Government Relations:
Your Pharmacy’s Voice in Legislation
Why Every Independent Pharmacy Owner Needs a Strong Advocacy Partner
As an independent pharmacy owner, you face constant threats from unfair PBM practices, shrinking reimbursements, and regulations that favor big corporations over your community pharmacy.
You didn’t choose independent pharmacy to be silenced. You chose it to serve patients on your terms. But without powerful advocacy in Washington and your state capital, your ability to compete and even survive is at risk.
That’s why Government Relations must be a deciding factor when choosing a GPO. The right partner doesn’t just help you buy better, it fights to protect your business, your patients, and your future.
How Strong Government Relations Helps You Win with Pharmacy Advocacy.
1. Your Pharmacy Can’t Afford to Stay Silent
PBMs, insurers, and chain pharmacies have armies of lobbyists working against you. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.
- We make sure lawmakers hear YOU, not just corporate interests.
- You get real-time policy updates so you can act before damaging laws pass.
- We simplify advocacy, sending pre-written letters, call scripts, and alerts so you can make an impact in minutes.
Your voice is powerful. We help you use it. Join Our Advocacy Network
2. These Battles Directly Impact Your Bottom Line
Your pharmacy’s profitability depends on winning key legislative fights, including:
- PBM Reform – Stopping spread pricing, clawbacks, and DIR fees.
- Fair Medicaid & Medicare Reimbursement – Fighting underpayment in MMC and Medicare plans.
- Provider Status Recognition – Getting paid for clinical services (vaccines, testing, chronic care).
- 340B Protection – Defending your right to participate in 340B contracts.
- Commercial Payment Floors – Setting minimum reimbursements so you don’t lose money on prescriptions.
Check out IPC’s Position Papers, Advocacy Maps and stay up to date on current legislation in our document library.
3. The Right GPO Fights for Your Future, Not Just Your Purchasing
Many GPOs focus only on buying power. But if laws and regulations keep squeezing you, even the best purchasing deals won’t save your pharmacy.
You need a partner that:
- Lobbies for pro-pharmacy laws (not just “monitors” them): We don’t just report on laws and regulations, we make them!
- Mobilizes grassroots pressure so lawmakers feel the heat.
- Prepares you for future opportunities (like expanded clinical services and fair reimbursement).
If your GPO isn’t aggressively advocating for you, it’s not doing enough.
IPC collaborates closely with organizations like the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) to advocate for legislative changes that benefit independent pharmacies like yours. By working together on key issues such as PBM reform, telepharmacy regulations and Medicaid Managed Care reforms just to name a few. IPC and NCPA strive to create a more equitable landscape for community pharmacies, ensuring you can thrive and continue to provide essential healthcare services. To learn more and join NCPA, click the link below.
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP) Updates
The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP) brings significant changes for pharmacies in 2026, including new contracting requirements with CMS and adjustments to Medicare Part D reimbursement rates for negotiated drugs. To help you prepare, IPC’s Government Relations team is linking resources to the MDPNP resource page with key details on enrollment, compliance, and contract review. Visit the CMS Dispensing Home Page for more to ensure your pharmacy is ready for these critical updates.
Additional Resources:
- CMS – Medicare Transaction Facilitator (MTF) Resources: Click Here
- CMS – Medicare Transaction Facilitator (MTF) Frequently Asked Questions: Click Here
- Review the MTF Data Module User Agreement: Click Here
- Verify your pharmacy NCPDP Profile is accurate and updated prior to starting the enrollment process: Click Here
You Have a Choice: Stay on the Sidelines or Fight Back
The future of independent pharmacy will be decided in state legislatures and Congress. Will you let corporate lobbyists write the rules, or will you help shape them?
Here’s how you can take action today:
- Contact Your Lawmakers (We make it easy, click, call, or email in minutes).
- Share Your Story – Put a face on how policies hurt real pharmacies & patients.
- Attend Advocacy Events – Join other owners to meet lawmakers face-to-face.
How does GR Impact my Pharmacy
Government relations and grassroots advocacy directly affects your bottom line. Over the past ten years we have been instrumental in having over 70 laws and regulations enacted that directly affect you, your reimbursements, and the services you can get paid for.
For example, in 2023 we joined forces with the Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) and other Ohio pharmacy groups to influence the final Ohio 2024-2025 state budget, resulting in a 5.7% increase in the Ohio Medicaid managed care single PBM professional dispensing fee.
Stand Up for Your Pharmacy Now
Chances are, you are too busy for pharmacy advocacy. Let us do it for you. Take it from Bilal.
Bilal Salim
Holland Discount Pharmacy
Holland, OH
Government Relations Team
Mark Kinney
Executive Vice President of Government Relations
A seasoned senior health care executive, bringing 25 years of state and federal legislative expertise to his role, Mark is a registered lobbyist in Washington D.C. and formerly registered in Colorado, Wyoming, and Wisconsin. He has contributed significantly to vital issues such as DIR reform, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, Tele-Pharm, DSCSA requirements, 503A and 503B drug compounding. His impactful leadership has extended to roles on the National Community Pharmacist Association’s (NCPA) Steering Committee and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Pharmacy Networks (FPN).
John Covello
Senior Director of Government Relations
He uses over 35 years of federal, state and local government and lobbying experience to focus his efforts on state and national independent pharmacy issues, including patient choice, audit reform and MAC transparency and Medicaid managed care.
Jim Driscoll
Consultant
Jim Driscoll focuses his state affairs efforts for IPC on community pharmacy issues, including Medicaid reimbursement, unfair audit requirements and PBM transparency. Driscoll targets individual state concerns and provides assistance for the passage of pro independent pharmacy legislation relating to these topics.
Forbes Tate
Consultant
IPC works with Forbes Tate Partners to leverage their expertise as we advocate for our members at the state and federal level. Their culture and personality as a firm is a rarity in Washington, DC and we are proud to work with them.
