COVID-19 Pharmacy Resource Center
As an active participant in the global pharmaceutical supply chain, we’re engaged with government and healthcare officials as these agencies and experts closely monitor the spread of COVID-19. We have business continuity plans that include our global workforce and our teams are in daily communications with manufacturers, monitoring inventory levels and customer purchasing behavior for any potential impact to the product supply chain.
Resources for you and your patients
Here we've curated a collection of the most relevant links to help independent community pharmacies through the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you need resources for communicating with patients or the latest guidance from the CDC and WHO, this is your destination for the most valuable coronavirus-related information, tools and support.
Media Statement on Federal Retail Pharmacy Program
February 2, 2021
AmerisourceBergen commends the federal government’s decision to activate the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program early to support vaccination efforts across the United States in Phase 1. With the start of this program, AmerisourceBergen will formally begin its role as a “network administrator” and place orders with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on behalf of an initial set of eligible and qualified Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Elevate Provider Network members in Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Guam. Because AmerisourceBergen has a seat at the table, the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Network was selected to provide support in these jurisdictions early because of their ability to equitably serve local, hard-to-reach priority populations that are at risk for severe illness quickly and efficiently.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccines roll-out, we have seen independent community pharmacists step up in a major way to support their states and the Federal Long-Term Care program to help get more shots in arms,” said Brian Nightengale, RPh., PhD., President of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. “We are beyond excited to see the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program kick off and give more independent community pharmacies the opportunity to join in this massive national inoculation movement. We know that this is just the start of the program and it’s encouraging to see pharmacies get pulled forward to support Phase 1. We’ll continue to work with our independent pharmacy customers to make sure more Good Neighbor Pharmacy Network members are ready to be activated as the federal program continues to expand in either Phase 1 or Phase 2.”
“The power of independent pharmacy has been on full display throughout the pandemic and now with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Every single day, tens of thousands of pharmacists, technicians and staff members working tirelessly on the front lines to ensure their communities and patients have the care they need and are being inoculated and protected from the Coronavirus,” said Rich Tremonte, EVP and President of Community and Specialty Pharmacy at AmerisourceBergen. “We are incredibly proud of our Good Neighbor Pharmacy customers’ unwavering perseverance, and we are grateful to be their partner as they begin to receive vaccines through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.”
Read the AmerisourceBergen press release >
Supporting You as a Trusted Provider of the COVID-19 Vaccine
We’re partnering with federal and state agencies regularly to prepare for providing our distribution services for the COVID-19 vaccine. Our Government Affairs team has met with 300+ federal and state legislators and staff through video and phone calls since March, continuing to make an impact on pharmacy policy priorities during COVID-19. The team is also working closely with NCPA, APhA, NACDS and other pharmacy coalitions urging Congress, Governors and state legislators to recognize pharmacists as healthcare providers, remove barriers to expand pharmacist COVID-19 testing and promote immunization authority.
One of our top priorities is advocating for pharmacist provider status, which would establish pharmacists as providers in Medicare Part B throughout the course of the pandemic. The team has and will continue to urge Congress to include emergency pharmacist provider status in a future legislative package, which would enable pharmacies to bill Medicare directly for COVID-19 and flu testing and immunization (once available). Pharmacists and patients are the most powerful voices on this topic, so we strongly encourage you to contact your legislators and ask Congress to enact emergency provider status for pharmacists.
Together, we can make a difference! On August 19, 2020, HHS expanded access to allow pharmacists to administer all FDA approved vaccines to children age 3-18 during the pandemic. And back on May 27, 2020, Minnesota’s Governor, Tim Walz, signed a comprehensive Health and Human Services bill providing pharmacists the authority to allow them to administer FDA-authorized COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to eligible individuals, when a vaccine becomes available. Several states are now following Minnesota’s lead.
COVID-19 + flu testing
Persistent testing is critical to help slow the spread of COVID-19, and independent pharmacies have played an important role in making those tests as accessible as possible throughout the pandemic. By identifying positive cases and offering guidance right in the pharmacy without the need for an appointment, independents have been able to help those individuals get ahead of the condition and protect the community.
Your role is even more crucial during flu season because the symptoms of COVID-19 are so similar to those of influenza. Many people are concerned and confused when they start to not feel well and they want guidance on what to do next since different diagnoses call for different courses of action. This is your opportunity to position your pharmacy as a go-to healthcare destination in your community by offering quick, convenient, point-of-care testing for both conditions at the same time.
With the latest assay from BD Veritor™, you can test for SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A and B from one patient sample and deliver reliable results in minutes. Plus, one-button functionality and rapid digital readout simplifies the testing process even further, allowing you to give your patients answers fast along with treatment options and quarantining requirements.
Purchase your rapid detection kits now in ABC Order and receive a free digital reader with your first purchase of at least two kits!
COVID-19 Signage Available on Good Neighbor Pharmacy Signage Portal
Temporary signage is now available to meet the changing needs of your business. Sneeze guards, distancing dots, window clings, sidewalk signs and much more can be found on the Good Neighbor Pharmacy signage portal.
Communications and Tools for Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Elevate members
AmerisourceBergen Customer Townhall Recording (Hosted 8/11/20)
One-Time Call/Text Campaign: Keep your patients updated and provide them with information about how your pharmacy can assist them. For more information, download COVID-19 Campaigns from PrescribeWellness. To get started on your patient update, log into your Patient Engagement Center.
COVID-19 Resources tab in your Patient Engagement Center
AmerisourceBergen Customer Letter and FAQ
- AmerisourceBergen Customer Townhall Recording (Hosted 01/12/21)
- AmerisourceBergen Customer Townhall Recording (Hosted 02/09/21)
- AmerisourceBergen Customer Townhall Recording (Hosted 03/09/21)
My GNP Mobile App
Provide patients with an additional method of refilling prescriptions with the My GNP mobile app. Leveraging the mobile app will reinforce social distancing and help alleviate high volume of calls to your pharmacy.
The My GNP mobile app can be found by searching "My GNP" on the Google Play or Apple App store.