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Hy-Vee’s Kristin Williams Delivers Remarks at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference

admin2017-02-06T13:27:37-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Conferences, Regional_Chain_Conference|

Kristin Williams, senior vice president and chief health officer of Hy-Vee, Inc., and NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair, delivered remarks this morning during the Opening General Session of the NACDS Regional Chain Conference in Palm Beach, Fla.

Kristin Williams, senior vice president and chief health officer of Hy-Vee, Inc., and NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair, delivered remarks at this morning’s Opening General Session at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference. Williams said, “This meeting and the topics addressed in the coming days could not be timelier with the current uncertainties in the healthcare industry. Regional chains are well equipped to face these challenges and develop innovative solutions for retail community pharmacy. We deliver personalized care, we adapt to emerging community needs and pilot new products and services in partnership with the suppliers gathered here today.”

View more photos on the NACDS Regional Chain Conference Flickr album.

NACDS Recognized with Two Awards for Sustainability Initiatives

admin2017-02-02T15:46:49-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Community, NACDS|

It’s said that an association should reflect its membership, and that is the case when it comes to NACDS’ sustainability initiatives. NACDS was among 231 U.S.-based organizations to receive a 2017 Best Workplaces for Commuters designation this week, which recognizes employers that offer exceptional employer-provided commuter benefits that meet the National Standard of Excellence criteria. To be designated among the nation’s Best Workplaces for Commuters, employers must provide benefits that result in at least 14 percent of their employees no longer driving alone to and from work within a 12-month period. Additionally, this week NACDS Vice President of Human Resources & Administration Dawn Worthington (left) accepted the Arlington County Transportation Gold Champions Award on behalf of NACDS.

NACDS Welcomes New Lobbyist Amber Manko

admin2017-01-26T13:13:17-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: NACDS|

Amber Manko, who most recently served as director of federal affairs at CAPG, a trade association focused on helping physician groups improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, joined NACDS in late November. Manko’s in-depth knowledge of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and health insurance issues will prove essential as NACDS navigates a new political landscape. NACDS.org caught up with her this week to discuss her thoughts on healthcare policy, what brought her to D.C., and more.

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: Salisbury, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state.

Q: What made you interested in a career in politics?

A: I’ve always been interested in politics. My mom publishes our local newspaper and my family has always been very politically engaged in one way or another. My advisor at Syracuse University also pointed out right before I was about to graduate that I had also earned another degree in political science, so I realized it must have been a passion of mine that I subconsciously didn’t realize.

Q: When did you come to D.C.?

A: I came here August of 2009, right before the Affordable Care Act was being negotiated. I started working for the head of Federal Government Affairs at America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). There’s a lot of value that comes in the type of work that we do—helping the healthcare system to grow and being more responsive to consumers and patients.

Q: What aspect of healthcare policy do you find compelling?

A: I legitimately learn something new every day. There are so many different corners of the healthcare system that are doing incredible work and that face a lot of adversity in delivering the services they provide every day. From that perspective, it’s something that you’ll never be an expert in, but you’re always moving forward. This is an exciting time because consumers are becoming much more involved and empowered.

Q: What is your guiding principle professionally?

A: To pause and then respond. You can be the loudest person in the room, but typically the quietest person in the room has the most expertise.

Q: What are you looking forward to at your first NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill March 14-15?

A: One of the [ READ MORE ]

D.C. Prepares for 58th Presidential Inauguration

admin2017-01-19T14:18:45-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Congress|

In preparation for the swearing in of President-elect Trump at the 58th inauguration ceremony on January 20, seats are being set out on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

Familiar Pharmacy Faces Earn Assignments on Key Healthcare Committees

admin2017-01-13T11:39:26-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Provider_Status, Reform|

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) met with Co-Chief Operating Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Alex Gourlay, NACDS vice chairman, at the 2016 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill. Rep. Guthrie was a lead sponsor of NACDS-backed pharmacist provider status legislation in the previous Congress, and will be one of the members re-introducing the bill in the House in the coming days. The bill was reintroduced in the Senate on Thursday with the bipartisan original co-sponsorship of more than one-quarter of the Senate.

