NACDS Chairman Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and president of Walgreen Co., welcomed more than 450 pharmacy advocates to Washington, D.C., on the opening night of the 10th annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill.
More than 450 community pharmacists, pharmacy executives, student pharmacists, and national and state association allies and others—representing 50 states—convened in Washington, D.C. March 7-8 for the 10th annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill. Teams of novice and veteran advocates fanned out across Capitol Hill to tell pharmacy’s story to lawmakers, emphasizing the role pharmacists play as trusted, accessible healthcare providers who provide services that improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. Advocates also urged lawmakers to support a range of pro-pharmacy legislative priorities.
During the welcome dinner on Wednesday night, NACDS Chairman Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and president of Walgreen Co., recognized several exceptional advocates and NACDS-member companies who exemplify an outstanding commitment to grassroots advocacy and political engagement. Due to the cancellation of last year’s event because of weather-induced congressional schedule changes, 2017 awards were also presented.
Following the morning briefing on Thursday, all of the advocates took their pro-pharmacy, pro-patient stories on more than 531 congressional meetings at Senate and House offices—reaching 100 percent of Congress (there currently are four vacant seats in Congress). The experience pharmacists have on the frontline of healthcare delivery made them well positioned to explain to Congress that there is more to the story of what pharmacists do every day.
Advocates were bolstered by formal recognition from the House and Senate of NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill published in the Congressional Record by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). Mullin is an original cosponsor of the NACDS-backed Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act (H.R. 3528). In formally recognizing NACDS RxIMPACT Day, Mullis congratulated “pharmacy leaders, pharmacists, students, and the entire pharmacy community represented by NACDS for their contributions to the health and wellness of the American people.”
NACDS ran an ad about pharmacists’ accessibility and the event in Politico, Roll Call and The Hill. NACDS also placed an ad in Morning Consult announcing that pharmacy advocates from all 50 states were in D.C. this week.
Visit the NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill Flickr album to view more photos. Also check out the NACDS Twitter feed to see what people are saying about the event.
