San Antonio’s Watermark Hotel – the site of ther PBA Health / TrueCare 2010 CE Summit – proved to be the ideal setting for pharmacists from several Midwestern states and Texas to listen, learn and explore ways to become more proactive in shaping the future of pharmacy. Guest speakers, workshops and panel discussions touched on multiple issues ranging from PBMs and reimbursements to federal health care reform.

Among the many presenters was Texas Pharmacy Association Chief Executive Joe DaSilva, who promised to work with PBA Health and TrueCare to find ways to unify pharmacy in its legislative goals. Legislators may not understand the details of the issues pharmacy faces, DaSilva noted, but they do understand “involvement, unity and the commitment on the part of pharmacists.”

DaSilva was joined by executive directors from Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Kansas who participated in a lively, wide-ranging discussion of pharmacy issues and the importance of state pharmacy groups to represent the interests of all its members, including chains, independents and hospital pharmacies. DaSilva, who has been at the helm of TPA since June of 2009, said he was committed to increasing membership in the TPA and discussed the group’s need and efforts to reinvent itself by expanding services and government affairs.

“There is no more important role for state pharmacy organizations than to represent pharmacy interests with state and federal legislators,” noted DaSilva, who added that pharmacists made the most effective lobbyists when it came to communicating pharmacy issues to their legislators.

The role of pharmacy in government affairs dominated the San Antonio event. Highlights included presentations by Anne Cassity, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs at the NCPA, and Mark Riley, Executive Vice President of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association and a national expert on PBMs and pharmacy reimbursements. Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio spoke on the importance of working with legislators to affect pharmacy policy, and TrueCare Texas Government Affairs Director John Heal moderated a roundtable discussion comprised of the five pharmacy directors from the Midwest and Texas. Attendees also viewed a new DVD from PBA Health and TrueCare, entitled “How to Talk to Your Legislator / How to Explain PBMs.”

Of particular concern to some attending pharmacists was the ability of state organizations to represent the interests of a variety of pharmacists, such as independents, hospital pharmacists and chain pharmacies
Ron Fitzwater, CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association, noted that his association, like those in many other states, struggles with representing chain pharmacies while trying to incorporate their interests with those of independents. “We have been able to keep a single message and a single voice,” he said.

Thomas Temple, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, agreed. “About 50 percent of eligible pharmacies are members of our group, and 660 of 750 pharmacies in the state are members,” he said. “Sometimes it is a challenge to deal with the diversity of a membership but it is also a strength.”

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

The discussion with state executives was moderated by John Heal, TrueCare Texas Government Affairs Director, who asked the experts about pharmacy’s future as the industry moved away from PBMs and into issues dealing with expanding services, such as Medication Therapy Management (MTM).

“We have to figure out a way to move PBMs out of the total control of pharmacy benefits,” said Mark Riley, Executive Vice President of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association. Much of the PBM’s focus is on the dollars, not the patients, he said.

Patient care and the pharmacist’s role in Medication Therapy Management are expected to grow in importance as the health care reform debates continues across the country.

“Patient care has got to be the driving force,” said Mike Larkin, Executive Director of the Iowa Pharmacists Association. “We’ve got to make sure people understand we are not just in the dispensing business. We are in the health care business. If it is right for the patient, it’s got to be right for us.”

For more information on the discussion between pharmacy association executives or to find out how you can watch a video of the discussion go to www.truecaretexas.com

 

MARK RILEY ON REIMBURSEMENTS National PBM and reimbursements expert Mark Riley, Executive Director of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, told attendees that pharmacy must find a way to help employers understand the reimbursement system. Because of the wide range of prescription prices, the system has become convoluted, he said, and can’t easily be explained to someone outside the industry. “It’s time we achieve something that makes some sense.” Riley also talked about the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) and how it might be appropriate for brand name drugs but not for generics. (See Mark Riley’s video on what we can expect on reimbursements in the future at www.truecaretexas.com THE FUTURE OF FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION At the time of the Conference, health care reform was still being debated on Capitol Hill. Attendees were fortunate to have Anne Cassity, Senior Government Affairs Director from NCPA, and Jorgen Schlemeier, Government Affairs Director for PBA Health on hand – both experts on the federal legislation – to provide pharmacists with an overview and history of the proposed legislation and how it might affect pharmacy as the legislatiion is implemented.

 

 

One of the highlights of the Conference was a guest appearance by State Senator Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, who shared tips with participants on how to talk to legislators. A public official for nearly 30 years, Sen. Wentworth has learned firsthand the importance of knowing and listening to one’s constituents. “Find out who your state representative and state senator are,” he suggested. “You are their constituent, and that makes a difference.”

To better understand how important it is for pharmacists to participate in helping shape public policy, Wentworth told his audience that he instructs his staff to view the 700,000 constituents in his district as their bosses. “We don’t screen calls. We are responsive to our bosses.” Attendees learned how a simple phone call, letter or personal meeting can educate decision makers about issues important to pharmacy.

Sen. Wentworth’s talk followed a viewing of a new DVD from PBA Health and TrueCare Pharmacy entitled “How to Talk to Your legislator / How to Explain PBMs.” The video walks viewers through the process of working with state and national lawmakers on pharmacy issues. Produced and narrated by PBA Government Affairs Director Jorgen Schlemeier and Texas TrueCare Government Affairs Director John Heal, the DVD also features conversations with longtime TrueCare Texas Legislative Council member Tammy Gray and Bill Haley, a former Texas State Representative and State Senator.

To see excerpts from the DVD or to hear Sen. Wentworth’s speech, go to www.truecaretexas.com