Senate Finance Committee Member Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) learned firsthand about the effects of DIR fees during a Giant Pharmacy tour in Millville, Del.
Members of Congress were able to grasp firsthand critical pharmacy public policy issues when they toured pharmacies in their home states and congressional districts during the congressional recess. Urging direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fee relief as part of drug-pricing legislation led discussions with lawmakers.
The pharmacy tours gave legislators a better understanding of the role pharmacy plays in their own communities, in addition to putting the challenges pharmacies are currently facing in clear perspective. The pharmacy teams were also able to educate lawmakers on their work on opioid abuse prevention, as part of the solution to the ongoing crisis.
So far, lawmakers have participated in more than 30 pharmacy tours. Recent pharmacy tours included:
- The field representative for House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Member Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) at Safeway in Portland, Ore.
- Director of outreach for House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Member Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) at Southeastern Grocers in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
- District director Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) at Albertsons Companies in Parker, Colo.
