A First Look at Friends of Pharmacy
ALEXANDRIA, Va .—It’s been said over and over again. Community pharmacy must raise its voice in the chambers of Capitol Hill to communicate its crucial role in the delivery of America’s health care.
And now it seems that several men and women in Congress have agreed to lend a dedicated ear. The bipartisan Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition, launched in late September, is made up of 34 representatives who have promised to champion community pharmacy as the nation’s legislators debate the future of health care in America—something voters have identified as the leading domestic issue in the 2008 presidential election, according to the Henry J. Kraiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that focuses on major healthcare issues facing the United States.
Two of those representatives are profiled here, in Drug Store News’ inaugural special section, appropriately titled Friends of Pharmacy, that will periodically identify legislators who realize the value of the pharmacist in today’s healthcare environment and extol that value in their debates on the floor of Congress.
Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark.
Founding co-chair of the Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition.
Supports prompt payment of pharmacists with regard to Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit claims. To that end, he sponsored The Fair and Speedy Treatment of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act of 2007 (H.R. 1474) in March. Bill currently is before the Subcommittee on Health.
Co-sponsored legislation to delay the implementation of tamper-resistant prescription pads.
About Berry: Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., has represented the people of Arkansas’ First Congressional District since 1997. Berry, 65, grew up in the Bayou Meto community near DeWitt. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy in 1965. He served as a pharmacist in North Little Rock at Argenta Drug Co. and, later, at Don’s Pharmacy from 1965 through 1967.
On pharmacy: “In some cases, pharmacists are the only medical professional people visit because they are unable to afford a doctor’s visit, travel to an office or lack health insurance. Pharmacists are vital to their local communities. But because of recent changes and problems in Medicaid and Medicare Part D plans, family-owned pharmacies are at risk of closing, leaving their local community without front-line medical professionals.” (March 28, 2007)
On prompt pay: “Many times pharmacists are the first medical experts patients go to in their local communities. [The Fair and Speedy Treatment of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act of 2007, introduced in March] will help family-owned pharmacies, who are in danger of losing their business due to slow reimbursement and unclear processing claims, get the money they are owed. … This bill is a simple reform that will make sure pharmacists are treated fairly and not financially held hostage by insurance companies.” (March 13, 2007)
On tamper-proof prescription pads:
“The tamper-proof law is a well-intended fraud-prevention initiative, but it neglected to give states an adequate amount of time to inform patients and providers about the regulations. … Hasty implementation had the potential to deny patients access to needed prescription medicines. This would be an even greater problem for Medicaid beneficiaries … in rural areas, who have less access to pharmacists and medical professionals." (Sept. 26, 2007)
Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark.
One of the founding members of the Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition and co-owner of an independent pharmacy.
Along with Berry, co-sponsored legislation to delay the implementation of tamper-resistant prescription pads. Patient and Pharmacists Protection Act of 2007 (H.R. 3090) was introduced July 18 and, on that day, was submitted before the House subcommittee on Health.
Also co-sponsored the Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R. 971), a measure to make the antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers, including health plans under parts C and D of the Medicare Program, in the same manner as such laws apply to protected activities under the National Labor Relations Act. Bill currently is before the House Committee on Judiciary.
About Ross: Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., 46, was first elected to Congress in 2000 and currently is serving his fourth term. Ross has co-owned Holly’s Health Mart and Home Medical Equipment in Prescott, Ark., a pharmacy, durable medical equipment supplier and gift shop, with his wife Holly since 1993.
On pharmacy: “I think my experience as the owner of a family pharmacy helps me to understand the challenges faced by a pharmacy and most other small businesses in our country. … I reflect on my experiences as a small business owner when casting votes in the House.” (2006)
On tamper-proof prescription pads: “We have to find a reasonable approach to helping, not hindering, our healthcare providers deliver quality health care.… I am proud to … introduce this important legislation [Patient and Pharmacists Protection Act of 2007] to ensure that our healthcare providers continue to have the ability to provide patients with a safe, efficient means of receiving their prescriptions while easing undue burdens on our local pharmacists and physicians.” (July 18, 2007)