Arlington, Va. – Pharmacy advocates seem intent on redefining “impact” when they head to Washington, D.C. for the 2018 National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, March 7-8.
“Members of Congress are always interested to hear that nine-in-ten Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, that there is an NACDS-member pharmacy in every Congressional District, and that in prior years NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill has reached 90 percent of Congressional offices,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.
“This year, for the first time, pharmacy advocates from all 50 states are coming to Washington, D.C. for Congressional meetings, and we are going to reach the office of every member of the U.S. Congress. The NACDS membership continues to take its public policy engagement to a new level.”
Well over 400 pharmacy advocates will address issues including direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fee reform; opioid-abuse prevention legislation; enhancing Medicare patients’ access to pharmacist-provided services; TRICARE issues; and preserving patient access to pharmacy services in Medicaid and Medicare.
“It’s incredible to think that this event began with a small, but dedicated, group of ‘Pioneers’ who thought we needed to tell pharmacy’s story better to lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
In addition to reaching the maximum levels of state participation and Congressional office reach, the 10th Anniversary running of NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill will feature the following milestones:
- The event will set a new high-water mark of 40 percent of NACDS-member chains participating. These participating chains account for nearly three-quarters of all pharmacies operated by NACDS member companies.
- In another record, 48 colleges and schools of pharmacy will be represented.
The following facts reflect participation growth since the inaugural event in 2009:
- Total participation has increased participation by more than 200 percent.
- Nearly 60 percent of all colleges and schools of pharmacy have been represented.
- The number of Capitol Hill meetings has tripled, with 3,815 total meetings over ten years – enough meetings to reach each Congressional office more than seven times.
During the course of the 2018 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, NACDS will recognize 15 of the nearly 70 “Pioneers” who attended the first event in 2009, and who will be on hand this year. In addition, NACDS will honor four pharmacy advocates who have attended every NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill. Winners of NACDS grassroots and political engagement awards also will be announced.
“It’s incredible to think that this event began with a small, but dedicated, group of ‘Pioneers’ who thought we needed to tell pharmacy’s story better to lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Our message is that NACDS members provide access to health and wellness every day, and that NACDS members similarly provide access to health policy solutions. The incredible participation levels speak volumes in support of that message, and we look forward to an outstanding event,” Anderson said.
