[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 27, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING NACDS RxIMPACT DAY

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                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2019

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the NACDS RxIMPACT 
Day on Capitol Hill that is coming up next week. This is a special day 
where we will have the chance to recognize the pharmacy industry's many 
contributions to the American healthcare system.
  Organized by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), 
this event will take place on March 5-6, 2019. More than 400 
individuals from all 50 states representing the pharmacy community--
including practicing pharmacists, pharmacy school faculty and students, 
state pharmacy association representatives, and pharmacy company 
leaders--will be on Capitol Hill. They will visit every House and 
Senate office to share their views with us about the importance of 
supporting their access agenda--legislative priorities that will ensure 
that our constituents will continue to have access to more than 40,000 
community and neighborhood pharmacies across the country and be better 
able to utilize pharmacists to improve healthcare quality while 
reducing the cost of care.
  Local pharmacists are important community leaders, who are trusted by 
their patients to efficiently provide high quality, convenient 
healthcare services. And as demand for healthcare services continues to 
grow, pharmacists are stepping in to fill gaps in healthcare delivery 
by partnering with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers 
to address the unmet need. Moreover, pharmacists continually innovate 
to provide unique services that improve overall patient health and 
wellness.
  Further, in many communities the local pharmacist is a patient's most 
direct healthcare access point. This is particularly true in rural 
areas. In fact, 91 percent of Americans live within five miles of a 
community pharmacy. These pharmacies bring value to their communities 
by providing care to those who need it most--older Americans and those 
who manage chronic conditions, particularly in rural and underserved 
areas. In addition, pharmacists frequently work with patients to 
navigate specific pharmacy benefits and the use of generic 
substitutions to identify strategies to save money. Pharmacists also 
ensure medications are administered appropriately, and offer other 
preventative services that help improve patients overall wellbeing and 
quality of life.
  The pharmacy advocates attending NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill 
will be educating members on their access agenda. As we debate the 
future of healthcare, the pharmacy community wishes to work with us to 
help develop solutions that put pharmacy's value to work for patients 
and payers. Specifically, NACDS's advocates will be seeking our support 
for policies that will help address prescription drug affordability and 
transparency through much-needed reform to DIR fees, a complicated fee 
structure imposed on pharmacies to participate in the Medicare Part D 
program. They will also highlight proposals designed to address the 
opioid epidemic.
  I believe Congress should work with the 2019 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on 
Capitol Hill advocates to advance policies that support pharmacists in 
their effort to improve care, increase access, and lower costs.

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