Late Additions

Alliance for Pharmaceutical Care Takes Message to State Legislators

Over 1,000 people went through the Alliance exhibit, and over 700 meeting attendees actively participated in pharmacist-conducted screening and counseling activities targeting hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Among those representing ASCP at the meeting were ASCP President David Kazarian; State Affairs Manager Brad Kile, who served as a co-chair of the Alliance; and Government Affairs Associate Carrie Danuser, who served on the Alliance’s Message Committee.

Other highlights of the meeting included a visit to the Alliance booth by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who got a first-hand glimpse of pharmacists’ innovative patient care activities. A banner at the Alliance booth was emblazoned with the message “Pharmacists Can Save Medicaid $7.3 Billion Annually,” referring to pharmacists’ key role in enabling pharmaceutical care cost control initiatives by state Medicaid programs. Secretary Shalala, who attended the conference as the closing session speaker, visited the booth at the special invitation of the Alliance.

Also at the meeting, representatives of the Alliance and the National Pharma- ceutical Council (NPC) conducted a program entitled “A Prescription for Change” for over 100 legislators and members of the NCSL Health Commit- tee. The program covered broad health care system trends, evolving consumer expectations, innovative pharmacy practices, the benefits of collaborative practice initiatives, and issues related to pharmacy benefit programs.

At the Alliance exhibit booth, practicing pharmacists and pharmacy students were available to counsel attendees on test results and to discuss how they are serving the health care needs of patients in a variety of practice settings. In addition to live demonstrations of pharmacists providing patient care services, the exhibit gave legislators an opportunity to talk about pharmacy practice issues with Alliance representatives.

Exhibit attendees received a variety of Alliance handouts describing the value of pharmacists’ clinical interventions and the importance of appropriate medication use. The Alliance exhibit demonstrated how pharmacists are providing patient care services designed to improve medication use and reduce the estimated $100 billion spent each year by the U.S. health care system on medication-related problems. In particular, the exhibit emphasized the quality-enhancing, cost-saving impact of collaborative practice arrangements involving pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals.

Planning of year 2000 Alliance for Pharmaceutical Care activities has already begun. Next year’s NCSL meeting is scheduled to take place in Chicago.

In addition to ASCP, the Alliance for Pharmaceutical Care consists of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Pharmaceutical Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, National Community Pharmacists Association, National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives, National Wholesale Druggists’ Association, and United States Pharmacopeia.

For more information about the Alliance for Pharmaceutical Care or to receive a copy of the Alliance brochure “Race for Your Health,” contact Brad Kile at 703-739-1316, ext. 127 (bkile@ascp.com).

Will Judy
Editorial Assistant