The new year began with a nice ripple effect in the media for the role pharmacists play in the healthcare system. Gallup’s annual Honesty and Ethics survey placed pharmacists second again this year—behind nurses—as being among the professions Americans trust the most.
There are currently 262 House cosponsors, which illustrates that a majority of House members recognize the value that pharmacists can play in providing healthcare services to underserved communities…
The professional validation comes at a time when pharmacists are positioned extraordinarily well to fill gaps in patient access to care. Associations Now, the publication of ASAE, the Center for Association Leadership, reported on the Gallup survey in its latest issue, quoting NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, and giving even broader professional visibility to the prominent role pharmacists achieved in the public’s eye.
A recent article in Forbes emphasized the valuable role pharmacists play in administering vaccinations and pointed to the successful efforts of the Patient Access to Pharmacists Care Coalition (PAPCC), of which NACDS is a member, to build support for the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (S. 314/H.R. 592). The article also appeared in the health policy newsletters Morning Consult and RealClearHealth. The NACDS-backed, bipartisan legislation would expand Medicare beneficiary access to pharmacist-provided patient care services in medically underserved communities. There are currently 262 House cosponsors, which illustrates that a majority of House members recognize the value that pharmacists can play in providing healthcare services to underserved communities throughout the nation. The Senate’s support is also strong, with 39 cosponsors.
The positive, reverberating news about pharmacists marks a great beginning of the year for pharmacists, and gives well-deserved credit for the essential and expanding part they play as trusted healthcare providers bridging gaps to care for the patients who need it most.
