NACDS outlined support for pro-patient healthcare solutions as Congressional Committees considered the FY2018 Department of Health and Human Services budget.
NACDS submitted testimony this week to the House Ways and Means Committee opposing a Border Adjustment Tax.
Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today joined the Healthcare Leadership Council and other stakeholders in a letter to Congress supporting the anticipated reintroduction of the Preventive Health Savings Act in the 115th Congress. The legislation would keep an ongoing focus on wellness and disease prevention, leading to the improved health of Americans, while reducing healthcare costs and overall spending.
“This legislation would help to bring about this innovation by allowing projected savings to be taken into consideration when legislation is considered.”
The letter states that “the way in which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) currently ‘scores’ legislation severely constrains the ability of policymakers to accurately assess legislation that would prevent chronic disease and promote behavioral health across the life-course.” During a time when healthcare costs are a primary concern, this legislation would be a step in the right direction toward containing costs and improving health outcomes.
“To improve Americans’ health and wellness and to improve the affordability of care, we need innovative strategies that will address chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions. This legislation would help to bring about this innovation by allowing projected savings to be taken into consideration when legislation is considered,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.
Quantifying the long-term damage of unchecked chronic disease, the letter notes that those illnesses are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year, and they account for more than 80 percent of the $2.7 trillion our nation spends annually on medical care—statistics that will only worsen as the population ages.
The letter notes that “as the chronic disease epidemic continues to worsen,” there is an increased need for “legislation that will properly allow Congress to see the full savings of enacting prevention-focused measures.” The allied organizations lauded Congress’ continued efforts to support this kind of proactive healthcare legislation, and underscored a shared commitment to working collaboratively with Congress on public health efforts to achieve wellness and improved health among Americans.
Arlington, Va. – As more than 400 pharmacy advocates from 47 states meet with more than 90 percent of the U.S. Congress next week, a Washington, D.C. advertising initiative will help to tell their story. The ads state: “Pharmacists provide access to better healthcare every day,” and “we’re here to provide access to health policy solutions.”
The grassroots advocacy event is the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill – now in its ninth year. Print and digital advertising will draw focus to the personalized stories of participating NACDS member company representatives, student pharmacists, state pharmacy association representatives and other allies.
“NACDS will bring our ‘Access Agenda’ to Capitol Hill with the personal insights and experiences of pharmacy team members who serve as the face of neighborhood healthcare,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “The ads emphasize the point that pharmacy is a go-to source for public policy solutions, just as pharmacy is a go-to source for accessible, quality and affordable health and wellness services.”
“NACDS is setting the tone for even higher levels of collaboration that we are seeking with other segments of the healthcare delivery system, with policymakers and with thought leaders.”
The ads refer viewers to a microsite summarizing policy positions that advocates will take to members of Congress. Among them, NACDS is urging a commitment to the cost-effective prescription drug benefit in Medicaid and in Medicare amid the current discussions of potential changes to the Affordable Care Act. NACDS also is urging enactment of the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 592 and S. 109), to improve healthcare access for medically underserved Medicare patients.
“NACDS is drawing attention to pharmacy’s role in a positive and proactive public dialogue about healthcare issues. For example, in addition to our meetings on Capitol Hill, the NACDS RxIMPACT program welcomes members of Congress for pharmacy tours and other in-district and in-state events, which are incredibly helpful for demonstrating real-life healthcare issues in real-life settings,” Anderson explained.
“NACDS is setting the tone for even higher levels of collaboration that we are seeking with other segments of the healthcare delivery system, with policymakers [ READ MORE ]
Arlington, VA – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) has joined with more than 200 members of the Americans for Affordable Products coalition in laying out a strong case to Congress against the perils of the Border Adjustment Tax.
From a health and wellness perspective; from a total-store perspective; from a consumer perspective; from an employee perspective; and from an employer perspective the Border Adjustment Tax would prove devastating and it should be considered a non-starter in the public policy arena.
In a letter to the bipartisan Congressional leadership, the coalition – including NACDS – wrote: “The goal of tax reform should be to lower effective tax rates for businesses of all sizes and ensure Americans benefit with more money in their wallet. We believe the Border Adjustment Tax would do the exact opposite by raising effective tax rates for many companies to well over 100%.
“The Border Adjustment Tax is not simple or fair. It proposes a massive tax increase on consumers and would result in increased costs on everyday necessities like food, clothing, gasoline and prescription drugs – necessities that Americans rely on daily – by as much as $1,700. It is really a ‘cost of living tax’ that will make the lives of millions of middle-class Americans harder and more expensive.”
