Arlington, Va. – When pharmacy advocates visit their U.S. Senators and Representatives in Washington, D.C. as part of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, they will do so with record levels of participation and with a genuine offer to help advance sound public policy and to improve patients’ access to quality care.
In many ways, accessibility and trust go hand-in-hand, and the accessibility and trust of pharmacies mean they are truly ‘there’ for patients in neighborhoods across the nation.
In its ninth year, NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill will bring together NACDS members, pharmacy students and faculty, state pharmacy association representatives and other advocates on March 14 and 15, 2017.
“With healthcare front-and-center again in the national debate, we look forward to offering a vital ‘Access Agenda,’ authentically conveyed by the very people who make pharmacies the trusted face of neighborhood healthcare,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.
“The amazing participation will demonstrate pharmacy’s dedication on the front lines of patient care every day, as well as pharmacy’s commitment to engaging in public policy solutions that work for patients, for collaborators throughout the healthcare delivery system, and for the nation.”
During last year’s event, advocates met with 90 percent of House and Senate offices. In 2017, the nearly 400 expected participants will sustain this level of impact, with even stronger participation according to several key measurements:
· 47 states represented – the highest level to date
· 45 colleges and schools of pharmacy represented – the highest level to date
· 33 percent of all NACDS chain member companies represented – the highest level to date
· 54 percent of participants are new recruits.
“We look forward to presenting insights about the cost-effective prescription drug benefit in Medicaid and in Medicare, which are important to keep in mind given the current discussions of potential changes to the Affordable Care Act. We also will discuss the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 592 and S. 109), which would be a positive step forward for improving healthcare access for medically underserved Medicare patients. In addition, advocates will provide their first-hand experiences on other issues that are essential for comprehensive and consistent public policy that are important for pharmacies’ value and viability,” Anderson said.
“In many ways, accessibility and trust go hand-in-hand, and the accessibility and trust of pharmacies mean they are truly ‘there’ for patients in neighborhoods across the nation. Nearly all Americans – 91 percent – live within five miles of a community pharmacy. In 2016, pharmacists ranked second again in Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics survey across diverse professions. This will be a big part of the story that these dedicated advocates will bring to Capitol Hill in March.”
