RxIMPACT | NACDS

NACDS RxIMPACT Keeps Advocacy Momentum Going

admin2017-03-23T17:34:24-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Provider_Status, RxIMPACT, TRICARE|

As promised, NACDS is harnessing the energy generated in advance of NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill and turning it into meaningful, effective advocacy efforts. Though the winter storm, flight cancellations and congressional schedule changes forced the cancellation of the Washington, D.C. event, NACDS RxIMPACT immediately started its work to translate congressional meetings scheduled for last week’s advocacy event into in-district opportunities for NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill participants when House and Senate members return home for recess in April.

Building on its largest letter writing campaign ever—5,000 and counting—to build support for federal provider status legislation (HR592/S109), NACDS RxIMPACT asked advocates again this week to write their representatives letting them know that as they work to reform the Affordable Care Act, pharmacy services in Medicaid and Medicare should be protected to ensure beneficiary access to quality and lower-cost care. In the first 24 hours of the campaign, advocates generated 1,031 letters to 236 members of Congress.

NACDS RxIMPACT also urged advocates in New York, Oklahoma, and Texas to promote pharmacy’s priorities and called on all NACDS member companies to advance a TRICARE pilot program to increase patient access and reduce costs.

In New York, NACDS RxIMPACT rallied advocates to once again send 1,000 letters thanking House and Senate legislators for rejecting proposed Medicaid cuts in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D-NY) FY2017-18 budget, and urging them to stand by that position as the conference committee finalizes a compromise plan.
In Oklahoma, NACDS RxIMPACT encouraged advocates to build Senate support for the unanimously House-approved HB 1824 by Representative Chris Kannady, which would allow patients to synchronize the fill date of their prescription medications so that they could order and receive all of their prescriptions on the same day each month instead of having to make multiple visits to the pharmacy.
In Texas, NACDS RxIMPACT urged support for Senate Bill 2042, introduced by state Sen. Judith Zaffarini, which would give parents the option to have their children aged seven years and older receive additional vaccines from a certified pharmacist without [ READ MORE ]

Make Your Voice Heard—Virtually—in D.C. on March 13

admin2017-03-10T17:22:42-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: Provider_Status, RxIMPACT|

NACDS is welcoming more than 400 advocates, representing 47 states, to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 9th annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill March 14-15. Can’t make it to D.C.? No problem. You can still urge Congress to recognize the value of pharmacy by participating in NACDS RxIMPACT’s biggest letter-writing campaign ever to promote provider status legislation (H.R. 592/ S.109).

Just because you can’t be in D.C. in person doesn’t mean you can’t still be with pharmacy advocates urging Congress to recognize the value of pharmacy. As Congress considers reforming the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pharmacy services in Medicaid and Medicare should be protected to ensure beneficiary access to quality and lower-cost care. Community pharmacy can play a key role in ensuring the success of efforts to reform these programs in helping guarantee access to affordable, high-quality care. Enhancing access to patient care in communities, through measures like provider status, could be especially beneficial, particularly for patients with chronic conditions.

Advocates are already excited to sign on and spread the word. Dave Rueter of Thrifty White responded to the email alert to participate. He wrote, “Thanks for making this so easy. I will send this out to our store teams on Monday morning [March 13] and encourage them to participate.” Larry Wagenknecht, chief executive officer of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, wrote, “I’m sorry that I am not physically able to be there this year, but we have several members (including a couple of really excited students) that we know are going to be there. We will be doing our part back here in Michigan!”

It’s still possible to make a difference back in your own state. Visit the NACDS RxIMPACT website, and by typing in your name and address only once, you will send a personalized letter to your elected lawmakers in Washington. Recently, NACDS RxIMPACT mobilized advocates to send nearly 5,000 letters to promote provider status legislation.

