefits are currently billed. The white paper can be downloaded from the NCPDP website at https://www. ncpdp.org/White-Papers.aspx
NCPDP and HL7® Jointly Develop Implementation Guide: HL7® FHIR® Specialty Medication Enrollment The Specialty Requirements for ePrescribing Task Group has completed an implementation guide titled HL7® FHIR® Specialty Medication Enrollment. Jointly developed with Health Level 7® (HL7), the guide describes the exchange of data: demographic, prescription, clinical and financial, for dispensing specialty medications by pharmacies. The guide also explains how data exchange facilitates enrollment of patients in programs offered by third parties such as, but not limited to, hub vendors and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Currently in review with HL7, the guide is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2021.
NCPDP and X12 Collaborate to Improve Exchange of Specialty Pharmacy Inventory Information WG18’s Specialty Pharmacy Data Exchange Task Group worked with the X12M subcommittee to create inventory implementation guidance for the X12 852 Product Activity Data Transaction Set. The transaction set is designed for the exchange of inventory information between specialty pharmacies and manufacturers. The file is structured so the inventory information may also be shared with other pharmacy stakeholders such as data aggregators. The data enables pharmacy stakeholders to watch inventory levels, improve supply chain continuity and respond to the market. Approved in August 2020 by NCPDP members, the document, Exchanging Inventory Information between Manufacturers and Specialty Pharmacies Implementation Guide, is available to NCPDP members and can be accessed using the Standards Lookup tool in MyNCPDP.
23 Collaboration & Consensus Building (cont'd)
Background and Guidance for Using NCPDP Standards for Digital Therapeutics During its review of NCPDP Standards and their potential application to the electronic ordering and billing of digital therapeutic (DTx) products, the MC Digital Therapeutics Task Group determined the Billing Unit Standard, Product Identifiers Standard, SCRIPT Standard and Telecommunication Standard all support industry stakeholders who electronically prescribe and submit claims for DTx products through the pharmacy benefit. Vision in Background and Guidance for Using the NCPDP Standards for Digital Therapeutics outlines the initial use case selected and illustrates how the four Standards Practice support prescribing and billing of DTx products. It marks an important first step in supporting clinicians, payers, processors and patients in prescribing, billing and allowing access to a new class of treatment options. Real Time Prescription Benefit Standard Published for Industry Adoption In October 2020, NCPDP formally released the production version (V10) of its Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB) Standard. The Standard’s Implementation Guide, XML files, and Examples Guide were published as part of the release. The RTPB Standard enables the exchange of patient eligibility, product coverage, and benefit financials for a chosen product and pharmacy, and identifies coverage restrictions and alternatives when they exist. The RTPB Standard contains both XML and EDI syntaxes for the exchange of real- time prescription benefit information. To ensure effective and accurate exchange of patient benefit information, it is crucial that systems support both the XML and EDI syntaxes either directly or through translation with an intermediary. The ability to translate information from one syntax into the other will ensure the provider’s ability to access patient benefit information for all patients they encounter regardless of the format of the patient’s benefit information.
24 NCPDP Requests CMS Adoption of Formulary CMS Final Rule Requires Part D Plans Support and Benefit Standard Version 53 NCPDP ePA Transactions in SCRIPT Standard In November, NCPDP began the process of asking the Version 2017071 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to In the last week of 2020, the Centers for Medicare & formally adopt the Formulary and Benefit Standard Version Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule requiring 53 for use by the Medicare Part D Program. The Standard, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to support formally named under 42 CFR § 423.160 Standards for eight electronic prior authorization (ePA) transactions in Electronic Prescribing (b) Standards (5) Formulary and NCPDP’s SCRIPT Standard Version 2017071. Benefits, would replace Formulary and Benefit Standard The adoption came in order for the agency to meet a Version 3.0. requirement of The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention The latest version of the Standard was updated to meet that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients industry need and current usage. The changes include: and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act) to adopt, before • Normalized list files that allow for smaller files and January 1, 2021, an ePA transaction standard for Part reusability. The files also have expiration dates. D-covered medication prescribed to eligible individuals. • Alternative and step medication files redesigned to All of CMS’s Part D plans, as defined under § 423.4, reduce file sizes and include support for reason for including Part D plans, Medicare Advantage Part D plans, use. In addition, the step product files now support Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plans more levels of detailed step medication program that offer prescription drug coverage, or cost plans offering information to support provider decision making. prescription drug coverage, will use SCRIPTs initiation request/response; request/response; appeal request/ • Updated coverage files include support for response; and the cancel request/response transactions electronic prior authorization and specialty drugs. to enable prescribers to initiate, request, and review ePA • Updated copay files allow for a minimum and transactions from Part D plan sponsors at the time of a maximum copay range without a percent copay. patient’s visit. They also support benefit stage copay/deductibles, According to CMS, the “policy change helps ensure pharmacy network support, Medicare Part D that there are secure electronic transactions between support and approximate drug cost. prescribers and Part D plan sponsors, and that patients will In addition to outlining the updates to the new version not experience delays when picking up their prescriptions. of the Standard, NCPDP recommended that CMS include This action is part of CMS’s commitment to strengthen the following timeline for implementation in its Final Rule Medicare, ensure safety and quality, and put patients over naming the new version: paperwork.” • Five months after the Final Rule is published, start The requirements of the final rule became effective a transition period where both versions of the March 30, 2021, but active use of the ePA transactions Standard are allowed to be used. in the SCRIPT Standard will not be enforced until January • Begin sunsetting Formulary and Benefit Standard 1, 2022, to give the industry time to implement the ePA Version 3.0, 22 months after publishing the Final transactions, while working through operational challenges Rule. as a result of the pandemic. • Mandate the use of Standard Version 53, 23 months after publishing the Final Rule.
25 Collaboration & Consensus Building (cont'd)
NCPDP Comments on CMS Proposed Rule to Reduce Provider, Patient Burden and Improve Prior Authorization Processes On January 4, 2021, NCPDP provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its proposed rule. The rule is designed to reduce provider and patient burden by improving prior authorization processes and promote patient access to health information. The rule would impact all Medicaid managed care plans, state Medicaid agencies, CHIP agencies, CHIP managed care entities, and qualified health plans on federally facilitated Vision in exchanges. Although the rule focuses its efforts to improve prior authorization within these Practice programs, it left out provisions for its use in prescription drug and/or covered outpatient drug prior authorization decisions. NCPDP urged CMS to consider the ePA benefits realized by the pharmacy industry and asked the agency to align its proposed plan with its Secure Electronic Prior Authorization for Medicare Part D Program Final Rule (CMS–4189–F2). The proposed rule requested comments to require payers and providers to create application programming interfaces (APIs) that would allow them to share a patient’s prescription drug coverage and pending and/or active prior authorization statues. In addition, the proposal asks providers and payers to build specific FHIR®- enabled electronic Prior Authorization Support APIs that would allow for sending and receiving prior authorization requests electronically. NCPDP encouraged CMS to recognize the important strides NCPDP’s members have made in adopting and using standards that facilitate real-time exchange of medication prior authorization requests and responses. NCPDP’s Real-Time Prescription Benefit Standard, the Prior Authorization Transfer Standard, and the SCRIPT Standard, address the issues outlined in the proposed rule. NCPDP asked the agency to implement these standards which closely mirror the improvements that will come from the adoption of the HL7® Da Vinci Implementation Guides proposed in the NPRM (Coverage Requirements Discovery, Documentation Templates and Rules, and when necessary, Prior Authorization Support) for the medical benefits, decreasing the need for prior authorization and increasing automation where it is needed. MTM Transactions Moved to SCRIPT to Support Improved Patient Referral Opportunities WG10’s Electronic Referral Task Group completed its work to migrate the use of five medication therapy management (MTM) transactions of the Specialized Standard to the SCRIPT Standard. Renamed as referral transactions, the enhanced transactions can be used in conjunction with MTM transactions to give payers, clinicians and other healthcare entities more options to both assess MTM needs and offer direct referral support to patients. Originally part of the Specialized Standard’s demographic and clinical information exchange transactions, the MTM transactions were not widely implemented. It is anticipated the modified transactions will improve adoption throughout the industry.
