MPA and Pharmacy PAC works diligently to protect pharmacist's interests, practice and patients. As such, a number of issues take priority for the promotion and preservation of pharmacy. Those issues and specific legislation, as well as MPA's 2011 legislative priorities, are outlined below, along with pharmacist talking points and other materials and links. Click on the blue bars for more information about each.
House Bills 5475-5476 would amend the Health Care False Claim Act (PA 323 of 1984) and the Medicaid False Claim Act (PA 72 of 1977).
The amendments to the Health Care False Claim Act and the Medicaid False Claim Act will achieve the following:
Click here for a printable issue sheet on the Department of Community Health.
KEY STATEMENT
Pharmacists must be actively involved in solutions
related to Department of Community Health issues for
patients in Michigan to have the best care possible.
BACKGROUND
Michigan pharmacy professionals have played an integral role
in assisting the Department of Community Health in key
issues to improve patient care. Appropriate reimbursement of the dispensing fee, prescription drug product
and clinical pharmacy services helps pharmacies continue to provide quality care to beneficiaries. The Medicaid
dispensing fee has remained unchanged this past year, and pharmacies continue to take on additional costs to lead
the way with electronic prescriptions. Pharmacists continue to expand their key role in providing immunizations
and increasing immunization rates, and for the first time this past year, Medicaid is now reimbursing for this service.
Medicaid has considered introducing programs to help patients better manage their medications and lower health
care costs through direct consultation with a pharmacist, but those medication therapy management programs
have not been initiated by the Department.
WHY IS PHARMACIST INVOLVEMENT IN DECISIONS ABOUT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS IMPORTANT?
BOTTOM LINE
A patient’s health care is not complete without a pharmacist’s involvement. Any discussion, program and
solution related to a patient’s health through the Department of Community Health needs pharmacy’s perspective,
expertise and active participation to be successful.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on emergency preparedness.
KEY STATEMENT
Pharmacy professionals play an important role in responding to emergency events, such as
a natural disaster or infectious disease outbreak. They are called upon to urgently dispense
medications from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to protect the public and save lives.
BACKGROUND
As disaster events have unfolded, such as the Sept. 11 attacks, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan and Hurricane Irene, pharmacists’ role in preparing for emergency response has become increasingly important. Pharmacists collaborate with a diversity of health care personnel to assure the safe use of medications in patients. Their expertise and knowledge of medications during a public health emergency have proven to be a valuable asset to successful response efforts. Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), as well as the state of Michigan, works to provide guidance for pharmacists interested in exploring opportunities in emergency preparedness through educational resources, training, participation in drills and other preparatory programs. MPA’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator consults with other health personnel in the state to plan pharmacy response efforts, as well as promotes pharmacist involvement in activities that allow them to become more knowledgeable, competent and better prepared to play a contributory role when called upon in an emergency situation.
WHY ARE PHARMACISTS IMPORTANT TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS?
BOTTOM LINE
There is a growing need for pharmacists to play a pivotal role in emergency response efforts. As the most accessible health care provider, pharmacists play an especially vital role when a disaster disrupts a community’s health care system. Through provision of training opportunities and enhanced knowledge of emergency response, pharmacists will continue to adequately prepare for potential emergency events.
March 23, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, two days after the House passed the Senate reform bill by a vote of 219-212. This historic piece of legislation will provide the most sweeping changes to the U.S. health care system since legislation in 1965 created the Medicare program. This bill, which is expected to cost around $940 billion, will provide new coverage for more than 32 million individuals who do not currently have health insurance.
Some key pharmacy provisions included in the health care reform legislation are as follows:
State of Michigan Health Care Reform Web site
Obama Health Care Reform Web site
Sen. Debbie Stabenow's Health Care Reform Online Resource Center
Sen. Stabenow is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, one of the two Committees writing health care reform legislation.
Summary of Health Care Reform Legislation
New Resource Aims to Educate Consumers on Health Care Reform
The Health Care and You Coalition recently launched a new Web site, HealthCareAndYou.org, designed to provide the public with a comprehensive online resource and easy-to-understand information on health care reform. This online guide includes tailored information for consumers, including what provisions of the law are in effect now and when future provisions go into effect.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on immunizations.
