NCPDP Membership Categories
Producer/Provider
Payer/Processor
Vendor/General Interest
Producer/Provider
Chain Pharmacy
A group of four of more pharmacies who share common ownership.
Consulting Pharmacist
A pharmacist/provider, having a pharmacy degree from an accredited school of
pharmacy, who provides requested clinical and pharmaceutical advice relating
to prescription drugs for a pharmacy, hospital, managed care organization or
nursing home (long term care facility).
Franchise Pharmacy
A retail pharmacy or group of pharmacies that operate under a franchise agreement
granted by a franchiser. This franchisee/franchiser relationship typically involves
the use of a common name and access to other goods and services in exchange
for specified operational requirements and payment or royalties and/or fees.
Home Infusion Pharmacies
A pharmacy that serves people needing Home infusion therapy, which involves the administration of medications using intravenous, subcutaneous, and epidural routes (into the bloodstream, under the skin, and into the membranes surrounding the spinal cord).
Home Infusion Pharmacists
A pharmacist, having a pharmacy degree from an accredited school of pharmacy, who provides requested clinical and pharmaceutical advice relating to prescription drugs for home infusion therapy.
Hospice Providers
Hospice care provider is a combination of facility-based and home care provided to benefit terminally ill patients and support their families.
Hospital Pharmacies
A hospital pharmacy is a pharmacy department located in a licensed hospital facility. Hospital pharmacy represents an inpatient primary care treatment modality pharmacy.
Hospitals
An institution which is primarily engaged in providing medical, diagnostic and major surgery facilities for medical care and treatment of sick and injured persons on an inpatient basis under supervision of duly licensed physicians and 24-hour nursing service.
Independent Pharmacy
A retail pharmacy that is usually owned by the pharmacist in charge.
Long Term Care Pharmacists
A pharmacist, having a pharmacy degree from an accredited school of pharmacy, who provides requested clinical and pharmaceutical advice relating to prescription drugs for residents of long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, residential care facilities, retirement or other lifecare communities, adult day care facilities, assisted living facilities, mental health facilities, hospices, home healthcare agencies, correctional institutions, and long-term care beds in hospitals.
Long Term Care Provider Pharmacies
A Pharmacy that through contract provide pharmaceutical dispensing or consulting services to residents of long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, residential care facilities, retirement or other lifecare communities, adult day care facilities, assisted living facilities, mental health facilities, hospices, home healthcare agencies, correctional institutions, and long-term care beds in hospitals.
Long Term Care Providers
Organizations which, through contract or other agreement, provide product or services to residents of long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, residential care facilities, retirement or other lifecare communities, adult day care facilities, assisted living facilities, mental health facilities, hospices, home healthcare agencies, correctional institutions, and long-term care beds in hospitals.
Mail Service Pharmacy Company
A centralized prescription dispensing service that provides a variety of pharmaceutical
services including dispensing medications, formulary management, drug utilization
review activities and delivering the medications to the patients by a postal
service or an alternate carrier.
On-Line Pharmacy Company
An Internet-based pharmacy business that is accessible to patients and physicians
only through an Internet application for requesting a prescription product,
and in turn the prescription product is dispensed to patients through the postal
service or alternative carrier.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Companies that produce, distribute and promote medications for sale in pharmacies,
retail stores, or prescription dispensing practices.
Other
Any other producer or provider category not classified in these descriptions.
Payer/Processor
Blue Cross Blue Shield Organization
A for-profit company or not-for-profit corporation that provides coverage for
health care and related services. All plans are related through their membership
in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Federal/State Agency
An administrative division created and maintained by the government to create,
oversee or intervene on designated projects or sectors of the community on a
state or federal level.
Health Insurer
An organization who serves as the party to an insurance policy (a written contract
of insurance that defines its terms) who contracts to pay losses to render services
to defend the insured.
Health Maintenance Organization
A for-profit or not-for-profit organization that provides total health care to the
patient. It includes all types of providers. The HMO must employ or contract
with health care providers who undertake a continuing responsibility to provide
services to its enrollees.
Pharmacy Benefit Management
Company
Pharmacy Benefit Management Company: An organization that manages drug benefit
programs including processing of on-line and employee-submitted paper claims,
establishing formularies and negotiating manufacturers rebates and administrators
a wide array of clinical services.
Prescription Service
Administration Organization
An organization that is supported by retail pharmacies to provide managed prescription
drug programs to various client groups.
Other
Any other payer or processor category not classified in these descriptions.
Vendor/General Interest
Academia
A higher education institution, including colleges, universities or trade schools.
Clinical Programs
A company whose primary business is the outcomes of disease management and compliance
programs.
Consultants
A company or individual that provides an organization advice on a specific project,
on overall operations of the organization, or on specific areas of that organization
or industry.
Database Management Organizations
Companies that license electronic pharmaceutical information to processors,
providers and payers that facilitate functions such as claims processing, utilization
review and plan management.
Information/Material Distributors
An organization that produces or releases literature or information pertaining
to health care or prescription drugs; or a company involved in the distribution
or materials, including identification card vendors and other material distributors.
Long Term Care Industry Consultants
A company or individual that provides an organization advice on a specific project, on overall operations of the organization, or on specific areas of that organization or industry related to the Long Term Care sector.
Mail List House
An organization that sells demographic or address data purchased from other
organizations.
Physician Services Organizations
An organization or company that has an interest in physician groups as they
relate to pharmacy services.
Professional/Trade Associations
The voluntary uniting of a group of individuals or organizations bound together
by common interests and objectives for the achievement of mutually beneficial
goals.
Telecommunication and Systems Vendor
Firms whose business it is to develop, support, and maintain telecommunication
networks and services or computer software or hardware.
Wholesale Drug Distributor
A company involved in wholesale acquisition of pharmaceutical, health and beauty
aids for the sole purpose of repackaging or distribution to pharmacies, retail
stores, hospitals, government, alternate sites and managed care organizations.
Other
Any other vendor or general interest category not classified in these descriptions.