26 Community Pharmacy Foundation
TM
SCRIPT Standard Modifications Allow for Exchange of Social Determinants of Health Data Released in January 2021, modifications to the SCRIPT Standard Version Community Community 2021011 allow for Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) data, reported in Pharmacy Pharmacy the Pharmacist eCare Plan, to be transmitted through the PatientDiagnosis Foundation Foundation element in SCRIPT. This long-term solution to capturing and sharing TM TM patients’ clinical information between providers and pharmacists will allow for a contextual summation of a patient’s current health and living Community Pharmacy situation, including their nutritional status or whether they have access to Foundation transportation and housing. NCPDP continued its relationship Once a new version of SCRIPT is mandated under the Medicare with the Community Pharmacy Modernization Act, pharmacists and providers will be able to share patient Foundation (CPF) and the National details, reported in the eCare Plan, using the appropriate Z code values and Community Pharmacists Association transmit them through SCRIPT’s PatientDiagnosis element. Foundation (NCPA Foundation) In the meantime, in 2020, WG10’s Identification of Social Determinants through a project proposal granting of Health (SDoH) Task Group and WG11 SCRIPT Implementation three independent community Recommendations (SIR) Task Group collaborated to develop use case pharmacists NCPDP membership. guidance for how to use SCRIPT’s drug use evaluation (DUE) elements, in the Pharmacists responded quickly medication composites, to relay SDoH data. and were on the front lines helping patients throughout the COVID-19 Pilot Project to Streamline Hospice Prior Authorization Process, pandemic. As a result, these Reduce Duplicate Spending for Part A Prescriptions members were less available to The Hospice Task Group continues to work with the Centers for Medicare participate in every task group and & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a pilot project, which extracts data from a work group in which they have hospice’s EHR and routes information to the correct Part D plan in real- traditionally been active. time, in an effort to minimize delays in prior authorization and reduce the The three members prioritized time it takes for hospice election notifications to be received by the plans. the most important issues that Streamlining these two processes will allow hospices to be more responsive came before them, devoting time to plan information requests and reduce Part D drug costs for Part A hospice and providing input to the MC benefit claims. Emergency Preparedness Task Mentioned in CMS’s final rule “Medicare Program; FY 2021 Hospice Wage Group, to help NCPDP quickly Index and Payment Rate Update”, published in August, the project is the develop guidance for pharmacists result of a year-long effort to address the findings from a 2019 Office of the to administer and bill for COVID-19 Inspector General (OIG) report that showed Part D plans paid $422.7 million testing and immunizations. Grantees in prescriptions for patients receiving hospice care in 2016. The report remained involved in the WG11 recommended CMS work with hospice organizations to reduce overall drug Prescription Transfer Task Group costs and develop processes to ensure cost controls are maintained. and the WG1 Product Locator Task Group, two areas that directly affect The pilot is expected to go live in the 3rd quarter of 2021. Hospices, their a pharmacist’s workflow in daily software vendors and Part D plans are encouraged to participate. operations.
27 Collaboration & Consensus Building (cont'd)
Updated White Paper: Recommendations and Guidance for Oral Liquid Medications Published in American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy Completed in October, WG10’s mL White Paper Task Group received publication acceptance from the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (AJHP) in November for the white paper, NCPDP Recommendations and Guidance for Standardizing the Dosing Designations on Prescription Container Labels of Oral Liquid Medications, Version 2. The white paper was published in the Journal and Vision in on NCPDP’s website in March 2021. Practice Significant changes were made to the paper that was originally published in 2014. Six years later, updates to 2020’s version focus on driving widespread industry adoption and include: • A summary of findings from the 2019 survey developed by task group members to gauge pharmacy adoption of NCPDP’s flagship dosing recommendation guidance. Results showed that most pharmacy chain respondents that they surveyed do not have a formal policy in place to require the use of the mL measurement. • A discussion of relevant research, recommendations and actions taken by NCPDP and other professional organizations, safety organizations, standards development organizations (SDOs) and federal health agencies regarding dosing designations and appropriately designed devices for oral liquid medication administration accuracy since NCPDP’s original recommendation guidance debuted. An NCPDP Task Group Call to Action, which maps out roles for stakeholders including local and corporate pharmacy leadership; pharmacists and pharmacy staff; certification organizations; dosing device manufacturers; e-Prescribing and EHR software vendors; government; national and state boards of pharmacy; pharmacy system software companies; professional trade associations; and standard development organizations, to: • Adopt the recommendations in this white paper. • Communicate these recommendations as standards of practice in policies to all pharmacy staff. • Measure organizational performance in achieving these recommendations and build organizational accountability for reaching goals. • Explore innovative patient-centered communication and education initiatives that encourage pharmacist-to-patient education at the point of dispensing. • Facilitate communication by stakeholders outside the community pharmacy system, including prescribers, with a role in patient and healthcare professional education on using standardized metric-only dosing designations and devices for prescribed oral liquid medications.
28 A new stakeholder map identifies which roles the relevant stakeholders will play in adopting, communicating, adhering and educating others regarding these best practice standards, while also identifying some of the challenges and opportunities for each group. NCPDP calls on all the relevant stakeholders to support efforts to adopt, implement, and adhere to the recommendations and standards in this white paper, and to educate healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers on how to accurately measure and administer oral liquid medications. NCPDP Provides Comments for ONC’s 2020 ISA Reference Edition In November, NCPDP provided comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on its 2020 Interoperability Standards (ISA) Advisory Reference Edition. The Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA) process is the model ONC uses to coordinate the identification, assessment, and public awareness of interoperability standards and implementation specifications that can be used by the healthcare industry to address specific interoperability needs, including interoperability for clinical, public health and research purposes. NCPDP offered clarification and recommendations including: • Using a vaccine’s lot number in conjunction with its National Drug Code (NDC) number when reporting immunizations to state agencies. • Adding ICD-10 as a value when reporting clinical information, which is a recognized requirement in the SCRIPT Standard. • Clarifying the use of the substance use fields in the SCRIPT Standard to relay patient alcohol and tobacco use information. • Commenting on the work of WG18 in developing a solution for patient consent information. • Clarifying current and future support for unique device identifiers in the SCRIPT and Telecommunication Standards. • Providing the latest Implementation Guide updates for the NCPDP Formulary and Benefit Standard, Implementation Guide, Version 53; the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide, Version 2017071; the NCPDP Specialized Standard, Implementation Guide, Version 2017071; the NCPDP Real Time Prescription Benefit Standard; the NCPDP Telecommunication Standard, Implementation Guide, Version F6; and the Batch Standard Implementation Guide, Version 15.