KEY STATEMENT
Along with managing medication therapy and educating patients on healthy lifestyle practices, certified pharmacists can also administer critical immunizations, ensuring that any treatment received will not interfere with other therapies.
BACKGROUND
Pharmacists continue to play a critical role in improving public health through providing vaccines, and opportunities continue to grow for pharmacists who are certified immunizers. As the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists can help ensure that patients are up-to-date on all their immunizations, as well as answer questions and provide necessary protection from harmful diseases. The majority of American adults are inadequately vaccinated, leading to an average of 90,000 deaths each year from vaccine-preventable infections. And although vaccine rates for U.S. children at the time they enter school exceed 95 percent, nearly 25 percent do not complete their primary series by the age of two years. This long-standing failure to adequately immunize the U.S. population helped prompt the inclusion of immunization in Healthy People 2020, a 10-year initiative for improving the health of all Americans. Pharmacists contribute to this effort by administering vaccines where their scope of practice allows and promoting immunization through public health.
WHY ARE PHARMACISTS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF VACCINE DELIVERY?
BOTTOM LINE
Pharmacists have ample opportunities to advance public health through providing immunizations and advocating for their importance. As their role in vaccination delivery continues to evolve, pharmacy professionals will become more encompassing members of the health care team. This will also assist pharmacies in building loyalty among the general public and diversifying revenue sources.
House Bill 5547 would amend the Michigan Public Health Code and would require the pharmacist in charge to provide coverage to residents of an institution when the pharmacist is not on site, and regulate use of emergency drugs and medication drug kits.
Currently:
This proposed legislation would amend the Michigan Public Health Code to:
Click here for a printable issue sheet on medication safety.
KEY STATEMENT
Medicines play an important role in treating certain conditions and diseases, but they must be taken with care. Pharmacists are critical to ensuring that patients are safely and effectively taking their medications, avoiding harmful interactions and educating the public on the importance of adhering to medication therapies. Unused portions of these medicines, including those that are expired or unwanted, must also be disposed of properly to avoid harm, to both patients and the environment.
BACKGROUND
Pharmacists are the medication experts and patient advocates on the health care team. Their extensive knowledge of medications and treatments are critical to patients in making sure medications are used safely, and that patients are informed and ready to comply with their medication regimen. Pharmacists assure medication distribution systems are safe, constantly working to prevent medication errors and costly medication problems, as well as increase patients’ quality of life. By participating in and organizing medication disposal events and providing drop-off services, pharmacists and pharmacy organizations also help protect the environment and curb potential medication abuse.
HOW DO PHARMACISTS IMPACT MEDICATION SAFETY?
BOTTOM LINE
The general public often doesn’t adhere to medication therapies because they forget to refill precriptions, forget to take them, feel they don’t need them or find them too expensive. Pharmacists are in a unique position to explain the importance of taking medications as prescribed and look for possible adverse effects to avoid costly hospital visits. They play a vital role in medication safety by offering safe disposal options as well, preventing family and friends from having access to medications they could potentially abuse.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on medication therapy management.
KEY STATEMENT
Pharmacists strengthen patient health and decrease costs by providing medication therapy management (MTM) services.
BACKGROUND
MTM is directly addressed in the new health care reform package,
and the law now recognizes the key role that pharmacists
play in one-on-one consultations to optimize patient medication use and help them best manage their therapies to improve chronic diseases. Medicare does reimburse for MTM services, but only a fraction of seniors
qualify or are given an opportunity to take advantage of this critical protection. Medicaid has considered introduce programs to help patients better manage their medications and lower health care costs through direct consultation
with a pharmacist, but those MTM programs have not been initiated through the Department. Some health plans and
physician groups have participated in pharmacist-led pilot projects in Michigan to launch MTM services to
better serve patients in the patient-centered medical home, and results show key health improvements and reduction of costs.
