NACDS today welcomed the White House’s release of the 2019 National Drug Control Strategy, and expressed in particular the Association’s commitment to collaboration as part of the solution to the opioid-abuse epidemic.
Rebecca Bubel, RPh, 2019 NACDS Regional Chain Conference chair and senior director of store operations, Kinney Drugs, Inc.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ (NACDS) campaign-style approach to the issues crucial for pharmacy value and viability dominated today’s opening session of the 2019 NACDS Regional Chain Conference.
NACDS’ top-priority issue of direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fee reform headlined the discussion of the Association’s “Access Agenda” – which emphasizes that pharmacies provide access to health policy solutions, just as they provide access to vital health services every day in neighborhoods across the nation.
Mark Panzer, NACDS Chairman of the Board and senior vice president, pharmacy and health & wellness, Albertsons Companies, said, “NACDS talks about our Access Agenda, and its three parts: offense, defense, and addressing the wellbeing of our communities. On offense, we are enhancing access to newer services. When we talk about defense, we are talking about preserving patients’ access to care. And that means DIR fee reform. The third area – working as partners for stronger and safer communities – includes helping to solve opioid abuse. This remains an important issue, where we have seen progress and where we remain committed.”
“Across all of our NACDS issues and services, here is the message that I want to give to you today, and it’s from my view as the NACDS chairman and as an industry veteran. NACDS has never been better equipped to deliver the value that we as members expect, and need – even on the toughest of issues.”
NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, led an interactive discussion including members of the NACDS senior staff regarding advocacy on DIR fee reform, broader reimbursement issues, opioid-abuse prevention and expanding pharmacy’s scope of business.
“What we are not doing is just ‘working the issues,’” Anderson stated. “What we are doing is waging campaigns – tough campaigns. Working the issues is waiting for things to happen. Waging campaigns is making things happen, and doing so with everything we have – consistently, creatively, aggressively, passionately, cohesively, and as a modern political and advocacy organization.”
In the pursuit of DIR fee reform and other ways to help [ READ MORE ]
Headed to NACDS Regional, February 3-5 in Palm Beach? Watch this video to find out everything you need to know before you go.
NACDS has provided a response to “The Unsung Role of the Pharmacist in Patient Health,” a New York Times article published on Jan. 28 that emphasizes the increasingly important role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery.
NACDS has promoted six staff team members to roles vital to the advancement of the NACDS Access Agenda and its related issue campaigns.
Pharmacy students in a Health Equity Leadership Program funded by the NACDS Foundation are getting rural and urban experience in the field.
Patient advocacy groups and allies—including NACDS member companies, state associations and others—have joined together in urging HHS to implement DIR reform.
NACDS has submitted comments containing recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Healthy People 2030 initiative, which develops a new set of evidence-based, 10-year national objectives aimed at improving the health of all Americans.
NACDS, The National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy joined forces in a letter to HHS on DIR reform.
NACDS is urging support for a bipartisan Senate letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on DIR fee reform.