Note: To date, eleven NACDS member companies have already indicated they are at the ready to distribute the NACDS RxIMPACT Action Alert on March 13: Ahold USA, Brookshire Brothers, Inc. Brookshire Grocery Co., Discount Drug Mart, Inc., H-E-B, [ READ MORE ]

NACDS Advertisements Magnify “Access Agenda” NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill positions pharmacy as accessible go-to for solutions in public policy, health and wellness

admin2017-03-10T15:19:53-05:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Congress, Pharmacy_Value, Provider_Status, Public_Relations, Reimbursement, RxIMPACT|

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 ]

More Conviction than Ire, Town Hall Crowd Expresses Healthcare Concerns

admin2017-03-03T11:11:01-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Pharmacy_Value, RxIMPACT|

A standing-room-only NACDS RxIMPACT-inspired congressional town hall, with House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Member Rep. Mike Thompson (D) in Santa Rosa, Ca., was filled with engaged—and notably non-confrontational—voters.

NACDS RxIMPACT participation at congressional town halls continues to get positive feedback, despite some ongoing reports of voter ire and dissatisfaction at the events reported widely in the news. Ann Carpico, of Albertsons Companies, attended a standing-room only event in Santa Rosa, Ca., with House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Member Rep. Mike Thompson (D) late last week. Carpico said that like other town halls across the country, this one boasted an overflow crowd of 1,500 people congregated in high school gymnasium filled—literally—to the rafters. Carpico noted that there was no protesting, or “rowdy crowds,” but rather a “very engaged community” who had lots of concerns about affordability and patient access in Medicare and Medicaid. Demonstrating commitment and determination, some participants had to park more than a half a mile away to attend the event.

Fortified with a clear set of legislative “asks” from NACDS RxIMPACT, Carpico had a chance to speak directly with Rep. Thompson at the town hall and was able to have a more in-depth discussion on provider status legislation—H.R. 592, the Pharmacy & Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act—with the congressman’s wife, a nurse, who expressed support for pharmacists as providers in the healthcare system.

Carpico noted that since there were so many people at the event they could not call on people individually for questions, but participants who were district constituents, as Carpico is, were able to fill out a card and submit it for a promised response from the lawmaker by email.

Carpico quantified pharmacy’s presence in the lawmaker’s district, letting him know there are 80 chain pharmacies operating there. She asked for his renewed support for H.R. 592, the Pharmacy & Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, to improve access to pharmacist services. In addition she requested that as Congress considers changes to the Medicaid program in light of reforms to the Affordable Care Act, that it protect beneficiary access to pharmacy services as a cost-effective approach to Medicaid reform that provides high [ READ MORE ]

The Positive Power of Congressional Town Halls

admin2017-02-23T17:52:24-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Provider_Status, RxIMPACT|

The Bartell Drug Co. participated in one of ten NACDS RxIMPACT-supported congressional town hall meetings this week with Rep. Derek Kilmer (left) in Tacoma, Wash.

Rite Aid Corporation’s Lou Ann Obernesser participated in a town hall with House Energy & Commerce Committee member Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) in Schenectady, N.Y., on Monday. She said the event was so well attended they had to break out overflow rooms to accommodate people. She spoke directly with Rep. Tonko and told him she lives and works in his district. She asked for his renewed support for provider status legislation—H.R. 592, The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act—which would enhance access to care for underserved Americans. Obernesser said the congressman was “very familiar” with the legislation. Obernessor used district-specific information provided by NACDS RxIMPACT to quantify the role the 141 community pharmacies in the congressman’s district play in providing healthcare to his constituents.

The Bartell Drug Co.’s Daiana Huyen attended in a town hall with Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) in Tacoma, Wash., on Tuesday. She said, “It was definitely a successful event for the district—there were about over 300 people attending.” She noted it was a very diverse group, comprised of seniors, students, immigrants and local business owners who addressed a range of topics including the Affordable Care Act, immigration and education. Huyen spoke to Rep. Kilmer one-on-one after the meeting, gave him her business card, and followed up with an email to him with her specific legislative priority “asks,” which NACDS RxIMPACT provides to members who are participating in in-district activities like town halls, pharmacy tours, and more.

