[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING PHARMACY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

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                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2011

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize pharmacy's 
contribution to the American health care system. This week, over 300 
members of the pharmacy community--including practicing pharmacists, 
pharmacy school faculty and students, state pharmacy leaders and 
pharmacy company executives--are here on Capitol Hill for the Third 
Annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores RxIMPACT Day.
  These important health care providers are here to urge Congress to 
recognize the value of pharmacists and promote access to these 
medication experts throughout our health care delivery system.
  Nearly all Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, 
making pharmacists one of our most accessible health care provider 
groups. As my colleagues know, one of the most important functions of 
local pharmacies is to assist individuals in the communities where they 
operate with their health care needs. While the convenient, safe and 
efficient dispensing of prescription medicines is a core function of 
the modern neighborhood pharmacy--and one they take very seriously--
pharmacies do much more that positively impacts the lives of their 
customers and patients. Today's pharmacies offer a variety of 
preventive health care services including immunizations and 
vaccinations, health screening services, disease management services 
and routine advice on the best and most effective over-the-counter 
products for patients' specific needs. Americans trust their 
neighborhood pharmacies to provide these services, which is one reason 
pharmacists have ranked in the top three each of the past eight years 
in Gallup's annual survey of integrity across all professions.
  As the face of neighborhood health care, pharmacies across the nation 
offer these and other cost-saving programs and services to help 
patients take medicines they need to achieve positive results from 
appropriate use of their medications.
  Today, I celebrate the value of pharmacy and support efforts to 
protect access to neighborhood pharmacies and utilize pharmacies to 
improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care.

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