The newly convened 115th Congress has started to announce congressional committee assignments. Significantly for NACDS, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, landed a sought-after seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Health Subcommittee.

In the Senate, freshman Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), who was an original cosponsor of the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act in the prior Congress, was named as a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

The legislation would enhance underserved Medicare patients’ access to state-approved pharmacist services. The lead sponsor of the bill in the 114th Congress, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), will remain vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee. It is encouraging that these congressional pharmacy supporters are well placed, especially as Congress prepares for reforms to the Affordable Care Act.

NACDS Regional Chain Conference is Almost Here–February 5-7

admin2017-01-03T14:38:50-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Conferences, Regional_Chain_Conference|

Participants at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference meet to share ideas on pharmacy, health and wellness, and front-end issues of significance for regional chains and suppliers alike.

The NACDS Regional Chain Conference–February 5-7 in Palm Beach, Fla.–is the place to be for idea-sharing on a range of issues including pharmacy, health and wellness, and front-end issues that are of importance to regional chains and suppliers alike. Appointment-driven one-to-one business meetings between chain executives and key supplier trading partners set the stage for developing profitable marketing ideas and strengthening existing relationships. The expansive selection of programming is designed to ensure participants are ahead of industry trends. The timing of the Conference is also ideal for political analysis, as significant events take place in Washington, D.C., this month. The 115th Congress was sworn in on January 3, 2017, and the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States will take place on January 20.

More information about the Conference is available on the NACDS Regional Chain Conference website.

2016 NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award Presented

admin2016-12-02T13:25:45-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: NACDS_Foundation|

Judith A. Monroe, M.D., FAAFP, president and CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, accepted the 2016 NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award at the NACDS Foundation Dinner on December 1, 2016, in New York City. (left to right: NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, Judith A. Monroe, M.D., FAAFP, and NACDS Foundation President Kathleen Jaeger)

The NACDS Foundation Dinner Is Almost Here!

admin2016-11-29T10:52:25-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: NACDS_Foundation|

Anticipation is building for the NACDS Foundation Dinner, which happens this week in New York City–Thursday, December 1. In its 18th year, the Foundation Dinner and contributions from the Foundation’s benefactors help support evidence-based research that advances patient care, pharmacy education, student scholarships, and charitable organizations that improve patient outcomes.

Emmy-award-winning writer and Saturday Night Live alumnus Seth Meyers, recently called the “smartest talk show host” of his generation” by The New York Times, will be the keynote speaker at the event and Judith A. Monroe, M.D., FAAFP, president and CEO of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, will accept the 2016 NACDS Foundation Excellence in Patient Care Award that evening.

For more information, please visit the NACDS Foundation Dinner website.

Record-Breaking Number of Pharmacy Schools Headed to D.C.

admin2016-11-04T10:31:09-04:00Categories: Photo|Tags: RxIMPACT|

Fifty pharmacy students have been selected by NACDS RxIMPACT to participate in the NACDS RxIMPACT “U” Academy during 2017 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, March 14-15, 2017. A record-breaking 46 schools will participate in the 2017 event. Pictured: Washington University School of Pharmacy students met with Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) at the 2016 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill.

NACDS Foundation Hosts Prescription and OTC Medication Forum

admin2016-10-27T19:03:39-04:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Community, NACDS_Foundation|

The NACDS Foundation hosted a forum this week, “Prescription & OTC Medication Record Integration: A Holistic Patient-Centered Approach.”

The NACDS Foundation hosted a forum this week, “Prescription & OTC Medication Record Integration: A Holistic Patient-Centered Approach,” to explore the potential for advancing patient health and wellness by integrating over-the-counter (OTC) medication use into electronic health records.

The increased use of prescription drugs, wider reliance on self-medication and the rise in the use of OTC medications has led to a higher risk for drug-drug interactions between prescriptions and OTC medications. Prevention strategies focused on especially vulnerable populations who are receiving interacting prescribed drugs—the elderly and chronically ill—could improve patient outcomes.

Representatives from retail pharmacy, pharmacy software system vendors, pharmacy channel partners and other health information technology partners participated in the stakeholder conference, which will culminate in a report that will be widely distributed throughout the stakeholder communities and NACDS communications platforms.

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