NACDS RxIMPACT hosted another highly successful round of pharmacy tours recently—bringing the 2015 total to 74. Pharmacy teams are briefed well in advance so they can convey pharmacy priorities to legislators and their staff members.
…the congressman is supportive of expanding pharmacists’ role in administering immunizations, and believes medication therapy management is a huge opportunity for Medicare recipients—with pharmacists being the best healthcare providers to manage the services…
The district director for House Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) told the pharmacy team at the Winn-Dixie in Dade City, Fla., that the congressman is supportive of expanding pharmacists’ role in administering immunizations, and believes medication therapy management is a huge opportunity for Medicare recipients—with pharmacists being the best healthcare providers to manage the services—which would improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
The staff member for Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) came away from his tour of the Walmart Pharmacy in Seminole, Okla., better informed about the challenges of rural healthcare issues, access to immunizations and Medicare.
The district director for House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Vern Buchanan learned about the patient care benefits in H.R. 592, the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, which would enable Medicare beneficiaries to access pharmacist-provided patient care services. The pharmacy team said the discussion generated lots of questions from the staff member, who was particularly interested in which representatives are currently supporting the legislation. The pharmacy team is committed to following up with the legislator and his staff members to keep them up-to-date on the progress of the legislation and other pro-pharmacy issues.
The pharmacy team at Hy-Vee in Davenport, Iowa, briefed Rep. Loebsack (D-IA) on key pharmacy issues, including immunizations, medication therapy management and provider status legislation, which would improve patient access to care. The team called the tour “terrific.”
The commitment exhibited by Congress and pharmacy teams during NACDS RxIMPACT pharmacy tours exemplifies the power of grassroots engagement and the motivation to make a difference.
