Buy Better
Are you getting rebates from your secondary?
The simple answer is: buy your secondary items from BuyLine, a full-line source for everything you need including brands, generics, OTCs, controls and refrigerated products.
You can get a 5% to 14% cash rebate on generic purchases and a 1% to 3.5% cash rebate on brand items. By carefully managing your purchasing and balancing your Generic Compliance Ratio (GCR), you can maximize rebates from your primary wholesaler while supplementing your profits with good rebates from your secondary supplier.
Just last month, the top rebate paid out was more than $7,500 to one BuyLine pharmacy customer. In fact, BuyLine paid out $578,707 in rebates last year alone. And we’re on track to return even more to our customers in 2025.
The average BuyLine customer earns a 9% generic rebate, plus a 2% brand rebate. This earns the average BuyLine customer at least a $375 cash rebate. However, that rebate jumps to $682.50 if that customer increases their spending to $3,500 on generics to earn a 12% generic rebate and a 2.5% brand rebate.
BuyLine even helps you choose, track and adjust your targeted rebate amounts. When you log in to BuyLine, you can click “Change Selected Rebate” and save your target goal. As you make your purchases through the month, click “Month-to-Date Totals.” You’ll see your generic and brand totals, your current generic and brand rebates, your current GCR and the amount to spend to reach the next rebate tier.
A Business Improvement Specialist can help you meet your goals. Just call us at 800.333.8097 or email customercare@pbahealth.com.
Buy Better shows you how to save time and money with your secondary purchasing.
Need to Know
DSCSA key date coming up
Like many other community pharmacists, you might have questions about the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).
First, remember that there isn’t too much to be concerned about, as you and your team members have most likely already implemented current best practices.
The next upcoming deadline is Wednesday, August 27, which applies to wholesale distributors for certain enhanced drug distribution security requirements. Specifically, wholesale distributors will need to move from lot-based transaction history to serialized product identifier information for in-scope products. They also need to finalize electronic connections with manufacturers and ensure consistent and compliant exchange of traceability data.
PBA Health, as well as other wholesale distributors, host portals containing all relevant data. This data is available and accessible for all customers.
Remember, the goal of DSCSA is to prevent the introduction of counterfeit, stolen or otherwise harmful drugs into the supply chain, and to improve the detection and removal of such products. The latest deadline is part of a broader set of staggered deadlines for different trading partners in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Here’s a quick breakdown:
May 27, 2025: The date that manufacturers and repackagers needed to be fully compliant.
August 27, 2025: The date wholesale distributors need to be fully compliant.
November 27, 2025: The deadline for dispensers with 26 or more full-time employees to be fully compliant.
November 27, 2026: The deadline for dispensers with fewer than 26 full-time employees to be fully compliant.
PBA Health urges you to be aware of conflicting facts and outright misinformation that’s specifically aimed at independent community pharmacies. Be careful and do not believe everything you see or hear.
We will continue to keep you completely informed about what you need to do, what you don’t need to do and what we are doing to help you and your business adjust to new or different requirements. We’ll maintain communication as the industry continues to adapt.
If you have any questions at all, contact us by calling 800.333.8097 or by emailing customercare@pbahealth.com. We’re your partner and we’re happy to help.
The latest vaccine info
Get the most up-to-date vaccine information at a one-hour webinar hosted by the NCPA. “All Pharmacy Townhall: Examining changes in vaccine policy affecting practice and the community” starts at noon CDT Wednesday, August 6.
The session explores recent changes in national vaccine policy, practice recommendations and procedures—and what they mean for the provision of vaccine services by pharmacy professionals.
You’ll gain insight into the evolving landscape of pharmacy-based vaccine delivery. And you’ll learn what’s known so far about the upcoming respiratory infection season. Plus, you can ask questions directly to a panel of expert speakers. Register now.
Need to Know keeps you informed of dates, deadlines, and other information relevant to independent community pharmacy.