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NACDS engages policymakers with pharmacy tours

August 26th, 2013

ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has reached a milestone in conveying the value of community pharmacy to lawmakers, with its NACDS RxImpact pharmacy tours crossing the 100 mark.

Most recently, NACDS said, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R., N.C.) toured the Bi-Lo Pharmacy in Statesville, N.C. During the visit, Foxx saw a patient get vaccinated and talked with customers, who expressed their appreciation for community pharmacy and the one-on-one patient care they receive from pharmacists.

Left to right: Rep. Jim Renacci with pharmacist John Millard and pharmacy operations director Tom Nameth at Discount Drug Mart in Brunswick Hills, Ohio.

The pharmacy team explained to Foxx the key role that pharmacists play in promoting patient well-being and reducing overall health care costs through medication therapy management, immunizations, disease state management and wellness programs, according to NACDS.

In the past month, RxImpact pharmacy visits within included Rep. Jim Renacci (R., Ohio) at Discount Drug Mart in Brunswick Hills, Ohio; Rep. Paul Tonko (D., N.Y.) at Rite Aid in Schenectady, N.Y.; Rep. Dan Kildee (D., Mich.) at Meijer Pharmacy in Bay City, Mich.; Rep. Joseph Crowley (D., N.Y.) at Pathmark Pharmacy in the Bronx, N.Y.; and Rep. Nick Rahall (D., W.Va.) at Fruth Pharmacy in Huntington, W.Va., in a tour conducted by Lynne Fruth, chairman and president of the drug chain.

NACDS is calling on more pharmacies to host tours via a dedicated page for the program on its RxImpact advocacy website. Participating pharmacies are educated on key community pharmacy issues and advised on how to effectively communicate with a policymaker during the visit. In addition, participants also will be walked through an RxImpact-organized tour at their pharmacy.

The goal of the tours is to engage legislators and provide hands-on examples of the challenges and successes that pharmacists' experience as well as enable lawmakers to interact with patients who benefit from community pharmacy.