29 Collaboration & Consensus Building (cont'd)
NCPDP Comments on ONC Proposed 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan In a letter to Dr. Don Rucker, MD, National Coordinator of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), NCPDP urged the agency to consider the organization’s expertise and include its Standards and those of other standard development organizations (SDOs) in its forthcoming 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. The comments, submitted in March, outlined seven key points in the plan that Vision in missed opportunities to illustrate how NCPDP’s Standards, the involvement of other ANSI-accredited standard development organizations (SDOs), and industry Practice efforts continue to further the Plan’s goals. These areas included: • The work of NCPDP’s Digital Therapeutics (DTx) Task Groupto advance the use of evidence-based digital therapeutics by identifying data exchange solutions in existing NCPDP Standards, proposing changes or developing new standards to support DTx requirements. • NCPDP’s and Health Level 7’s (HL7®) jointly-developed Pharmacist eCare Plan that captures and integrates health and human services information, in the form of social determinants of health (SDoH) data, into provider EHR systems. Since the comments were submitted, pharmacists can now also capture SDoH information using Z code values and transmit them to providers through the PatientDiagnosis element in NCPDP SCRIPT Standard Version 2021011. • NCPDP’s continued EDvocacy for patient matching and creation of the Universal Patient Identifier, Powered by Experian Health UIM and NCPDP Standards™ (UPI) to ensure safe and high-quality care through the use of health IT. • The work of NCPDP and its SDO partners to foster competition, transparency and affordability in healthcare with the creation of the Real- Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB) Standard designed to convey real-time pricing and formulary information to providers by enabling the exchange of patient eligibility, product coverage, and benefit financials for a chosen product and pharmacy, and identify coverage restrictions and alternatives, when they exist. The comments also mentioned NCPDP’s continued work with HL7® and X12 to produce and promote standards that further the exchange of electronic health information to improve interoperability and usability. • The work of the Prior Authorization Workflow to Transactions Task Group to reduce regulatory and admirative burden on providers through its efforts to evaluate the needs of the industry to achieve further adoption and utilization of the NCPDP SCRIPT ePA transactions. • NCPDP’s work on developing the Pharmacist eCare Plan and solutions for exchange of patient consent across the healthcare ecosystem to support the advancement of individual and population-level transfer of data. • The 40-year history and primary focus of NCPDP in adopting and advancing nationally endorsed standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria through continued collaboration across public and private sectors to advance the development and use of health IT.
30 NCPDP Engages with Industry Stakeholders Standards Correspondence Web Page to Address Patient Safety and Payer Concerns During the year, NCPDP submitted other comments, Regarding Insulin Pen Packaging Changes including a response to the FDA Proposed Rule for the In the 3rd quarter of 2020, NCPDP provided comments to Importation of Prescription Drugs and CMS’ Request for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and three drug Information regarding electronic prescribing of controlled manufacturers regarding FDA-issued insulin packaging substances (EPCS). You can access these comments and guidance that impacted how pharmacists could dispense other, final correspondence generated by NCPDP task insulin products. The November 2019 guidance provided groups, work groups, and the Standardization Committee instruction to pharmacists to dispense insulin pen on the Standards Correspondence Web page: https:// packages in their original sealed carton. standards.ncpdp.org/Correspondence.aspx NCPDP shared concerns that these dispensing instructions would have a significant impact on patient safety and BY THE result in increased costs. The change had the potential NUMBERS to affect patient access to prescriptions if they required 2020 less than what the sealed carton contained, based on a prescribed quantity or a calculated supply, and potentially 64 result in treatment delays and negative health impacts. DERFs Aside from patient safety and medication access concerns, Submitted NCPDP argued that any adjustments to days supply could lead to conflict in utilization measure documentation, 929 cause delays in rebate processing, create unnecessary risks Task & Sub-Task during audits and present regulatory compliance issues. Group Calls To mitigate the risks presented by the guidance, NCPDP 1 recommended to both the FDA and the manufacturers Project Development they require and/or allow for the creation of single-unit Form Submitted & Processed packaging that would enable pharmacists to dispense the quantity needed without wasting product or burdening 45 White Papers, Letters, patients with excessive drug costs. Comments, Documents, Surveys & Presentations In October 2020, the FDA revised its guidance to include Created its reasoning for requiring sealed cartons. The FDA also provided additional guidance to providers who may 8 choose to dispense single pens to patients who need less QUIC Forms insulin product than a package contains. The agency also Adjudicated encouraged drug manufacturers to consider producing smaller carton sizes, having approved their creation in June 6 2020, and asked for healthcare professionals burdened by Ballots Adjudicated larger packaging sizes to contact manufacturers to urge them to develop smaller or single-unit packaging. To read the latest insulin packaging and dispensing 19,864 guidance from the FDA, visit: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/ Task Group Volunteer Hours drug-safety-and-availability/fda-advises-health-care- professionals-and-patients-about-insulin-pen-packaging- and-dispensing 8,450 Work Group Volunteer Hours
28,314 Total Volunteer Hours
31 NCPDP Products & Services Continue to Evolve and Meet Industry Needs for Accurate Data and Information NCPDP products are a vital source of revenue for the organization, providing funding to help underwrite educational programming, work group meetings and other activities that are essential to creating awareness, educating, developing standards and addressing the variety of healthcare and patient safety issues brought forth by industry stakeholders. By design, NCPDP products help NCPDP subscribers be more efficient in daily operations and stay ahead of emerging Products & issues and trends that may impact their business in the months and years ahead. API Usage Soars for dataQ®, resQ™ Services NCPDP APIs became available to integrate pharmacy and prescriber data with subscriber and third-party software vendors’ key business applications. With the introduction of APIs for dataQ & resQ, database customers eliminate the need to download and store pharmacy data files on local servers and have access to the most current, accurate pharmacy data. Subscribers can now build their own integrations to support a broad range of use cases, including the ability to integrate into centralized systems to improve claims processing, business operations, and to simplify pharmacy credentialing data collection. In addition to the API, Single Sign-On (SSO) capability for pharmacies on dataQ®/resQ™ customer portals is available to further streamline and increase user efficiencies. Prior to APIs, dataQ® subscriptions offered only monthly or weekly file delivery options, and resQ™ subscriptions offered monthly file delivery. APIs allow subscribing organizations the ability to better manage pharmacy data that is constantly updated. 2020 APIs by the Numbers: • 1,893,035 API Calls Made By Users • 226,871 Average API Calls Made By Users/Month • 72,812 Documents Downloaded • 6,013 Average SSO Logins per Month using 1 Client Pharmacy Portal
81% 3% Independent Franchise
2% Government
12% Chain
Credentialed Pharmacies 2% By Type Alternate Dispensing Sites
29,340 Total Credentialed Pharmacies 90% of all Independent Pharmacies Credentialed 32 UPI resQ™ Pharmacy Credentialing Resource continues to be Universal Patient Identifier, powered by Experian the single source-of-truth and the established standard for Health Universal Identity Manager (UIM) and NCPDP capturing and maintaining self-reported credentialing and Standards™ (the “UPI”) continues to assign a unique UPI CMS-required disclosure data for independent and small- to every person in the U.S. population of an estimated mid-sized multi-site pharmacies. resQ is being used by 4 328 million Americans. The UPI, powered by Experian of the top 10 largest PBMs, PSAOs, health plans and the Health’s Universal Identity Manager (UIM), is a vendor- and federal government. provider-neutral solution for accurately managing patient identification.
