Congressional remarks on NACDS RxIMPACT Day released
WASHINGTON In the wake of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ first inaugural RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., inserted the following statement into the Congressional Record, the Washington publication covering official Congressional proceedings of the day.
"I rise today to acknowledge the first RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill," Rep. Rodgers said. "Advocates from nearly 30 states traveled to Washington, D.C., to talk about the contribution they make in providing quality health care in over 50,000 community pharmacies operating nationwide. These advocates are participating in this event to urge members of Congress to recognize the value of pharmacies and make these ‘most accessible’ experts full participants in any innovative healthcare delivery system and coordinated care model that is included in healthcare reform legislation."
Rep. Rodgers' comments are a strong indication that RxIMPACT Day left an impact on Washington lawmakers. "Pharmacists are the frontline of delivering quality, affordable health care," Rep. Rodgers added. "Ninety-five percent of all Americans live within 5 miles of a retail or community pharmacy. It becomes a place where community members can ask questions, receive medications from pharmacists they know and trust, purchase prescription drugs at lower prices and receive personal and knowledgeable service."
More than 150 pharmacy advocates from more than 30 states, armed with personal stories about the critical role pharmacy plays in improving patient care and keeping healthcare costs down, conducted meetings with key lawmakers as part of the RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill.
In response to the event, Drug Store News created a compilation of 10 stories from the print publication meant to profile what retail pharmacy is doing to lead healthcare reform, underwritten by PDX and Rx.com and titled "Community Pharmacy & Public Health: Profiles in Reform," for members of the House and Senate. Drug Store News presented the guide for the first time at a special breakfast reception Wednesday, June 17, to kickoff RxIMPACT Day.