Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING NACDS RxIMPACT DAY
______
HON. JOHN SHIMKUS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the NACDS RxIMPACT
Day on Capitol Hill that is coming up next week. This is a special day
where we will have the chance to recognize the pharmacy industry's many
contributions to the American healthcare system.
Organized by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS),
this event will take place on March 5-6, 2019. More than 400
individuals from all 50 states representing the pharmacy community--
including practicing pharmacists, pharmacy school faculty and students,
state pharmacy association representatives, and pharmacy company
leaders--will be on Capitol Hill. They will visit every House and
Senate office to share their views with us about the importance of
supporting their access agenda--legislative priorities that will ensure
that our constituents will continue to have access to more than 40,000
community and neighborhood pharmacies across the country and be better
able to utilize pharmacists to improve healthcare quality while
reducing the cost of care.
Local pharmacists are important community leaders, who are trusted by
their patients to efficiently provide high quality, convenient
healthcare services. And as demand for healthcare services continues to
grow, pharmacists are stepping in to fill gaps in healthcare delivery
by partnering with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers
to address the unmet need. Moreover, pharmacists continually innovate
to provide unique services that improve overall patient health and
wellness.
Further, in many communities the local pharmacist is a patient's most
direct healthcare access point. This is particularly true in rural
areas. In fact, 91 percent of Americans live within five miles of a
community pharmacy. These pharmacies bring value to their communities
by providing care to those who need it most--older Americans and those
who manage chronic conditions, particularly in rural and underserved
areas. In addition, pharmacists frequently work with patients to
navigate specific pharmacy benefits and the use of generic
substitutions to identify strategies to save money. Pharmacists also
ensure medications are administered appropriately, and offer other
preventative services that help improve patients overall wellbeing and
quality of life.
The pharmacy advocates attending NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill
will be educating members on their access agenda. As we debate the
future of healthcare, the pharmacy community wishes to work with us to
help develop solutions that put pharmacy's value to work for patients
and payers. Specifically, NACDS's advocates will be seeking our support
for policies that will help address prescription drug affordability and
transparency through much-needed reform to DIR fees, a complicated fee
structure imposed on pharmacies to participate in the Medicare Part D
program. They will also highlight proposals designed to address the
opioid epidemic.
I believe Congress should work with the 2019 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on
Capitol Hill advocates to advance policies that support pharmacists in
their effort to improve care, increase access, and lower costs.
____________________