dataQ® Pharmacy Database is the most up-to-date and RxReconn® Healthcare Legislation Monitoring complete set of pharmacy data on over 80,000 pharmacies tool underwent a makeover at the end of 2020 and and Non-Pharmacy Dispensing Sites (NPDS) nationwide – transitioned to a new platform, StateScape, an industry- an industry must-have tool for more than 30 years. leading legislative and regulatory research and analysis firm effective January 1, 2021. The more robust RxReconn dataQ 2020 by the Numbers: allows subscribers enhanced search and reporting • New Pharmacy Profiles – 3,258 functions and State Board of Pharmacy tracking abilities. • Deactivated Profiles – 1,929 • Average Number of Profiles Updated Per Month – 19,962 (approximately 25%) • Data Values Changed – 323,685
NCPDP Standards Table Data is a tool designed to help our member organizations maintain and update NCPDP Standards’ values and definitions more efficiently. NCPDP HCIdea® Prescriber Database leverages more than Standards Table Data saves time and resources identifying 2,100 different data sources to offer PBMs, payers and and updating definitions and values using machine- processors the highest level of prescriber data integrity parsable raw data from the NCPDP Data Dictionary and on over 2.5M Type I (individual) and Type II (practicing External Code List (ECL) in a format that can be easily locations) prescribers. HCIdea® is a risk mitigation tool that imported into existing applications. NCPDP Standards provides verification of Prescriber licensure, including DEA Table Data is a great cost-effective tool to assist member licenses, to determine prescriptive authority as well as organizations in migrating to the SCRIPT Standard Version validate practice and multi-office information. The HCIdea® 2017071 or Telecommunication Standard. Look Up Tool provides pharmacies with real-time access to prescriber data for verification and avoidance of costly fines.
33 Most Valuable Participant Awards*
The Most Valuable Participant (MVP) Award highlights individuals who have contributed an extraordinary amount of time and effort to a work group or committee that results in the group accomplishing its goals. MVP awards for 2020 were presented to these deserving recipients:
WG1 Telecommunication WG18 Specialty Pharmacy Mary Kay McDaniel, Cognosante, LLC Jason Reed, PharmD, CenterX Frank McKinney, Point-of-Care Partners WG2 Product Identification David Schuetz, R.Ph., Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, LLC MC Maintenance & Control Michele Davidson, R.Ph., NSC, Walgreen Co. WG10 Professional Pharmacy Services Anne Johnston, R.Ph., MPA, Express Scripts Gerald McEvoy, PharmD, Consultant Sharon Gruttadauria, CVS Health WG11 ePrescribing & Related Transactions Charlie Oltman, MBA, CHC, Rx Integrated Solutions, LLC Kori Rae Eastman, NSC-II, Surescripts SPC Strategic Planning Committee Bruce Wilkinson, MBA, BenMedica Tolu Akinwale, R.Ph., PharmD, MBA, Walgreen Co. Kim Diehl-Boyd, CoverMyMeds, LLC Mara Mitchel, Candid Health
*Member information is listed as reported in member profile record.
NCPDP 2020 Champion Award NCPDP Announced the 2020 recipient of its Champion Award at its Virtual Awards & Recognition Event on August 13, 2021. The Champion Award recognizes an individual for outstanding work within the industry to improve patient care by actively supporting NCPDP members and its initiatives. The award was presented to Joel White, President of Horizon Government Affairs. Joel White has spearheaded NCPDP’s EDvocacy efforts since 2013 and excels at articulating the value of NCPDP to congressional leaders. He connects NCPDP’s EDvocacy team with key policymakers and others in Washington D.C., which has positioned NCPDP as a trusted expert in standards development and the inner workings of the pharmacy and healthcare industry. Congratulations, Joel!
34 Recognizing Members for Leadership, Service
NCPDP is grateful for the continued commitment and leadership of its members. This valuable volunteer work provides critical industry solutions through advancements in health information technology and medication safety. On August 13, 2020, NCPDP hosted a Virtual Awards & Recognition Event to recognize many members through award programs as their dedication is essential to NCPDP’s continued success.
TIME (The Individual Member Benjamin D. Ward Distinguished Rising Star Award Excellence) Award Member Award Lawrence King, Pharm.D. Richard Klein Brook Laura Topor Manager, Clinical Informatics SVP, Sales | Pharmacy Services President Surescripts Change Healthcare Granada Health, Inc. Member Since: 2018 Member Since: 1996 Member Since: 1997 The 2020 Rising Star Award recipient NCPDP’s 2020 TIME Award recipient is The 2020 Benjamin D. Ward is Lawrence King, Pharm.D., Manager, Richard Klein Brook, SVP, Sales, Change Distinguished Member Award Clinical Informatics, Surescripts. Since Healthcare. He has been an active and recipient is Laura Topor, President, joining NCPDP in the fall of 2018, Larry dedicated NCPDP member for more Granada Health, Inc. Laura has has been an active member of Work than twenty years. Richard has served served as a member of the Board Group 10 and Work Group 11. After on the NCPDP Board of Trustees, Chair of Trustees, as a Standardization attending the November 2018 and of the Nominating Committee and Committee Co-Chair, and as Co-Chair February 2019 Work Group Meetings, the Awards Committee, and he has of Work Groups 3, 11, and NCPDP’s Larry was asked to consider running served as a member of the Finance, newest work group, WG18 Specialty for the role of Co-Chair of Work Group Executive, Strategic Planning and Pharmacy, which was formed in 2018. 10, Pharmacy Professional Services. Annual Conference Committees. As She has also led or been a member of Upon his election to this role, he an NCPDP Foundation Board member the Annual Conference Committee, has had the opportunity to Co-Lead since 2014, he has been a strong and Awards Committee, Bylaws each Work Group meeting, attend a vocal supporter, instrumental in its Committee, Finance Committee Stakeholder Action Group Meeting on fundraising work. Richard has been a and the MLDC. Laura has also led the Universal Medication Schedule, and true ambassador for NCPDP promoting multiple task groups, and some of participate in various task group calls, NCPDP and its standards. He has the topics she has tackled have been including providing feedback on the mL successfully recruited new NCPDP formidable, especially Structured and White Paper and Social Determinants members, and he continues to serve Codified Sig. She has also participated of Health. Under his leadership, in the Buddy Program and on the Path in or facilitated several Stakeholder Work Group 10 also approved and to Leadership Subcommittee. Richard Action Groups. Laura has been successfully balloted the HL7 CDA has unselfishly devoted considerable honored with multiple MVP awards R2 Implementation Guide for the and sustained personal time, effort and and has been nominated for both Pharmacist Care Plan Document. Larry’s other contributions toward meeting the the Benjamin D. Ward Distinguished active engagement and leadership make goals and objectives of NCPDP, making Member Award and the TIME Award. him a deserving recipient of the Rising him a most deserving recipient of the Her leadership and service make Star Award. TIME Award. Laura a deserving recipient of the Benjamin D. Ward Distinguished Member Award.
