NCPA announces 'Pharmacy Fly-In' dates to address Congress

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday announced it will hold its 2017 Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In April 26-27, when hundreds of community pharmacists will visit the nation’s capital to advocate for community pharmacy and their patients.



“As the scrutiny on the abuses of pharmacy benefit managers intensifies, it’s more important than ever for community pharmacists to come together on behalf of our patients and press our case to Congress," stated DeAnn Mullins, president NCPA. "We’ll be urging them to take action on legislation aimed at ending crippling direct and indirect remuneration fees collected retroactively,” she said. “The NCPA Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In is a once-a-year opportunity for community pharmacists to flex their political muscle. We’ll meet with elected officials in person about these critical issues and we’ll make a difference for our patients. I strongly encourage all community pharmacists and community pharmacy supporters to join us as we fill the halls of Congress this April to advocate for small business pharmacies and the patients we serve.”



In addition to enacting legislation to ban retroactive pharmacy DIR fees, NCPA members’ top legislative priorities are:

• 
  Ensuring community pharmacies and the patients they serve are protected in Affordable Care Act repeal/replace reforms and in any Medicaid reforms;


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  Increasing transparency and oversight of MAC pricing in federal health programs;


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  Allowing any willing pharmacy to participate in Medicare Part D preferred networks; and


• 
  Passing pharmacist provider status legislation.

 

The Fly-In will feature a legislative briefing on Capitol Hill with former Rep. Jim McCrery, now a partner at Capitol Counsel, and a breakfast keynoted by Jayne O’Donnell, health care reporter for USA Today. Community pharmacists will be on Capitol Hill to conduct meetings with their members of Congress on April 26 and 27.



Individuals can register for the event online at www.ncpanet.org/flyin.