NCPA to host 2016 Congressional Pharmacy Summit May 24-25

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday announced it will hold its 2016 Congressional Pharmacy Summit May 24-25, when hundreds of community pharmacists will visit the nation's capital to advocate for community pharmacy and their patients.

 

"From crippling [direct and indirect remuneration, or DIR] fees to low or slow reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit manager corporations that leave pharmacy owners struggling to provide patients the access to medication and care they need and want, the time is now to take a stand and protect patient access to community pharmacies — often the sole health provider in many communities," stated Bradley Arthur, NCPA president and co-owner of Black Rock Pharmacy and Brighton-Eggert Pharmacy in Buffalo, N.Y. "Making progress on Capitol Hill is not like 'House of Cards' or the 'West Wing' — what it really takes is a strong message from concerned citizens to affect change. I strongly urge community pharmacists from across the country to join me at the Congressional Pharmacy Summit as we advocate for bipartisan measures to support small business pharmacies and patient access to their pharmacy of choice."

 

Patient advocate and community pharmacy champion Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., will serve as the featured speaker at this year's opening lunch on May 24 at the Doubletree by Hilton, Crystal City in Arlington, Va. The Summit will conclude on May 25 with pharmacist visits on Capitol Hill.

 

NCPA members' top legislative priorities are enacting federal and state MAC reform legislation to alleviate the delays in generic drug reimbursement updates; allowing any willing pharmacy to participate in Medicare Part D preferred networks; and passing pharmacist provider status legislation.

 

Pharmacist attendees can obtain more than four hours of continuing education credits at the Summit (formerly known as the NCPA Legislative Conference), which will include a legislative briefing on issues affecting community pharmacy, a workshop on how to communicate with elected officials led by congressional specialist Judy Schneider of the Congressional Research Service and updates on DIR fees and how they are currently being used in today's Medicare Part D and commercial marketplaces.

 

Stephen Hayes, senior writer at The Weekly Standard and a FOX News contributor, will keynote the NCPA Sal D'Angelo PAC Breakfast on May 25.