35 2020-2021 Board of Trustees and Committee Chairs
Perry Lewis Darren K. Townzen, Vice Chair, Morgan Bojorquez Industry Consultant R.Ph., MBA Humana, Inc. Chair, Board of Trustees Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Vice Chair, Awards Committee Chair, Executive Committee Vice Chair, Board of Trustees Chair, Annual Conference Committee Vice Chair, Executive Committee
Christian Tadrus, R.Ph., Gregory Watanabe, R.Ph. Pooja Babbrah, MBA PharmD, FASCP, AE-C, NSC Independent Consultant Point-of-Care Partners Independent Pharmacist Chair, Nominating Committee Vice Chair, Bylaws Committee
36 Michele Davidson, R.Ph., NSC Laurie Littlecreek Mark Gingrich, MS Walgreen Co. Cigna/Express Scripts Surescripts Secretary/Treasurer, Executive Vice Chair, Strategic Planning Committee Committee
37 2020-2021 Work Group Co-Chairs*
Standardization Committee WG9 Government Programs Trish Brown, IngenioRx Jennifer Ausbrook, CVS Health Bobby Davis, Surescripts Hannah Cardosi, Express Scripts Mark Elliot, CSG Government Solutions Sarah Sabetta, PMP, RxSense Anne Johnston, R.Ph., MPA, Express Scripts Work Group 9 Government Programs, in conjunction with Rick Sage, McKesson Corporation Work Group 1 Telecommunication and other Work Groups, Adam Souza, CVS Health as necessary, guides and advises federal and state pharmacy Lee Ann Stember, NCPDP programs and their agents on NCPDP standards. WG9 also Standardization Co-Chairs are responsible for the Council’s supports data processing initiatives, and provides design industry standards development activities conducted through alternatives for standards, which support government the Standardization Committee according to procedures requirements. described in the NCPDP Bylaws and Standing Operating Procedures. WG10 Professional Pharmacy Services Catherine Graeff, R.Ph., MBA, National Association of Chain Drug WG1 Telecommunication Stores (NACDS) Stephanie Denbow, MBA, Express Scripts Lawrence King, PharmD, Surescripts Amy Harvey, Rite Aid Corporation Lisa Schwartz, R.Ph., PharmD, National Community Pharmacists Roger Pinsonneault, R.Ph., Gemini Health Association (NCPA) Work Group 1 Telecommunication develops and maintains Work Group 10 Professional Pharmacy Services supports the standards and guidelines to accommodate the collection, pharmacist’s individual and collaborative planning, delivery, transmission, and processing of information that may be documentation, and quality assessment of patient care services exchanged electronically or in written formats. The information through the development and distribution of standards, exchanged may be used for, but is not strictly limited to, such standards-based templates, and implementation guides. These purposes as administering and certifying eligibility, establishing documents/tools in conjunction with the publication of best prior authorization for products and services, pharmacy claim practices recommendations encourage patient engagement, billing, payment determination, denial of compensation with foster patient safety, and support consistent delivery of patient explanations, drug use review, determination of benefits and the care services to optimize outcomes. exchange of adjudicated data between business associates. WG11 ePrescribing & Related Transactions WG2 Product Identification Tolu Akinwale, R.Ph., MBA, PharmD, Walgreen Co. Melva Chavoya, Walgreen Co. Andrea Kent, MBA, NSC-II, CoverMyMeds, LLC Tara DeCosta, MBA, Express Scripts Tim McNeil, NSC-II, Surescripts Erin Kauth, Express Scripts Work Group 11 ePrescribing & Related Transactions develops Work Group 2 Product Identification deals with issues relating standardized messages for prescribers, pharmacists, payers and/ to the identification of drugs and health related products or other interested parties to exchange information related to a within NCPDP’s stated purpose. Identification consists of how prescribing event or patient encounter. the product is billed (billing units, package size designations), product identification systems, and any type of descriptive data WG14 Long Term Care and Post Acute Care which serves to uniquely identify a product with the intent to Nancy Bridgman, Remedi SeniorCare establish standards for product identification such that there is Sharon Gibson, Express Scripts no ambiguity in distinguishing one product from another. Gary Schoettmer, R.Ph., NetRx, LLC WG7 Manufacturer and Associated Trading Work Group 14 Long Term and Post Acute Care (LTPAC), in conjunction with the other Work Groups, guides and advises Partner Transaction Standards payers, processors, and providers of the long-term care Timothy Cody, R.Ph., MBA, Express Scripts industry and institutional pharmacy programs and their agents Suzanne Kain, IQVIA on standards implementation and supports data processing Terry Neal, MBA, CVS Health initiatives. Work Group 7 Manufacturer and Associated Trading Partner Transaction Standards develops, monitors, and maintains standards for the electronic exchange of data amongst manufacturers and trading partners to facilitate business processes. Additionally, the work group promotes implementation and education of the standards.
38 WG18 Specialty Pharmacy MC Maintenance and Control Julie Hessick, R.Ph., OneOme Karen Eckert, R.Ph., MPM, Wolters Kluwer Michele Kidd, PharmD, Accredo, an Express Scripts Company Mary Perez, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. Laura Topor, Granada Health Yvette Zawisza, Aetna, Inc. WG18 Develops, monitors, and maintains existing and new MC Maintenance and Control monitors and maintains the standards and guidance for the electronic exchange of data development of NCPDP standards, implementation guides, amongst providers, pharmacies, manufacturers, payers/ and reference documents, promotes consistent business and processors, and other stakeholders to facilitate patient access technical administration, makes recommendations to the to specialty products and related business processes. The Standardization Co-Chairs on development procedures, due Work Group, in conjunction with other NCPDP Work Groups, process compliance, as well as ethical and legal matters. MC guides and advises stakeholders on standards implementation provides a forum for updates of work group activities, resolution and supports data processing initiatives. The Work Group may of inter-Work Group issues and discussion of legislative, request modifications to other NCPDP standards, as necessary. regulatory, policy, and court decisions which may affect the pharmacy industry. WG45 External Standards Assessment, Harmonization, and Implementation Guidance Amy Craycraft, Walmart *Member information is listed as reported in member profile Amber Glasscock, Inmar record. Mary Lynam, SS&C Health Work Group 45 External Standards Assessment, Harmonization and Implementation Guidance reviews, assesses and works to continually monitor the development of standards and/or operating rules by other Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) and/or other Non-NCPDP entities that may impact the pharmacy industry. The Work Group: • Communicates SDO and other external entities’ developments and identifies actions that may be needed by this or other NCPDP work groups. These include, but are not limited to, X12 Incorporated Implementation Guides, Health Level Seven International (HL7®) Standards, and International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS). • Develops and maintains guidelines for the pharmacy industry to accommodate pharmacy implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions and operating rules not developed by NCPDP as determined by the membership. • Contributes to the development and maintenance of operating rules that impact the pharmacy industry. To this end, Work Group 45 External Standards Assessment, Harmonization and Implementation Guidance will collaborate with other SDOs, operating rules entities or other non-NCPDP entities to provide the pharmacy perspective and represent the industry needs in the development of standards and guidelines.