Don’t miss your chance to connect with legislators at the upcoming NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, March 14-15. At last year’s event, participants met with 90 percent of congressional offices. Register today! You can make a difference—at home and on Capitol Hill.

New Records to be Set at 2017 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill Pharmacy advocates to bring proactive “Access Agenda” to Washington, D.C. March 14-15

admin2017-02-22T14:26:35-05:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Congress, RxIMPACT|

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 ]

New Study Highlights Success of Programs Like NACDS RxIMPACT

admin2017-02-16T15:12:29-05:00Categories: Photo|Tags: RxIMPACT|

NACDS RxIMPACT hosted its first NACDS RxIMPACT Training of the year—Magnify Your Advocacy Power as a Key Contact—for 200 pharmacy advocates at the Minnesota Pharmacists Association (MPhA) Legislative Day in St. Paul, Minn., this week.

A study released by the Congressional Management Foundation this week emphasizes that active, informed and prepared grassroots advocates can make their voices heard in Congress and effectively influence legislators. The findings bolster the great work NACDS RxIMPACT program does in engaging, training and mobilizing pharmacy advocates—in Washington, and in congressional districts across the country.

The study’s research found that more than 90 percent of congressional staffers said that in-person visits from constituents have a sizable influence on lawmakers, including ones who are undecided on issues. The study also found that 91 percent of congressional staffers said including information about the local impact of legislation was very helpful and that it is important for advocates to be prepared with a specific ask from legislators. Staffers also emphasized that personal stories resonate extremely well with lawmakers. Seventy-one percent of staffers said getting to know staff members with jurisdiction over their issue area was effective, and 62 percent recommended getting to know congressional staffers in the lawmakers’ in-district offices.

The NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program has led the industry for years—providing just the kinds of platforms outlined in the study for grassroots advocates to successfully engage on behalf of pharmacy. NACDS RxIMPACT programs include RxIMPACT Pharmacy Tours, NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, the RxIMPACT Training Program and RxIMPACT Votes. In addition the RxIMPACT U Academy provides training opportunities for pharmacy students to get a jumpstart on engaging with policy makers about important issues that will impact the future of their profession. And the NACDS RxIMPACT Key Contact program is designed specifically to build and foster ongoing relationships with members of Congress so key pharmacy legislative priorities are on their radar and they understand their importance.

The program’s signature event, NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, is fast approaching—March 14-15—and last year participants met with 90 percent of congressional [ READ MORE ]

NACDS RxIMPACT Calls for Support of Texas Medication Synchronization Bills

admin2017-02-16T13:48:00-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: Adherence, RxIMPACT|

NACDS RxIMPACT is mobilizing a campaign urging support in Texas for legislation introduced by Sens. Dawn Buckingham (R), Charles Schwertner (R), Donna Campbell (R), Craig Estes (R) and Rep. John Frullo (R)—S.B. 697 and H.B. 1296—that will enable patients to synchronize the fill date of their prescription medications so they can order and receive all of their prescriptions on the same day each month instead of having to make multiple visits to the pharmacy.

Many of our senior patients have limited mobility and low income. Passage of the Prescription Drug Synchronization bill would help improve medication compliance.

NACDS RxIMPACT issued an alert yesterday urging advocates in Texas to generate support for the bill by writing their legislators.

NACDS is part of the Medication Synchronization Coalition in Texas, which also sent letters to lawmakers in the Texas Senate and House urging support for the bills. In the letters, the coalition pointed to several studies which have shown that medication synchronization has enhanced patient communication with healthcare teams and markedly improved medication adherence.

