NACDS RxIMPACT "Hill Day" Features More Advocates Increased Focus on Medication Adherence
Nearly 70% more participants emphasize pharmacy’s ability to help improve lives, reduce healthcare costs
Washington, D. C. (Vocus) March 10, 2010
The Second Annual NACDS (http://www. NACDS. org) RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill will deliver a powerful message about the link between pharmacy services and the cost savings and health improvements that result when patients take their medications as prescribed. The strength of the message will be bolstered by increased participation in the event, including more total attendees and more pharmacists from more states, more state pharmacy associations and more pharmacy schools. The event will be held March 10 and 11 in Washington, D. C.
“Last year, NACDS made a strong statement with this event that pharmacy is committed to telling its story as the face of neighborhood healthcare, and that pharmacy is determined to do what it takes to deserve victories in the public policy arena,” said NACDS President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “The success stories of those who pioneered the event in 2009, combined with additional victories for the NACDS pro-patient, pro-pharmacy agenda, have generated tremendous enthusiasm for this program in 2010.”
The increase in momentum for the Second Annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill includes:
a 67% increase in attendees (from 150 to 250); a 33% increase in states represented (from 27 to 36); a 150% increase in state pharmacy associations (from 10 to 25); and a 700% increase in pharmacy schools represented (from 2 to 16). Participants in the event will emphasize pharmacy’s ability to help reduce the estimated $290 billion in annual costs that result from failure to take medications as prescribed.
The pharmacy advocates will urge policies related to advancement of medication therapy management (MTM), which refers to consultations between pharmacists and patients regarding medication regiments; a legislative remedy to the Medicaid average manufacturer price (AMP) model which jeopardizes patients’ access to pharmacies; and ensuring Medicare beneficiaries maintain access to vaccines and durable medical equipment (DME) such as diabetes testing supplies from their neighborhood pharmacies, despite policies and policy proposals that threaten this access.
In addition to the efforts of those participating in-person in this event, NACDS RxIMPACT is conducting a “Virtual Hill Day” through which pharmacy advocates are contacting their elected officials via e-mail and mail.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (http://www. NACDS. org) (NACDS) represents 154 traditional drug stores, supermarkets, and mass merchants with pharmacies – from regional chains with four stores to national companies. NACDS members also include more than 900 pharmacy and front-end suppliers, and over 70 international members from 24 countries. Chains operate 37,000 pharmacies, and employ more than 2.5 million employees, including 118,000 full-time pharmacists. They fill more than 2.5 billion prescriptions annually, which is more than 72 percent of annual prescriptions in the United States. The total economic impact of all retail stores with pharmacies transcends their $815 billion in annual sales. Every $1 spent in these stores creates a ripple effect of $3.82 in other industries, for a total economic impact of $3.11 trillion, equal to 26 percent of GDP. For more information about NACDS (http://www. NACDS. org), visit www. NACDS. org].
Contact:
Stephen E. Schatz
(703) 837-4196
###
