Healthfirst, a leading not-for-profit health plan serving more than two million New Yorkers, today announced the winners of its inaugural Pharmacy Excellence Awards, recognizing 12 community pharmacies across New York City for their outstanding work in improving the health of its Medicare members.

These awards are part of a Healthfirst program which equips community and independent pharmacists with new tools and technology to help close care gaps, improve medication adherence, and provide timely support for Healthfirst Medicare members. Among hundreds of participating community pharmacies, the 12 award winners achieved the highest rates of medication adherence and proactive pharmacy interventions to close gaps in care in 2024.

Independent Neighborhood Pharmacies Making a Difference

The recognized pharmacies, located across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, serve as trusted healthcare partners in their neighborhoods. Together, they have helped thousands of older adults better manage chronic conditions, avoid hospitalizations, and stay on track with vital prescriptions.

Healthfirst leaders visited the following pharmacies over the past week to honor them with the Healthfirst Pharmacy Excellence Award:

• Brooklyn: ABC Pharmacy Inc., Pharmacia Popular Inc., Sisto Pharmacy
• Bronx: Felicity Pharmacy, SJS Pharmacy Inc., Victor Pharmacy
• Manhattan: San Agustin Pharmacy (Curewell Drugs), Family Plus Pharmacy, MetroRx Pharmacy
• Queens: All RX Pharmacy 1, Arcadia Health Pharmacy, Victory Pharmacy

“Community pharmacies know their patients by name and understand the challenges they face every day, and that they want more time to educate patients with medication management but also have the demands of running a small business,” said Bhavesh Modi, Vice President of Pharmacy at Healthfirst. “Through this program, we’re giving pharmacists the tools and resources they need to make an even greater impact on the health of their communities.”

Medication adherence is one of the most important factors in improving long-term health outcomes for Medicare members. Pharmacies enrolled in the program have helped significantly boost adherence rates, ensuring more Medicare members are taking their medications as prescribed.

“It can be daunting to manage several medications without support, especially for our seniors. I extend my congratulations to the local pharmacies being honored and commend Healthfirst for recognizing the role that independent pharmacies play in helping New Yorkers lead healthier lives,” said New York State Senator and Chair of the Senate Health Committee Gustavo Rivera.

“For patients who are managing multiple chronic conditions, I want to make it as easy as possible for them to get and stay on medication. This technology alerts me when a member may need support synchronizing their medications, checking in with them after starting a new therapy, or streamlining refills,” said Priyank Patel, owner of Felicity Pharmacy.

The announcement comes during American Pharmacists Month, just ahead of Medicare open enrollment, underscoring the critical role pharmacists play in educating older New Yorkers about their healthcare decisions. By honoring community pharmacies with the Pharmacy Excellence Awards, Healthfirst is reinforcing its commitment to empowering local providers to deliver personalized, high-quality care.

About Healthfirst

Founded more than 30 years ago by leading hospital systems in downstate New York, Healthfirst’s partnership model drives meaningful alignment and collaboration across the hospitals, health systems, and community providers in its network, advancing care quality and improving health outcomes for its members. Today, Healthfirst serves more than two million members in New York City, on Long Island, and in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, and Orange counties. Healthfirst offers market-leading products to suit every life stage, including Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, Long-Term Care, and Qualified Health plans. For more information on Healthfirst, please visit healthfirst.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251014372407/en/

“Through this program, we’re giving pharmacists the tools and resources they need to make an even greater impact on the health of their communities,” said Bhavesh Modi, Vice President of Pharmacy at Healthfirst.