Southwest MN Pharmacists/MPhA Town Hall

With Hosts: Reid Horning and Vern Peterson

Join your colleagues in Southwest Minnesota for a night of networking and information sharing, while having your voices heard. MPhA members Reid Horning and Vern Peterson will host the evening where you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with colleagues, learn from exhibitors, share a meal, and hear about the current state of DIR fees from MPhA Past President and Public Affairs Committee co-chair Jeff Lindoo.

Agenda

5:30 p.m. Registration and Social Hour and Exhibits
6:30 p.m. CE Presentation and Meal
7:30 p.m. Town Hall
8:00 p.m. Adjournment

Presentation

Direct and Indirect Remuneration Fees: Current State of Affairs

Pharmacies are currently contending with numerous issues surrounding “DIR” fees. “DIR” stands for “direct and indirect remuneration.” The term was coined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) related to the Medicare Part D benefit to address price concessions (e.g. drug manufacturer rebates) that would ultimately impact the gross prescription drug costs of Medicare Part D plans that were not captured at the point of sale. The use of the term “DIR Fee” to describe arrangements between Plans/PBMs and pharmacies has become a “catch-all” term designed to encompass a number of different types of “fees” including “pay to play” fees for network participation as well as periodic reimbursement reconciliations. Today, pharmacies are taking reimbursement cuts related to network participation and network metrics, including quality metrics. In this session, you’ll hear the current state of affairs with pharmacy and DIR fees and strategies they are using to reduce DIR fee cuts related to quality metrics.

After participating in this program, attendees will be able to:

• Define the term DIR.
• Explain the original purpose of DIR.
• Describe the current situation surrounding DIR implementation.
• List national legislation designed to address DIR issues.

Presentor

Jeff Lindoo, RPh, grew up in the world of pharmacy. His earliest experience consisted primarily of reading comic books in the back of his Grandfa­ther’s and Father’s pharmacy in rural Wisconsin. He later graduated to re­sponsibility for emptying the trash and finally worked as a clerk, made foun­tain syrups, scrubbed the floors and worked as a technician (before the concept of technicians really existed) in the pharmacy, preparing prescrip­tions for his Father’s final approval. He has been a member of MPhA since graduating from the NDSU College of Pharmacy in 1974. He worked his entire 42-year career in pharmacy for Thrifty White Pharmacies, serving in multiple positions and retiring in June 2016. He is a Past President of MPhA, and serves as co-chair of the Public Affairs Committee. He is a member of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy National Board of Advisors. He served on the Minne­sota Board of Pharmacy from 1996 to 2000 and as Vice President in 1999. He is a former member of the Minne­sota Retailers Association Board of Directors and Board Chair in 2010. He is also a member of APhA, ASCP and NCPA.

Your Hosts

Reid Horning, PharmD, graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy in 2000 and worked in a community pharmacy setting for two years. Dr. Horning joined New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) in 2002 as a staff pharmacist and then accepted the Pharmacy Manager position in 2004. Since then, Dr. Horning has led and coordinated Pharmacy Department initiatives. Dr. Horning was appointed a Clinical Instructor with the University of Minnesota in 2009 and precepts introductory and advanced practice pharmacy externship students.

Vern Peterson, RPh, is an independent pharmacy owner, operating Peterson Drug & Gifts in Mountain Lake, Minnesota for more than 30 years. Vern is a long-time MPhA member, having served on numerous committees throughout the years. His leadership in his community was recognized by the pharmacy profession with the 2007 Bowl of Hygeia Award.

Program Costs

Members: Complimentary
Non-Members: $15

Where

New Ulm Country Club
1 Golf Drive
New Ulm, Minnesota 56073
507-354-8896

Thank You Sponsors!