NCPA 2026 Convention Overview: Governance, Legislative Policy, and Market Benchmarks

During the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo., delegates, leadership, and industry partners addressed the pressing policy, legislative, and market dynamics shaping independent community pharmacy. In addition to setting governance priorities and celebrating the accomplishments of independent pharmacists, the association released the 2026 NCPA Digest, with new benchmark data detailing the economic impact of independent pharmacies nationwide.

Executive Governance & Federal Policy Leadership

Dr. Christian Tadrus of Moberly, Mo., owner of independent community pharmacies and a direct primary care clinic in rural Missouri, was officially installed as the 2026–2027 NCPA President. In his inaugural address, Tadrus challenged independent pharmacists to actively engage in healthcare policy and technology discussions before decisions are made, emphasizing that pharmacists must "give ourselves permission to build something different" rather than adapting to external systems.

The NCPA House of Delegates elected Brian Hose of Sharpsburg Pharmacy in Sharpsburg, Md., as a new officer and approved major policy resolutions. These resolutions encourage pharmacy participation in the CMS ACCESS program through CPESN, support emerging direct-to-employer and direct-to-patient healthcare models, and advocate for transparent, non-discriminatory network participation standards.

Representative Buddy Carter, who owned Carter’s Pharmacy, Inc. in South Georgia for over 32 years before entering public office, received the periodic NCPA Spirit of Independence Award for sustained contributions to independent pharmacy. A member of the House Budget Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Carter was instrumental in advancing 2022 CMS reforms to pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees and championing landmark pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms signed into law in 2026.

National Career Achievement & Practitioner Honors

Steve Giroux, owner of Middleport Family Health Center and seven additional healthcare businesses in New York, received the Calvin J. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award for nearly four decades of industry leadership. A past NCPA president (2007–2008), Giroux continues to serve as NCPA Political Action Committee (PAC) chairman and sits on the National Legislation and Government Affairs Committee, driving legislative advocacy for independent owners.

Dr. T.J. Woodard, co-owner of Prescriptions to Geaux in Baton Rouge, La., was named the 2026 Independent Pharmacist of the Year. Operating two downtown practice locations guided by the Golden Rule, Woodard plays an active role on the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association Board of Directors and the NCPA Committee on State Legislation and Regulation, shaping state and federal healthcare policy.

Market Intelligence & Future Ownership Models

Attendees gained insights into the state of the independent pharmacy via macro-level economic data from the 2026 NCPA Digest. NCPA also provided updates on national initiatives fostering next-generation pharmacy ownership.

Industry Marketplace & Clinical Benchmarks

The annual NCPA Digest reveals that independent community pharmacies represent nearly 37 percent of all U.S. retail pharmacies, accounting for an estimated 18,988 locations and a $103 billion marketplace. Key findings from the report include:

• Dispensing & Government Reliance: Over 96 percent of independent pharmacy sales stem from prescriptions, with an average annual store volume of 65,795 prescriptions and an 81 percent generic fill rate. Government programs account for nearly half of all filled prescriptions.
• Clinical Expansion: Ninety-one percent of stores provided flu immunizations, 81 percent offered medication therapy management, and 62 percent provided blood pressure monitoring.
• Evolving Operations: Thirty-four percent of independents now operate primarily as a retail-LTC (long-term care) combo, reflecting a strategic pivot toward expanded care models. Furthermore, the clinically integrated CPESN USA network now spans 44 local networks across 47 states and Washington, D.C.

Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy won the 23rd annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition, announced at the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Annual Convention in Kansas City.

The winning University of Washington team, led by captain Caitlin Joy Lazaro alongside Jackson Gilmour, Julia Par, and Brian Wong, received a $6,000 prize and complimentary travel to the 2027 NCPA Multiple Locations Conference in Florida. The University of Texas at Austin finished as runner-up, earning $4,000, while the University of Mississippi placed as second runner-up, receiving $2,000.

Finalist teams presented their plans in a live competition on October 3, 2026, evaluated by independent pharmacy leaders and experts. Rounding out the top 10 were Auburn University, Ohio Northern University, Rutgers University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Georgia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and University of South Carolina.

NCPA President Kristen Riddle and NCPA Foundation President Sharon Sherrer praised the students' entrepreneurial spirit, meticulous blueprints, and commitment to community health care leadership. PTMR