39 Member Loyalty*
NCPDP is proud to recognize the following people who have been members of the organization for six years or more as of the end of December 2020. Names are listed in alphabetical order by first name in each category. 30+ years 21-25 years 16-20 years Russell Dates Bruce Anderson Michele Babcock Keith Fisher Richard Balow Michael Baca Craig Ford William Barre Scott Biggs R. Lee Friedman David Benoit Larry Brantley Christopher Hogan Thomas Bizzaro Charles Brinkley Dale Houston Garth Black Michael Chinn Gregory Kaupp Ilene Blanton Thomas Cooley Elizabeth Lea Maryanne Bourdier Joseph Credico Phillip Lettrich Richard Brook Kevin Crowe Douglas Long Trish Brown Michele Davidson Mary J. Lynam Dale Chamberlain Bobby Davis Alex Pallas Mark Chamness Keith Dick Charles Pulido Susan Colbert Pamela Finley Mark Sancrainte Brian Correia Eric Flowers Gary Schoettmer Karen Eckert Michael Galluzzo Douglas Wittenauer Mark Elliott Amy Garrard Alan Gardner Jessica Goins 26-29 years Sharon Gibson James Hall Brian Bamberger Jack Guinan Kenneth Hammond Daniel Bruchwalski Karen Guinan John Heller Roger Burgess H. Edward Heckman Bret Hightower Willard Edwards Shaun Henry Paul Hooper Annette Gabel Clarence Lea Frank Hooven Catherine Graeff Perry Lewis Timothy Humphreys Lisa Lindsey Laurie Littlecreek Monique Irmen Sharon Murillo Daniel Makowski Kevin James Steffenie Peterson Sonia Mann Anne Johnston Roger Pinsonneault Ross Maret Brendan Joyce Jay Randolph Jack McCall Elizabeth Kaye Barbara Reed Mike McManus Kathy Knapp Herman Roehm Jo Mischker Timothy Kosty Linda Schock Mary Ellen Mitchell Jackie Krewson Jim Springer Charlie Oltman William Lambert Geralyn Taylor Daniel Pagnillo Stephanie McBroom Steven Treff Charles Reed Mary Kay McDaniel William Turner Greg Rucinski Tim McNeil Thomas Weiss Richard Sage Karl Meehan Kenneth Whittemore Anthony Schueth Akbar Merchant David Schuetz Mara Mitchel Anthony Stewart Natalie Neil Laura Topor Cherri Neises Alan Van Amber Kevin Nicholson Gregory Watanabe Gerald Novak Patricia Orth Steve Petrozzi Douglas Pick
40 Member Loyalty* (cont’d)
David Pollack Brian Eidex Michael Menkhaus Alan Ryan Kate Etscorn Byron Mickle Daniel Salemi Wendy Faldet Gregory Miller Sharyl Schneider Thomas Faloon Kristina Miller Pamela Schweitzer Sarah Fenwick Nader Moawad Karen Sell Desiree Feoranz Rob Mohr Todd Simenson David Fidler Teresa Morelock Rachelle Spiro Steven Franko Gustavo Moreno John Strecker Patrick Gallagher George Murphy Christina Thornton Mark Gingrich Jacqueline Mortensen Darren Townzen Patricia Glynn Alisha Nielsen Keith Zalewski Jason Grantham Helen Noonan-Harnsberger Jeffrey Zellmer Sharon Gruttadauria Lynne Olewine Kimberly Gunther Christine Ostrowski 11-15 years Louise Gustafson Jon Paladino Jeffrey Albright Michael Hajdun Brian Pavlik Brian Allen Pu Han Rolando Peralta Marc Allgood Radim Hanke Mary Perez Brian Anderson Sean Hansen Cassandra Perkins Simon Aubrey Patrick Harris Deborah Peterson Jenny Barker Amy Harvey James Potts Matt Benson David Haugen Sherry Pound Craig Bentley Ed Heon Jason Reed Dean Beuglass Jim Hopsicker Shelly Renkvish-Abo Richard Bossman Melissa Howard-Russell Susan Rhodus Scott Brady Ted Itzkowitz Ronald Richmond M. Warren Bridgers Richard Jennejahn Scott Robertson Nancy Bridgman Debbie Jirikowic Miranda Rochol Jay Bueche Michael Kennedy Elizabeth Ross Michael Bukach Leanne Kent Thomas Sheehan Tammy Burdick Don Kirn Shafi Shilad Michael Burger Jennifer Kuhar Mark Singleton Sophia Byndloss Kathleen Lang Howard Sragow Robert Champagne Allen Langjahr Laurie Schaeffer Gregory Cliburn Bill Langlois Stacy Scribner Timothy Cody Leann Lewis Lynne Shirk Herminio Correa-Garces Laura Linroth Sandy Shtab Deanna Cox Yola Lorenc Karen Sims Amy Craycraft Tom Luft Amy Smith Keith Crozier Greg Lybrand Brenda Smith Laura Culbertson John Lynch Kimberly Smithers Jeff Deitch Craig Lyon Raelene Snure Stephen DePietro Karen Madrid Claire Soaper Philip Doherty C. Anita Martin Adam Souza Keith Dowers Tracey McCutcheon Julie Suko Robert Duggan Frank McKinney Mary Swart Jennifer Dujakovich Michelle McLeod David Tan Katherine Egenolf Carl Mecum Elizabeth Taylor 41 Member Loyalty* (cont’d)
11-15 years (cont’d) Lisa DeVries Peter Kounelis Phil Trunnell Kim Diehl-Boyd Patricia Krause Ivette Vaca Craig DiNapoli Jerome Krupa Allen Walls Thomas Donia Patrice Kuppe Dianne Warneke Lauren Doty Justin Lafleur Brian Wehneman Becky Drennan Angela Leibel Jeff Wellman Patrick Dugan Nick Leighton Laura White Christopher Dymon Jonathan Levitt Terry White Tony Edwards Sam Libo Joseph Wiley William Edwards Donna Litwak Bruce Wilkinson Kim Ehrlich Eileen Lu Deborah Wistuba Gary Ellexson Rosemarie Maglietta Eileen Wood Brian Epp Terra Mandel Teri Wood Bryan Esp Ashley Maples Julie Woolley David Evans David Marotz Bryan York Matthew Feltman Jeff Maxwell Sheri Zapp Nancy Fertig Melanie Maxwell Timothy Zevnik Andrew Flood Michael McBride Conan Fong Raymond McCall 6-10 years Luke Forster-Broten Heather McComas Brian Ackley Adam Fowler Gerald McEvoy Tolu Akinwale Mike Galloway Matthew McGrath Calvin Alt Omharaisriram Gangaikondan-lyer Ronald McKillip Louise Andrews Eugenio Garza Lisa McNair Jon Arends Tina Goodman Kirsten Mello Valerie Arinsberg Steve Graese Christopher Mendez Jennifer Ausbrook Heather Graham Lisa Miller Debbi Barber Michael Griffith Michael Mindala Deborah Baumgartner Steve Gryncewicz Reem Mohamed Jon Bell Jeannine Guenther Teresa Muckel Trevor Bezdek Stephanie Guessford Stephen Murley Christopher Biddle Fred Hamlin Angela Murray Eileen Bidell Shelley Hansell Terrence Neal Morgan Bojorquez Mary Hardin Sara Nelson Melinda Bossert Adam Hebert Robert Nickell Judy Bowen Jeremy Hendricks Jennifer Nix Eddie Brady-Wakimoto Paul Hertweck Kimberly Nolen Rodney Brent Julie Hessick Shawn Ohri Joyce Canning Colleen Higgs Mike Olson Melissa Carter Jeffrey Hohl Tammy Owens Kent Chadwick Mike Holz Tania Palica Melva Chavoya Stacy Hopkins Troy Pamatat Hal Chernoff Phyllis Houston Rushikesh Patel Candy Chesnick Diane Jackson Patricia Pimentel Terry Coleman Jaya Jagadeesan Leigh Pope Erica Cook Tina Janacek Lisa Poskanzer Brian Davis Andrea Kent Ivan Posthumus Lawrence Day Brandon Kessler Marcia Pykare Tara DeCosta William King Samuel Raj Hemal Desai Michael Koerner Carolina Ramos
42 Member Loyalty* (cont’d)
