NACDS emphasizes to Senate committee value of community pharmacy

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has emphasized the commitment of NACDS and the chain pharmacy industry to partner with policy-makers and others to improve quality and lower costs in the healthcare delivery system in a statement sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, NACDS announced on Tuesday.



The committee held a hearing on Tuesday titled “Identifying Opportunities for Health Care Delivery System Reform: Lessons from the Front Line.” In its statement, NACDS illustrated the value of community pharmacies in helping to improve patient health and lower healthcare costs through medication therapy management.  

 

“Community retail pharmacies are at the front line in the healthcare system, interacting with patients on a daily basis,” NACDS said in its statement to the committee. “Community pharmacists are uniquely qualified through their comprehensive education and training to significantly reduce the problem of poor medication adherence. We are convinced that [medication therapy management] is a key way to vastly improve health outcomes and reduce costs by ensuring that individuals receive the maximum health benefit from their prescription medicine.”

 

NACDS also emphasized the importance of efforts to expand the ability of pharmacists to administer vaccinations in the Medicare Part D program and increase the utilization of generic drugs as additional ways to improve health and reduce costs.  

 

“Currently all 50 states allow pharmacists to provide certain immunizations. Encouraging Medicare beneficiaries and others to obtain vaccinations at their neighborhood pharmacy is a cost-effective and convenient way to prevent illness and reduce healthcare costs,” NACDS stated. “Pharmacies have long promoted generic drugs as safe, cost-effective alternatives for many patients. Community pharmacy has a higher rate of generic dispensing — 73% — than any other practice setting.”

 

“NACDS thanks the committee for allowing us to share our comments on the role of community pharmacies in improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs through healthcare delivery system reform,” NACDS concluded in the statement.