Companies and associations that are members of Americans for Affordable Products speak for nearly one out of every four jobs in the nation.
“The Border Adjustment Tax would take the term ‘unintended consequences’ and redefine it for the ages,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “From a health and wellness perspective; from a total-store perspective; from a consumer perspective; from an employee perspective; and from an employer perspective the Border Adjustment Tax would prove devastating and it should be considered a non-starter in the public policy arena.”
For its part, NACDS supports the “Made in the U.S.A.” movement, as demonstrated by the success of programs to call attention to qualifying products at the NACDS Total Store Expo trade show and strategic exchange.
More information about Americans for Affordable Products is available at KeepAmericaAffordable.com.
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 [ READ MORE ]
During his Senate confirmation hearing this week and since being nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services, U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) has focused on six principles of healthcare reform: affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, responsiveness, choices. In fact, Rep. Price has focused on those principles for some time – he described them in an op-ed column in The Hill back in 2013 and likely many times before that during his Congressional and medical careers.
Importantly, pharmacy’s contributions to healthcare affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, responsiveness and choices are highly regarded among Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
To be sure, these terms are cited frequently across party lines. The real debate exists in the details of how these principles are best achieved. I cannot help but note at this pivotal time in our nation’s healthcare policy skirmishes that pharmacy makes a powerful case for its role in advancing all of these principles. Consider the following:
Affordability: In a national survey commissioned by NACDS, 65 percent of respondents said pharmacists are credible information sources on opportunities to save money.
Accessibility: Nearly all Americans (91%) live within five miles of a community pharmacy.
Quality: In a national survey commissioned by NACDS, more than seven-in-ten respondents who are considered heavy users of pharmacy services reported favorable opinions of pharmacies – which is a very strong rating in comparison with other segments of healthcare delivery.
Innovation: NACDS’ training program to advance pharmacy-based pharmacogenomics – a form of personalized medicine that involves using genetic data to ensure medications are used in a safe and effective manner – presents but one example of the industry’s commitment to innovation.
Responsiveness: NACDS’ training program to advance pharmacy-based point-of-care testing for flu, strep and other acute and chronic conditions reflects pharmacy’s ability to improve options available to patients regarding the manner and environment in which they are treated.
Choices: NACDS advocates strongly for patient choice, and an example of this is maintaining a co-payment structure that secures military families’ and veterans’ ability to choose community pharmacies over mail order as the source for their medications. The Congressional Budget Office has found that higher copayments “cause some chronically ill beneficiaries to stop taking their medications, resulting in more [ READ MORE ]
In preparation for the swearing in of President-elect Trump at the 58th inauguration ceremony on January 20, seats are being set out on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.
The opening line of an NACDS-authored article in the January 2, 2017, edition of Chain Drug Review says it all. “I will spare you the introductory paragraph that attempts eloquence,” writes NACDS President & CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “Let’s get right to the point. In NACDS’ view, 2017 could be one of the most pivotal years in healthcare policy and in pharmacy patient care.”
NACDS already is waging a two-front campaign related to the ACA.
While NACDS’ article on the policy outlook for the coming year has become somewhat of an annual tradition, its content this time around is decidedly untraditional. For example, Anderson noted the importance of continuing to bird-dog the implementation of pharmacy provisions of the Affordable Care Act and its subsequent Executive Branch rules, while at the same time advocating for pharmacy’s perspective amid emerging efforts to somehow repeal and replace the law.
“NACDS already is waging a two-front campaign related to the ACA,” Anderson noted.
The article also describes NACDS’ work on issues related to provider status for pharmacists; scope of practice; TRICARE and more. In addition, Anderson urges participation in NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots programs, which have become essential to telling pharmacy’s story to government leaders and to earning progress on a pro-patient and pro-pharmacy agenda.
Calling on pharmacy advocates to match the amazing results of the 2016 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill – when they met with 90 percent of the U.S. Congress – Anderson declared that “pharmacy’s engagement is needed to defend and advance pharmacy patient care.”
The 2017 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill will be held March 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C.
The article that starts with a plain-spoken assessment of the public policy stakes in 2017 concludes with similar candor regarding the importance of NACDS’ flagship grassroots advocacy event: “For the good of your business and the patients you serve, you need to be there – perhaps like never before.”
Senate Movement on Medical Innovation Legislation