Anecdotal evidence also supports medication synchronization. Paul Howell, RPh, pharmacy manager at H-E-B in Harker Heights, Tex., said, “Many of our senior patients have limited mobility and low income. Passage of the Prescription Drug Synchronization bill would help improve medication compliance. This would lead to lower downstream costs due to fewer hospitalizations as well as an overall improvement in quality of life. I have had patients literally forget about one of their medications because of confusion of when and what they are picking up from the pharmacy.”

Medication synchronization practices also help to reduce costs. Poor medication adherence costs the U.S. healthcare system $290 billion annually, which accounts for about 13 percent of total healthcare expenditures and results in increased emergency room visits, hospital stays and other costly and avoidable repercussions.

NACDS’ New Government Affairs VP Brings In-Depth Policy Expertise

admin2017-02-02T15:43:02-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: Pharmacy_Value, RxIMPACT|

Bill Tighe, NACDS vice president of federal government affairs, most recently served as chief of staff for Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA). Tighe’s policy expertise, forged on Capitol Hill where he led top congressional offices as chief of staff, positions him well to serve as NACDS’ lead legislative advocate for community pharmacy.

“We have a great message to take to legislators. Pharmacy has a great story to tell. We’re trusted and visible in our communities, and it’s great that NACDS members will be here in Washington to tell legislators pharmacy’s story.”

NACDS.org caught up with him this week to discuss his thoughts on healthcare policy, what brought him to D.C., and more.

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: I’m from Newton Township, a small town outside of Scranton, Pa.

Q: What made you interested in a career in politics?

A: I decided that I wanted to work on Capitol Hill when I was in eighth grade. I learned a lot about politics from listening to my grandparents and my great aunts and uncles argue about politics. I decided I wanted to work on Capitol Hill before I knew what anyone did there. I started as a staff assistant and eventually became the chief of staff for my hometown congressman, Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA).

Q: When did you come to D.C.?

A: In July of 2000, right after I graduated from Bucknell University. Now I have a family here—a wife and three sons who are ten, eight and six.

Q: What aspects of healthcare policy do you find particularly compelling?

A: There isn’t one particular aspect; it has more to do with how the policy and the policies we make here at the federal level affect people. There’s a direct line between what we do and the experiences that people have—whether it’s in a hospital or a doctor’s office or at a pharmacy. Healthcare is really something that people feel immediately when Washington makes changes.

Q: What would you consider your guiding principle professionally?

A: I learned a lot about loyalty from my former boss, Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA). Loyalty is tough to come by in politics, but it is his guide star. It’s not a blind loyalty, but it’s learning to [ READ MORE ]

NACDS RxIMPACT Goes Full Court Press on Provider Status

admin2017-01-26T13:19:20-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: Provider_Status, RxIMPACT|

NACDS RxIMPACT mobilized its largest letter-writing campaign ever this week mobilizing advocates to contact their representatives to build on the momentum of the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act.

…the future of pharmacy will be dependent upon the provider status decision

The legislation was reintroduced late last week in the House (H.R. 592), with the bipartisan original co-sponsorship of nearly one-quarter of the House, and reintroduced in the Senate (S. 109) January 12.

The campaign called on state associations, schools of pharmacy and NACDS member companies to send letters to their legislators emphasizing that the lack of pharmacist provider status recognition in Medicare and Medicaid has limited the ability of pharmacists to provide patient services they are qualified to perform, which inhibits patient access to care. The legislation would enhance access to care for underserved Americans, which would reduce overall health costs and improve patient outcomes.

Greg Guenther, RPh, director of pharmacy for Dierbergs Pharmacies, responded to the call, as he has many times before, and emailed his entire pharmacy team encouraging them to get engaged on this critical issue. Guenther noted, “…it takes diligence to be successful,” and wrote that “the future of pharmacy will be dependent upon the provider status decision.” He then challenged his team, “Will we… continue to expand our responsibilities to meet the training we have and the demands of our patients?”

To date, advocates have sent 2,048 letters to their representatives in the House and Senate. The power of grassroots advocacy is in motion.

National Association of Chain Drug StoresPharmacies. The face of neighborhood healthcare.