IPC On the Road: 2025 NCPA Annual Convention & Expo

The 2025 National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Annual Convention and Expo that was held this past weekend, brought together independent pharmacy owners, student pharmacists, and industry partners to explore the theme of innovation, resiliency, and growth within community pharmacy. This year’s event reinforced why NCPA remains the leading platform for advancing the business and clinical success of independent pharmacists.​

IPC was proud to participate once again on the NCPA exhibit floor, engaging with current and prospective members, sharing insights about how IPC’s cooperative model continues to strengthen independent pharmacies across the nation. The exhibit hall was filled with pharmacists sharing their experiences, discovering new solutions, and building meaningful connections with fellow owners and industry partners. IPC representatives are always inspired by the passion of community pharmacy owners dedicated to taking control of their business futures and advancing patient care.

A highlight of this year’s convention was the IPC-sponsored education session, “Beyond the Counter: Closing Care Gaps with Reimbursable Services and Digital Health.” Presented by Kelli Stovall, Vice President of Pharmacy Services & Clinical Programs at IPC, and Nick Secrest, Vice President of Member Performance at IPC, the session drew a packed audience eager to explore strategies for sustainable profitability amid declining reimbursements and rising operational costs.

Kelli and Nick unpacked the current economic landscape facing community pharmacies, marked by ongoing reimbursement pressure and staffing challenges, and offered actionable strategies for building more predictable and diversified revenue streams. With the central message that independent pharmacies can move beyond traditional dispensing models by leveraging reimbursable clinical services and patient engagement tools that deliver measurable outcomes. Attendees learned how IPC Digital Health and the iCare+ RPM platform empower pharmacies to adopt remote patient monitoring programs, both through traditional fee-for-service billing using CPT codes and non-traditional subscription models that cater to patient preferences.

The discussion underscored IPC’s commitment to helping members grow in a healthcare environment increasingly centered on outcomes, prevention, and data-driven care.

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A major announcement during the convention was the release of the 2025 NCPA Digest. The latest report emphasized the resilience and community leadership of independent pharmacies, which now account for nearly 36% of all U.S. retail pharmacy locations. The report highlighted that 93% of independents provide flu shots, 80% offer medication therapy management, and 73% routinely monitor blood pressure, a testament to their expanding role as accessible healthcare hubs.​ Read the full summary.

Throughout the four-day event, educational sessions and peer roundtables tackled pressing topics such as patient engagement through technology, chronic disease management innovations, and the financial sustainability of small businesses. The prevailing message across these sessions’ echoes IPC’s belief that collaboration and adaptability are essential for maintaining independence and influence in an ever-changing healthcare marketplace.​

Networking opportunities were abundant, giving attendees the chance to form strategic connections with technology vendors, wholesalers, and policy advocates united by a shared mission, to keep independent community pharmacy strong. IPC’s booth built on this with our focus on the 5 pillars of independent pharmacy to help pharmacies gain purchasing power, to grow & expand, create operational efficiency, gain financial clarity and achieve team empowerment giving and empower members in every stage of your pharmacy journey giving you the Freedom to Pharm™.

NCPA 2026 will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, from October 3–6, promising another opportunity for the independent pharmacy community to come together, share progress, and celebrate collective achievements. IPC looks forward to continuing the conversation, helping members turn industry challenges into growth opportunities and building the future of pharmacy together.