Many of us want the same things: stability, peace, and more respectful conversation. And now that Tuesday is behind us, there’s another kind of peace to enjoy: a break from political ads!
There’s no taking a break from ensuring pharmacy’s future is solid or APhA’s pressure on the US Congress to pass the Main Street Pharmacy Act (H.R. 3164), known in the Senate as the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacists Services (ECAPS) Act (S. 2426). You may be as tired of hearing about this bill as you were of last week’s commercials, but with only 5 weeks left, we can’t lose momentum. Together, we will get this consequential bill for coverage of pharmacist’s services across the finish line.
So, I’m asking you to give us 2 minutes.
Please follow this link to APhA’s Advocacy Action Center and tell your members of Congress that you expect them to pass the bill. It’s that simple. Your voice matters. Every letter counts. You might be the only pharmacist in your district to send a letter, so don’t leave your future up to someone else. Your future is worth 2 minutes.
Many people have asked me why we are advocating for something that will create more work for pharmacists in an already stressed community setting? It’s a fair question.
The reality is that we must replace dispensing revenue with service-based revenue if we are ever going to change the model of practice. Our future is not in amber and blue vials. It’s in taking care of patients.
Without adequate staffing levels, we can’t give our patients the care they need. The staffing crisis is serious, and corporations must take responsibility for solving it, regardless of the economic situation.
The economic model of dispensing is badly broken, and frankly I don’t believe all the reform in the world is ever going to bring prescription reimbursements back from break-even at best. Economics implores us to focus on ensuring coverage in Medicare, Medicaid, and private, employer-sponsored health plans for the care services of pharmacists. We are gaining traction and making progress.
In 2027, you’ll see APhA intensify our work to move states toward standard of care laws and regulations and away from bright line oversight. It will take all of pharmacy moving together in a united voice to make it happen. APhA is leading that fight and investing in the future of our profession. Stay tuned for more because we need everyone to do their part and stand with us.
For all of pharmacy.