Bay City has recently lost two independent pharmacies, which has been attributed to rising drug costs. Layerer's Pharmacy, owned by MPA member John Muir, closed June 21 after 120 years in business. The closure came shortly after Southside Pharmacy shuttered its doors in May. WJRT ABC-12 reported that nearly 600 independent pharmacies nationwide have gone out of business in the last 20 years, according to a study by the University of Iowa. "The chain pharmacies in our area are so overwhelmed right now," said MPA member Steve Kennedy, who owns Anderson Pharmacy in Bay City. "Without us independents around I think they would really be in trouble with being able to staff their pharmacies and get prescriptions out on a [...]

Michigan Pharmacists Association member John Muir, the owner and pharmacist at Layerer’s Pharmacy in Bay City, is hanging up his white coat. Muir is retiring and Layerer's officially closed its doors on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Muir purchased the pharmacy in 1993; prior to buying the store, he worked there for 20 years. All patients of Layerer’s will be transferred to the Rite Aid on Lafayette Road in Bay City. Click here to learn more.

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and AAPA have launched a strategic partnership to enhance the buying power for independent pharmacies in the state of Michigan. AAPA will be MPA’s endorsed buying group for independent pharmacies effective immediately. This new arrangement will allow independent pharmacy owner members of MPA access to superior pricing and savings that strengthen their businesses and help them provide patients with the highest level of care. Independent pharmacies are a critical health care component and serve prominently in rural and underserved areas. According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, 74 percent of community pharmacies serve population areas of less than 50,000. The collaboration between MPA and AAPA is an important component of how MPA has and will [...]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Promoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency (PATIENT) Act (HR 3561) Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in a unanimous 49-0 vote. The PATIENT Act includes several provisions related to lowering prescription drug costs and pharmacy benefit manager reform (PBM) that are supported by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), including: The Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act (HR 1613). This legislation, would prevent the use of spread pricing in Medicaid-managed care programs, while moving to a fair and transparent pharmacy reimbursement system based on average acquisition costs plus the state’s Medicaid fee for service dispensing fee. It would also require all pharmacies to respond to the Centers [...]

Every two years, the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) conducts an economic survey of pharmacy professionals in Michigan to evaluate salaries and benefits received as well as other practice issues. Please take a few minutes to anonymously add your responses which will help provide pharmacy professionals and employers with valuable salary and benefit information. Links to the surveys are listed below. Survey responses must be received no later than Friday, June 9, 2023. The results of the 2023 Michigan Pharmacy Economic Survey will be published and available to MPA members in the July issue of the Michigan Pharmacist journal. Nonmembers who provide their e-mail address will be provided with a summary of survey results. Questions? Please contact MPA. Thank you in advance for your [...]