Fighting for Independent Community Pharmacy | TWIRx

This Week in Pharmacy -- we have a special news correspondence from RxMile CEO Kunal Vyas with the dire importance of eliminating wasteful actions and carelessness of MailOrder Pharmacies and the safety concerns of medications being stolen or sitting in 150' degree heat. Special Interview with Joe Ed Holt --on all podcast directories! On May 8, Ed posted a sharp criticism of Governor Kemp’s veto of SB 198, a bill with broad bipartisan support that would help Georgia’s independent pharmacies. As then-President of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, Ed heard from many independents that if this bill didn’t pass it could mean the death of their stores. As the representative of GPHA, Ed felt it was his duty to make a statement. Later that evening, Ed's employer, PruittHealth, contacted him and asked me to take it down. He  complied immediately. On May 9, PruittHealth told Ed the post jeopardized their relationship with the Governor, and then they fired him. After 17 years of loyal service with not a single negative evaluation, Ed was terminated with no notice and with no severance. Ed has spent the last 7 weeks trying to get some sort of compensation for his time at the company. But PruittHealth has flatly refused stating that they violated their social media policy. This short-term decision is not good for the Pharmacy owners in Georgia nor the citizens of the state who need their Independent Pharmacies to pick up where retail chain giants are closing stores. Next part on TWIRx, the NCPA Foundation's new Executive Director --Sonja Pagniano, CFRE share their mission is to improve community-based healthcare access by supporting efforts that promote the sustainability and growth of independent community pharmacists, the most accessible healthcare provider, through scholarships, grants, and ownership development. The vision of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Foundation is to elevate the practice of independent community pharmacy. These programs include those that help develop the future leaders and entrepreneurs of the community pharmacy profession. While the foundation supports several programs and events that the National Community Pharmacists Association provides to the independent pharmacy community, our organization is completely autonomous and relies on external support from individuals, foundations, and corporations to maintain our far-reaching programs. Each of Waypoint's solutions are designed to increase and protect the wealth of privately held pharmacy business owners with a laser focus on empowering a wealth and health care revolution in small town America. Thank you to Matthew Coakley & Ben Coakley for your unwavering support of community pharmacy and standing shoulder to shoulder with owners across this nation.   Today's Episode is sponsored by the Waypoint Company. Each of Waypoint's solutions are designed to increase and protect the wealth of privately held pharmacy business owners with a laser focus on empowering a wealth and health care revolution in small town America.