Patrick Randle Esther Wanda Douglas Read Wei Wang Jerry Reeves Krista Ward Michael Regan Janet Welch Keith Riecke Alice Weyman Breck Rice Michelle Wilcox Lisa Riding Stacie Wilcox Ashley Rivera Christa Williams Jeffery Rogers Zach Winter Rick Rondinelli Elizabeth Zander Robert Rowland Yvette Zawisza Roma Roy Qun Zhu Julia Sakhnov Annette Saldana *Every attempt has been made to Joseph Sanginiti ensure the accuracy of this list. If Gregory Santulli anyone has been inadvertently left Mark Sasala off of the list or misplaced on the Shellie Schoening list, we apologize. Please bring it to Michael Schultz our attention so we can correct our Polly Schyvinck records for future use. Dixit Shah Paul Sheehan Angie Shirley Cynthia Smith Caroline Sojourner Judith Sorio Tammy Sprague Marc St. Pierre William Stevens Liesa Stockdale Tim Stolldorf Barbara Sullivan Cameron Szychlinski Christian Tadrus Prakash Tallabattula Robert Tanner Tim Tannert Chad Thomas Chris Thompson Ivana Thompson Jose Tieso Sharon Tinder Robert Tinsley Kyle Tucker Angela Ulm Kelley Vaughan Rita Vess Robert Vetter Wendy Walker Matthew Walko
43 NCPDP Staff*
Executive Finance Lee Ann Stember | President & CEO Sandy Kovalik | Senior Manager, Finance Administration John W. Hill, MBAHCM, CNED | Executive Vice President & Chris Mingie | Finance Assistant GM Maggie Bruce | Senior VP, Strategic Planning & Sales/Membership/Contracts Communications Sherri Teille | Director, Member Experience & Sales Operations John Klimek R.Ph.| Senior VP, Standards & Information Technology Mia Ricci | National Account Executive Stephen C. Mullenix, R.Ph. | Senior VP, Public Policy & Dave Mammen | Account Executive Industry Relations Vincent Finocchiaro | Manager, Membership Services Phillip D. Scott | Senior VP, Business Development Government Affairs Debra Chavez | Office Manager Nicole Russell | Director, Government Affairs Marketing Communications/Meeting Planning Database Services Janet Cabibbo | Director, Communications & Marketing Jan Marie Mayo | Director, Product Development & Kimberly Dixon-Williams, CMP | Manager, Meeting Database Services Planning Rick Reed | Senior Manager, Pharmacy Database Services Brian Goerlich | Manager, Certification Program Leigh Ann Langley | Product Development & Business Whitney Ellington | Graphic Design & Multimedia Analyst Specialist Jeff Williamson | Lead Technical Product Specialist, Dawn Kehr | Communications Specialist Database Services Standards Development Tyler White | Technical Product Specialist, Database Services Margaret Weiker | Vice President, Standards Development Allison Bates | Team Lead, Pharmacy Database Services Patsy McElroy | Senior Manager, Standards Development Megan Black | Pharmacy Database Services Associate Terry Fortin | Assistant Senior Manager, Standards Development Lauren Brust | Pharmacy Database Services Associate Kittye Krempin | Advisor, Standards Development Becky Listiak | Pharmacy Database Services Associate Teresa Strickland | Technical Advisor, Model Facilitator Jolene Morgan | Pharmacy Database Services Associate Paul Wilson | Technical Analyst, Standards Development Destinee Cervantes-Sigala | Pharmacy Database Services Associate Leslie Carr | Standards Specialist, Standards Development Dan Bumanglag | Pharmacy Database Services Associate Information Technology Jeremy Vieth | Senior Manager, Information Technology & NCPDP Foundation Facility Services John W. Hill, MBAHCM, CNED | General Manager Sara Olgun | Web Development Manager Kessa Kelly | Foundation Database & Operations Specialist Jurgita Sakalyte | Web Developer, SEO Specialist Tony Di Sano | Network Administrator *Staff listing at December 2020. Antwan Dandy | Technical Support Specialist
44 NCPDP Foundation
NCPDP Foundation Solid Results in a Challenging Year Board of Trustees Even as we faced the formidable challenges of the pandemic, the NCPDP Foundation, as a non-profit charitable organization, was able to realize multiple Mindy D. Smith, R.Ph. TabulaRasa Healtchare, Inc. successes. The Foundation funded its first-ever PSA video to support the Chair, NCPDP Foundation role of pharmacists in the pandemic. Several of the research projects funded by the Foundation produced results that should encourage use of NCPDP Michael W. Bukach, R.Ph. standards that will increase patient safety and access to care. Results from two Vice Chair, NCPDP Foundation Foundation-funded research projects were featured at the AMIA Symposium Alan K. Gardner, MBA in November in a presentation titled, “A Tale of Two Health Systems, a Retail RxResults, LLC Pharmacy, and the Evolution of the CancelRx Standard.” Additionally, the Secretary/Treasurer, NCPDP Foundation ran a successful 1977 Society Campaign and a #GivingTuesday Foundation Campaign in the fall. Looking ahead in a year that made it hard to do so, the Bruce Laughrey, R.Ph. Foundation Board of Trustees approved funding for a $100,000 project to the Mylink4life University of Tennessee Health Science Center to demonstrate the patient Chris Hogan, R.Ph., MBA benefit of the NCPDP/HL7 Pharmacist eCare Plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Dale Chamberlain Foundation-funded Video Shows How NCPDP Standards Are Gateway Pharmacy Consulting, LLC Enabling Pharmacists to Fill Gaps in Care Greg Pulido In August 2020, the NCPDP Foundation Funded a $6,000 grant to produce a Humco public service video that highlights the expanded role of pharmacists and their Lee Ann Stember potential to fill critical gaps in patient care, particularly during the COVID-19 NCPDP pandemic. The intent of the video is to raise awareness among policymakers Michael J. McBride and industry leaders of how NCPDP is working with pharmacists to help fill gaps Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC in patient care. Testing for COVID-19 and vaccine administration are just two, Michele Davidson, R.Ph. highly relatable examples, and a jumping off point for a broader discussion of Walgreen Co. how NCPDP and pharmacists can help address pressing healthcare challenges. Michelle R. Vancura Cigna Pharmacy Management Mike Satterfield HelmsBriscoe Pamela Schweitzer, Pharm.D. RADM (retired), USPHS Former Assistant Surgeon General Richard Klein Brook Change Healthcare Thomas R. Bizzaro, R.Ph. FDB (Retired)
Charles D. Pulido, R.Ph. Board Member Emeritus Co-founder, NCPDP J.W. Hill, MBAHCM, CNED General Manager, NCPDP Foundation Benjamin D. Ward, (1929-2017) Co-founder, NCPDP
