SPECIAL REPORT Once again we give you a front-row seat on how the chains are deploying technology in the pharmacy and what they have to say about robotics, scanning, IVR, preedits, and more. You'll also see what their priorities are for the balance of the year. This year's survey had participation from 38 chains, representing 11,000 pharmacies.

Features

When DMERCs Become DME MACs

by Duane Ridenour

With the Medicare contracting reform called for by the Medicare Modernization Act, DME MACs now replace the DMERCs as we have known them, with the four jurisdictions of the DMERCs changing as a result. The author examines how this new DME claims-processing system will work, and what's still up in the air.

Getting Business Savvy with POS

Wise's Family Pharmacy, located in Hemingway, S.C., is a good case study on the value of a POS system, particularly when it has bidirectional connectivity with the pharmacy management system. Wayne Wise, owner of the pharmacy, talks about all the benefits he is seeing with his POS system when it comes to running a more profitable pharmacy.

Direct Access—NPI: Facilitating the Transition

In less than a year, all pharmacies will be required to submit electronic claims with the new national provider identifier (NPI), as required under HIPAA. Cathy Graeff from The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) talks to ComputerTalk Publisher Bill Lockwood, in this exclusive interview, on how NCPDP plans to help make for a smooth transition for pharmacy to this new numbering system.

Publisher's Window

A Letter Worth Reading

Industry Watch

George's Corner

A New Mind for a Flat World

Technology Corner

Clinical Decision Support: Valuable Tool or Time Robber?

Catalyst Corner

Positive Consumer Perceptions

Viewpoints

Pharmacy Reimbursement: More Challenges

Conference Circuit

ASAP Midyear Conference

McKesson Trade Show

PeopleTalk