August/September 2018 Inside: 7 BIG PROTECTIONS FOR GEORGIA PHARMACISTS FAREWELL TO RUTH ANN Check it out! Expanded convention coverage inside C M Y CM MY CY CMY K contents 15 OUR NASHVILLE SENSATION You won’t want to miss this expanded photo coverage of the 2018 Georgia Pharmacy Convention in Nashville! 3 26 prescript contact us Rockin’ Nashville Who does what at GPhA — CEO Bob Coleman looks back at and how to reach us the Nashville convention — and what members had to say about it. 27 postscript 4 You asked quick hits Incoming president Tim Short What’s happening in the 28 tackles your questions and Georgia pharmacy world concerns We bid adieu to Ruth Ann, 24 plus meth makes a comeback 8 12 in Georgia, ACA marketplace shout outs GPhA by the chances, and much more New members, plus the latest numbers entries into GPhA’s 100% Club What we saw in our 2018 and President’s Circle member satisfaction survey 10 20 legal injection PharmPAC 28 A reference for your rights Investors in the future of 28 Why Georgia pharmacists pharmacy in Georgia the back page enjoy some of the country’s The lighter side of pharmacy 4 best legal protections 3 and healthcare news SUBSCRIPTIONS Georgia Pharmacy is distributed as a regular membership service, paid for with membership Georgia Pharmacy magazine Chief Executive Officer Editor dues. Single issues are $10 per issue domestic and $20 international. Practicing Georgia pharmacists is the official publication of the Bob Coleman Andrew Kantor who are not members of GPhA are not eligible for Georgia Pharmacy Association. Director of Communication President and Chair of the Board subscriptions. [email protected] Tim Short Unless otherwise noted, the entire Art Director POSTAL contents of this publication is licensed President-Elect Carole Erger-Fass Georgia Pharmacy (ISSN 1075-6965) is published under a Creative Commons Attribution- Chris Thurmond bi-monthly by GPhA, 6065 Barfield Road NE, Suite NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International 100 Sandy Springs, GA, 30328. Periodicals postage Immediate Past President license. Direct any questions to the editor at paid at Atlanta, GA and at additional mailing offices. Liza Chapman ADVERTISING POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Georgia [email protected]. All advertising inquiries should be directed to Pharmacy magazine, 6065 Barfield Road NE, Suite Dianne Jones at [email protected] or 100, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. (404) 419-8129. Media kit and rates available upon request. August/September 2018 Georgia Pharmacy 1 We all know the challenges — but we also see opportunity Health Mart believes in the bright future of independent pharmacy, and we’d like you to be a part of it with us. With Health Mart® you can count on: • The power and savings of the largest independent pharmacy network • Flexible programs and services that Ready to hear grow your business more? Let’s talk. • Access to the tools that can improve Call 855.458.4678 or visit your pharmacy’s performance join.healthmart.com and profitability Health Mart is proud to be a member of the McKesson family, sharing in the collective industry knowledge and experience residing within all of the McKesson corporate affiliates. Since 1833, McKesson has been committed to the success of independent pharmacies through the delivery of innovative programs and reliable distribution services. Learn more at mckesson.com. ©2018 Health Mart Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. HM-224545-06-18 PRESCRIPT From the CEO By the numbers, convention edition In my last Prescript, I said I On to membership would provide some of the We’re happy to report that as of June, total results of our latest Member active membership has grown 5.8 percent over Satisfaction Survey and mem- the same period last year. And total members bership information. I promise (includes affiliates, academicians, technicians, I’ll get to that, but before I do, and students) has grown more than 12.4 percent. I just wanted to thank ev- In fact, GPhA is up over last year in every mem- eryone who came to the 2018 ber category, with the lone exception of three BOB COLEMAN Georgia Pharmacy Convention affiliate members! in Nashville. What a great con- Comparing the results of the 2015 member vention, great members, and a GREAT TIME! survey to the 2018 survey results, we find that Over and over again members expressed some things remain the same, or very close — what a fantastic location Nashville was and how like the type of pharmacy organizations GPhA impressed they were with the Omni Nashville members work for. Hotel. I even had several tell me that they had In 2015, 37 percent of the members reported We all know the challenges — considered not attending because of the location working for independent pharmacies versus (translation: “It wasn’t the