45 NCPDP Foundation (cont’d)
Johns Hopkins Medicine and University of Wisconsin Prove Value of CancelRx The NCPDP Foundation funded grants to both Johns Hopkins Medicine and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy for separate research pilots to study the clinical impact of implementing the underused CancelRx transaction in the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard. Johns Hopkins researchers found that prior to implementing CancelRx, 3.8% of prescriptions cancelled by prescribers still got into the hands of patients. The cancellation was not effectively communicated to, or received by, the pharmacy. Absent the use of CancelRx, this equates to more than 10 million prescriptions annually being dispensed to patients when their physicians intended them to be cancelled.* The project funded through the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy has shown that use of NCPDP’s CancelRx transaction decreases the number of controlled substances, including opioids, that are dispensed to patients when their physicians intend those prescriptions to be discontinued. A presentation on results of both of these projects was selected from over 1,350 submissions to be featured at the Virtual AMIA Annual Symposium in November of 2020. The presentation was a collaboration of Johns Hopkins Medicine, the University of Wisconsin, Walgreens and the NCPDP Foundation. *Estimate based on current transaction volume by prescribers who have adopted CancelRx. Johns Hopkins Shows RTPB Standard Leads to Patient Cost Savings A Foundation-funded research pilot conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine has shown that NCPDP’s Real-time Prescription Benefit (RTPB) Standard delivers accurate out-of-pocket cost estimates at the point of care. For 96.5% of RTPB transactions responses returned by the payer, the cost paid by the patient at the pharmacy was less than, the same, or no more than 50 cents greater than the estimate returned by the RTPB transaction. Researchers also found that prescribers chose multiple types of medication changes based on point-of-care estimates provided via the RTPB Standard, saving patients an average $21.40 and as much as $1,000 at time of dispensing. Other research has shown cost to be a major factor in prescription abandonment. Widespread adoption of the RTPB Standard can be expected to reduce prescription abandonment at the pharmacy as a result of increased cost transparency at the point of care, as well as help increase speed to therapy. Foundation BOT approves $100,000 Grant to UTHSC College of Pharmacy In December, the Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Pharmacy for a research project to demonstrate the clinical value of integrating the NCPDP/HL7 Pharmacist eCare Plan (PeCP) in pharmacy and medical software systems. In the research project, the PeCP will be connected to the physician’s electronic health record (EHR) system through an HL7 FHIR® data exchange, enabling the care team to communicate transitions of care interventions and infectious disease point-of-care testing results more seamlessly, removing a key barrier to collaboration among the patient care team. Clinical outcomes that will be measured include hospital admissions and readmissions for a defined patient population, and implementation outcomes will measure providers’ experience with the eCare Plan. Pharmacists and physicians will use the PeCP to share information about medication therapy management care plans for patients whose vitals are being actively monitored remotely by a telehealth provider.
46 Foundation marks #GivingTuesday and 8th Birthday with Fundraising Success On December 1, 2020, the NCPDP Foundation kicked off the countdown to its 8th birthday celebration by participating in #GivingTuesday. Donors responded well not only to #GivingTuesday, but also to the Foundation’s fundraising challenges connected to its birthday milestone. To each and every donor who participated—Thank you! Because of donors like you, the Foundation exceeded the initial goal of raising $6,000 and raised $9,983.29 to further our vision of safer healthcare for all. Through a matching funds program, this amount will be doubled by NCPDP. Foundation Welcomes New Staff 2020 was the year that prompted people, companies, and industries to implement change. Some of those changes will endure. At the Foundation, change came in the form of staff. • John Hill, Executive Vice President and GM of NCPDP assumed an additional role as NCPDP Foundation General Manager. • The Foundation also hired a new Database and Operations Specialist, Kessa Kelly.
The 1977 Society is named in recognition of the year NCPDP was incorporated. For each year you invest in the Society, you will receive a sapphire pin in conjunction with your $1,977 annual donation. When you reach your 10th year of membership in the Society, you will receive a diamond pin for your years of loyalty. 1977 Society donors see the value in the research projects and proof-of-concepts in moving NCPDP standards forward to improve healthcare and interoperability to improve patient care. Thanks to the following donors in 2020 who have committed to an annual contribution of $1,977:
Harold Barnes Catherine Graeff Mara Mitchel Pamela Schweitzer Tom Bizzaro John Hill Kay Morgan Phillip Scott Richard Brook Chris Hogan Steve Mullenix Mindy Smith Maggie Bruce Mike Holz Charles Pulido Lee Ann Stember Mike Bukach Gregory Kaupp Greg Pulido Christian Tadrus Dale Chamberlain John Klimek Scott Robertson Michelle Vancura Michele Davidson Bruce Laughrey Mike Satterfield Greg Watanabe Alan Gardner Mike McBride Tony Scheuth
47 NCPDP’s Elite Partner Program establishes the highest level of sustained support for the valuable the agency work of NCPDP in advancing patient safety and interoperability. The following Elite Partners have demonstrated intense commitment to support NCPDP’s work, vision and core values. of change
PharmacyFocus Pharmacy Relationship Management
NCPDP (Na�onal Council for Prescrip�on Drug Programs) 9240 East Raintree Drive | Sco�sdale, Arizona 85260 480.477.1000 www.ncpdp.org
©2021 NCPDP. All rights reserved.
48 the agency of change
NCPDP (Na�onal Council for Prescrip�on Drug Programs) 9240 East Raintree Drive | Sco�sdale, Arizona 85260 480.477.1000 www.ncpdp.org
©2021 NCPDP. All rights reserved.