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U.S. Rep. Todd Budd Tours Harris Teeter Pharmacy

2017-08-21T21:10:17-04:00Categories: Photo|Tags: |

U.S. Rep. Todd Budd (R-NC) toured a Harris Teeter (The Kroger Co.) pharmacy today in Mooresville, NC, as part of the NACDS RxIMPACT program.

We appreciate Congressman Budd’s interest in pro-patient, pro-pharmacy issues.

In a Morning Consult poll commissioned by NACDS, 8-in-10 respondents in North Carolina’s 13th District report a favorable opinion of their pharmacist. Respondents by the same ratio say pharmacists are credible sources of information about how to save money on prescription drugs. Nine-in-ten say pharmacies are easy to access — the highest accessibility rating of all points of care that were tested.

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More Conviction than Ire, Town Hall Crowd Expresses Healthcare Concerns

2017-03-03T11:11:01-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: , |

A standing-room-only NACDS RxIMPACT-inspired congressional town hall, with House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Member Rep. Mike Thompson (D) in Santa Rosa, Ca., was filled with engaged—and notably non-confrontational—voters.

NACDS RxIMPACT participation at congressional town halls continues to get positive feedback, despite some ongoing reports of voter ire and dissatisfaction at the events reported widely in the news. Ann Carpico, of Albertsons Companies, attended a standing-room only event in Santa Rosa, Ca., with House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Member Rep. Mike Thompson (D) late last week. Carpico said that like other town halls across the country, this one boasted an overflow crowd of 1,500 people congregated in high school gymnasium filled—literally—to the rafters. Carpico noted that there was no protesting, or “rowdy crowds,” but rather a “very engaged community” who had lots of concerns about affordability and patient access in Medicare and Medicaid. Demonstrating commitment and determination, some participants had to park more than a half a mile away to attend the event.

Fortified with a clear set of legislative “asks” from NACDS RxIMPACT, Carpico had a chance to speak directly with Rep. Thompson at the town hall and was able to have a more in-depth discussion on provider status legislation—H.R. 592, the Pharmacy & Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act—with the congressman’s wife, a nurse, who expressed support for pharmacists as providers in the healthcare system.

Carpico noted that since there were so many people at the event they could not call on people individually for questions, but participants who were district constituents, as Carpico is, were able to fill out a card and submit it for a promised response from the lawmaker by email.

Carpico quantified pharmacy’s presence in the lawmaker’s district, letting him know there are 80 chain pharmacies operating there. She asked for his renewed support for H.R. 592, the Pharmacy & Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, to improve access to pharmacist services. In addition she requested that as Congress considers changes to the Medicaid program in light of reforms to the Affordable Care Act, that it protect beneficiary access to pharmacy services as a cost-effective approach to Medicaid reform that provides high [ READ MORE ]

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The Positive Power of Congressional Town Halls

2017-02-23T17:52:24-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: , |

The Bartell Drug Co. participated in one of ten NACDS RxIMPACT-supported congressional town hall meetings this week with Rep. Derek Kilmer (left) in Tacoma, Wash.

Rite Aid Corporation’s Lou Ann Obernesser participated in a town hall with House Energy & Commerce Committee member Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) in Schenectady, N.Y., on Monday. She said the event was so well attended they had to break out overflow rooms to accommodate people. She spoke directly with Rep. Tonko and told him she lives and works in his district. She asked for his renewed support for provider status legislation—H.R. 592, The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act—which would enhance access to care for underserved Americans. Obernesser said the congressman was “very familiar” with the legislation. Obernessor used district-specific information provided by NACDS RxIMPACT to quantify the role the 141 community pharmacies in the congressman’s district play in providing healthcare to his constituents.

The Bartell Drug Co.’s Daiana Huyen attended in a town hall with Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) in Tacoma, Wash., on Tuesday. She said, “It was definitely a successful event for the district—there were about over 300 people attending.” She noted it was a very diverse group, comprised of seniors, students, immigrants and local business owners who addressed a range of topics including the Affordable Care Act, immigration and education. Huyen spoke to Rep. Kilmer one-on-one after the meeting, gave him her business card, and followed up with an email to him with her specific legislative priority “asks,” which NACDS RxIMPACT provides to members who are participating in in-district activities like town halls, pharmacy tours, and more.

Don’t miss your chance to connect with legislators at the upcoming NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, March 14-15. At last year’s event, participants met with 90 percent of congressional offices. Register today! You can make a difference—at home and on Capitol Hill.

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New Study Highlights Success of Programs Like NACDS RxIMPACT

2017-02-16T15:12:29-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: |

NACDS RxIMPACT hosted its first NACDS RxIMPACT Training of the year—Magnify Your Advocacy Power as a Key Contact—for 200 pharmacy advocates at the Minnesota Pharmacists Association (MPhA) Legislative Day in St. Paul, Minn., this week.

A study released by the Congressional Management Foundation this week emphasizes that active, informed and prepared grassroots advocates can make their voices heard in Congress and effectively influence legislators. The findings bolster the great work NACDS RxIMPACT program does in engaging, training and mobilizing pharmacy advocates—in Washington, and in congressional districts across the country.

The study’s research found that more than 90 percent of congressional staffers said that in-person visits from constituents have a sizable influence on lawmakers, including ones who are undecided on issues. The study also found that 91 percent of congressional staffers said including information about the local impact of legislation was very helpful and that it is important for advocates to be prepared with a specific ask from legislators. Staffers also emphasized that personal stories resonate extremely well with lawmakers.   Seventy-one percent of staffers said getting to know staff members with jurisdiction over their issue area was effective, and 62 percent recommended getting to know congressional staffers in the lawmakers’ in-district offices.

The NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program has led the industry for years—providing just the kinds of platforms outlined in the study for grassroots advocates to successfully engage on behalf of pharmacy. NACDS RxIMPACT programs include RxIMPACT Pharmacy Tours, NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, the RxIMPACT Training Program and RxIMPACT Votes. In addition the RxIMPACT U Academy provides training opportunities for pharmacy students to get a jumpstart on engaging with policy makers about important issues that will impact the future of their profession. And the NACDS RxIMPACT Key Contact program is designed specifically to build and foster ongoing relationships with members of Congress so key pharmacy legislative priorities are on their radar and they understand their importance.

The program’s signature event, NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, is fast approaching—March 14-15—and last year participants met with 90 percent of congressional [ READ MORE ]

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NACDS, Kinney Drugs’ Mike Duteau Meet with Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) on Immunizations and Medicaid Reimbursement

2017-02-09T12:50:01-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: , , |

This week NACDS’ Anne Fellows and Mike Duteau, vice president of Business Development and Strategic Relations for Kinney Drugs Inc., met with Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) during the Vermont Association of Chain Drug Stores’ 2017 Legislative Lobby Day. Attendees met with Gov. Scott to discuss several initiatives, including expansion of pharmacist immunization authority and plans for the state to comply with requirements in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Covered Outpatient Drugs Final Rule. The Final Rule addresses key areas of Medicaid drug reimbursement and changes made to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by the Affordable Care Act.

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NACDS represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate over 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ nearly 3 million individuals, including 155,000 pharmacists. They fill over 3 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability. NACDS members also include more than 900 supplier partners and over 70 international members representing 21 countries.

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