beach!”), but how hap- 39 percent in 2018; 25 percent reported working py they were they made the decision to come. for retail chains in 2015 versus 22 percent in but we also see opportunity Keynote speakers Brad Montgomery, Randy 2018. (Hospitals and health-system employees McDonough, and Brian Crabtree delivered pow- remained about the same.) Health Mart believes in the bright future of erful presentations whose real-world message Overall member satisfaction with GPhA mem- resonated with the audience. About 1,200 hours bership remains very high: 89 percent, which independent pharmacy, and we’d like you of CPE credits were registered, with members ex- appears to be an improvement over the results to be a part of it with us. pressing their appreciation for the quality, topics, in 2015 when 80 percent of the membership and presenters of the courses offered. responded their GPhA membership was of high And attendees rated the Expo Hall the second value to them. highest event, with vendors manning 67 booths In what some researchers consider the most and aisles packed with attendees. important measure of an association’s success or Yes, I also heard about the food. There was too failure, the net promoter score, i.e., the likelihood With Health Mart® you can count on: much, and it was too good. Sorry, you’re going to that a member would recommend membership have to take some personal responsibility and to a non-member, 91 percent of GPhA members • The power and savings of the largest lose those pounds you gained yourself! would recommend GPhA membership, with 69 independent pharmacy network Finally, the President’s Bash! The Downtown percent of those strongly recommending it. Ready to hear Band rocked it like never before. Members GPhA remains strong financially and in mem- • Flexible programs and services that commented, “That’s the best band we’ve ever had, bership numbers thanks to you. Programs like grow your business more? Let’s talk. and I’ve been coming to this event for decades!” the President’s Circle and the 100 Percent Club Call 855.458.4678 or visit and “The Downtown Band was incredible” on the are excellent ways to bring in new members. • Access to the tools that can improve convention survey. Again, our congratulations to Joe Ed Holt, the your pharmacy’s performance join.healthmart.com I also express my personal thanks to the GPhA charter member of the President’s Gold Circle! Georgia Pharmacy and profitability staff. They tirelessly work to make sure members As always, if there is anything you think weASSOCIATION have a great time at convention and all survey should be doing or things we could be doing BLACK & WHITE OPEN results so far say they exceeded your expecta- better, please don’t hesitate to let us know.GLOSS/GRADIENT FLAT COLOR tions once again! 1 We hope you notice and enjoy the expanded Bob Coleman is chief executive officer of the Health Mart is proud to be a member of the McKesson family, sharing in the collective industry convention coverage in this issue as well. Georgia Pharmacy Association. knowledge and experience residing within all of the McKesson corporate affiliates. Since 1833, McKesson has been committed to the success of independent pharmacies through the delivery of innovative programs and reliable distribution services. Learn more at mckesson.com. August/September 2018 Georgia Pharmacy 3 ©2018 Health Mart Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. HM-224545-06-18 QUICK HITS DONT MISS IMMUNIZE GEORGIA THIS A farewell to Ruth Ann SEPTEMBER She’s been a much-loved fixture of heck of a dancer. Registration is opening soon Georgia’s pharmacy community for Ruth Ann’s first order of busi- for the 2018 Immunize Georgia more than 27 years, but now GPhA’s ness upon retirement is to take a Conference. It’s being held at the Ruth Ann McGehee is retiring. long-awaited trip to France. And so Columbus Convention and Trade Ruth Ann has served GPhA we wish her a bittersweet bon voy- Center on Friday, September through 27 presidents and five age ... and many happy years ahead. 14, and as always will cover the CEOs (or EVPs as they latest recommendations and were once known). best practices in immunization She has been an or- services. Get more info at ganizer, liaison, calming immunizegeorgia.com. voice, detailed plan- ner, office expert, cat herder, voice of reason, GEORGIA spark of life — and AND METH worn many other hats over the years, always The Georgia Bureau of Inves- with grace, humor, and Left: The Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution tigation says meth-related professionalism. Her honoring Ruth Ann; she was presented with a copy by Representative deaths in Georgia saw a spike communication skills Buddy Harden. Right: On June 23, a surprised and tearful Ruth Ann last year (from 243 in 2016 are without par — ask was presented with the Larry L.