In response Bruce Roberts, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) issued the following statement:

“This is the prescription needed to help keep the nation’s 23,000 community pharmacies and their patients healthy. The provisions in this bill will allow community pharmacies access to additional financial tools needed to survive this time of economic uncertainty. More importantly, it will give some of the economic relief necessary to provide patients with their prescription drug needs.

“Community pharmacies in this country will benefit from the inclusion of two business tax breaks: allowing businesses to write off 50 percent on the cost of equipment and for greater flexibility in expensing a higher amount for certain purchases. The individual tax breaks also provide additional money that patients can use to obtain their prescription medications from their community pharmacist.

“All Americans should applaud Congress and President Bush for putting aside politics and recognizing the urgency in getting the stimulus package signed into law in advance of the projected economic downturn.” The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation’s independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.
www.ncpanet.org.