ARLINGTON, Va. — About 300 community pharmacy advocates from 37 states will assemble in Washington, D.C., next week for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill.
NACDS said Tuesday that at its annual lobbying drive, to be held March 13 and 14, industry advocates ranging from pharmacy executives and pharmacists to pharmacy operators, pharmacy students and other pharmacy leaders will conduct hundreds of meetings with lawmakers to help advance pro-patient, pro-pharmacy policies and key issues related to health care reform.
"Now in its fifth year, the NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill has become the premier opportunity for pharmacy advocates to engage and educate lawmakers about what we in the industry already know: that pharmacy is the face of neighborhood health care," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. "With a new Congress now in place, it is important for community pharmacy advocates to take this opportunity to educate new lawmakers about the pressing issues facing the industry."
At this year’s RxImpact Day, NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd will address attendees during the welcome dinner on March 13 to provide insight on politics and policy in Washington. And on March 14, Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) will be the keynote speaker at the breakfast briefing. The freshman senator serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which has jurisdiction over key pharmacy issues, NACDS noted.
Pharmacy advocates will also urge members of Congress to explore their local community pharmacies through pharmacy tours in their home states and congressional districts. The NACDS RxImpact Pharmacy Tour program provides lawmakers a first-hand look at the broad services provided by pharmacies, including vaccinations, disease state testing and medication counseling.
"The NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers and their staffs to help improve patient health and make pharmacy care affordable for patients and their families," Anderson added. "Located in every congressional district providing accessible patient care, community pharmacies play a vital role in the health care delivery system."
For those unable to participate in RxImpact Day, NACDS also will hold its Virtual Hill Day program to enable pharmacy advocates to contact lawmakers through letters on key pharmacy issues.
