CPESN NY, LLC Elevates Statewide Diabetes Care Infrastructure with New Wave of Accredited Pharmacies and Major WNY Managed Care Contract

Buffalo, N.Y. June 17, 2026 – CPESN NY LLC, an independent practice association representing more than 260 community pharmacies dedicated to advancing chronic disease management, proudly announces that three additional member pharmacies have achieved national accreditation for their diabetes education programs from the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES).

These newly accredited pharmacies include:

CureWell Pharmacy (Elmont, NY)

New Age Pharmacy (Brooklyn, NY)

Summit Park Pharmacy (Niagara Falls, NY)

This milestone officially pushes the total number of nationally accredited pharmacies through CPESN NY offering Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services across New York State past 40 sites, continuing a steady expansion aimed at filling critical care gaps in both urban and rural communities. As the network scales, its strategic focus centers on establishing sustainable, long-term medical billing infrastructure, increasing local provider referral networks, and achieving measurable improvements in patient clinical outcomes.

“Our growth over the last several years proves that community pharmacies are not just medication distribution points; we are fully integrated clinical care hubs,” said Chris Daly, Vice President of CPESN NY and Grant Coordinator. “By expanding our DSMES footprint and refining our medical billing infrastructure, we are showing the entire healthcare ecosystem that independent pharmacies can deliver high-impact clinical programs and build a financially viable, sustainable business model around them. This is true practice transformation.”

The ongoing expansion relies heavily on a robust, seven-year partnership with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), an alliance that continues to champion health equity and broaden access to clinical care through community pharmacy professionals. Beyond diabetes education, these accredited locations frequently embed comprehensive wellness care into their workflows including the

National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), immunization services, chronic disease monitoring, and direct access to essential testing supplies.

Breaking Medical Billing Barriers: The Independent Health Association Milestone

In a landmark development for clinical pharmacy integration, CPESN NY has secured a direct to pharmacy contract with Independent Health, a leading regional HMO in Western New York (WNY) region. Obtaining this in-network status for CPESN NY pharmacies expands the offering of DSMES services directly to Independent Health’s Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, and commercial patients.

This major regional breakthrough provides an immediate, streamlined pathway for eight active DSMES pharmacy programs to bill directly for these necessary, disease-specific chronic care classes. By transitioning diabetes education from an under-reimbursed clinical service into a fully recognized medical benefit under a major payer, this partnership establishes a replicable framework for payer-provider collaboration statewide.

“Securing this contract with Independent Health is a massive win for our network and a validation of the clinical standard our pharmacies maintain,” added John Croce, President of CPESN NY. “Unlocking a direct medical billing pathway with a major regional HMO means our Western New York pharmacies can spend less time fighting administrative hurdles and more time executing face-to-face patient care. It proves that local health plans are recognizing the immense value community pharmacy professionals bring to managing complex diabetes populations and lowering total cost of care.”

About CPESN NY, LLC

CPESN NY, LLC / IPA is a registered healthcare entity and independent practice association within New York State. Comprising a growing network of independent community pharmacies, CPESN NY is structured to advance pharmacy practice by empowering local, deeply rooted pharmacies to deliver high-quality, patient-centered enhanced clinical services. Network pharmacies collaborate closely with care teams to coordinate medical treatment, resulting in superior medication adherence, increased patient satisfaction, and reduced overall healthcare expenditures. CPESN NY is an affiliate network of CPESN® USA, a nationwide network of community pharmacy providers. To learn more, visit www.cpesnny.com.