WHAT IS MEDICATION THERAPY MANAGEMENT?
MTM WORKS. HERE’S HOW:
BOTTOM LINE
Pharmacist-provided MTM services must become the standard for patients who have multiple
conditions and drug therapies. Patients will receive better comprehensive care, get the most from their
medicines and improve their well-being, and health care costs will decrease as a result. Reimbursement should
adequately address the value of this critical, cost-saving service.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on outsourcing prescriptions.
KEY STATEMENT
Outsourcing prescriptions is bad business for Michigan.
BACKGROUND
Though the state of Michigan had made many strides to reverse
mandatory mail order in last year’s RFP for new pharmacy benefits
managers for the state’s workers, retirees and educators, patients are
still being economically coerced into outsourcing their prescriptions.
WHY IS OUTSOURCING PRESCRIPTIONS DAMAGING TO MICHIGAN?
BOTTOM LINE
Outsourcing prescriptions has shipped hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs out of the state, has put
patient health in jeopardy and has negatively impacted the environment. Mandating this potentially dangerous
practice can no longer be tolerated by state government.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on pharmacists and your health care.
KEY STATEMENT
Pharmacists are the medication experts, and their professional services ensure that patients receive the best health care outcomes and obtain the best results from their medications. As the state professional pharmacy organization, Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) is committed to providing its members with support, advocacy and resources that ultimately improve patient care, safety, health, and the practice of pharmacy.
BACKGROUND
The average adult fills about a dozen prescriptions and refills every year, and after age 65, they fill more than 30 prescriptions annually. With such a high volume of prescriptions being filled, it’s vital for patients to understand their medications, including how to take them, what to do if they experience side effects, how long to take them and whether or not it’s safe to combine them with other medications or dietary supplements. As the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists are in nearly every community (rural, urban and suburban), including hospitals, long-term care settings and other medical institutions. They’re available to answer these questions and ensure that patients are getting the most from their medications.
PHARMACISTS SAVE LIVES AND HEALTH CARE DOLLARS. HERE'S HOW:
BOTTOM LINE
As the medication experts on the health care team, pharmacy professionals are committed to reducing health care costs, improving lives and increasing adherence. The public has ranked pharmacists in the top three each of the past eight years in Gallup’s survey of honesty and integrity across professions. They rely on them for a wide array of patient care services and to guide them through the medication use process.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on pharmacy benefit managers.
KEY STATEMENT
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) must be regulated to stop abusive practices. In doing so, government entities and employers can realize significant cost
savings.
BACKGROUND
Legislators, government entities and employers are beginning
to realize the impact of the abusive practices of PBMs. As a result, several pieces of legislation have been
introduced in the last year to regulate this industry and require transparency in contracts to hold PBMs
accountable. Last year, HB 5772 was introduced in the Michigan legislature to regulate PBMs, as well as protect
patients. Congress also attempted to address PBM regulation, with the PBM Audit Reform and Transparency Act
of 2010. Both bills languished in Committee. Also this past year, the State of Michigan overhauled its contract for
prescription services for state employees and retirees and Michigan Public Schools Employee Retirement
System, with recommendations from Michigan Pharmacists Association. However, many complaints have already
been brought to MPA in regards to the new PBMs.
WHY IS PBM TRANSPARENCY AND REGULATION IMPORTANT?
PBM PASS THROUGH CONTRACTS RESULT IN
SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. HERE’S HOW:
BOTTOM LINE
Regulating PBMs, requiring transparency and renegotiating pass through contracts is simply a smarter way to do business while continuing to provide quality health care benefits to employees.
Click here for a printable issue sheet on technician certification.
KEY STATEMENT
Licensing pharmacy technicians keeps patients safe, ensures better care and helps decrease drug diversion.
BACKGROUND
Michigan is one of only seven states in the nation that does
not have any baseline standard for pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians play an integral role in the medication
dispensing process, and currently in Michigan, they are not even
required to have a high school diploma or receive any ongoing
training. This is certainly disappointing, considering that Michigan is one of the first states to provide pharmacy
technician training. In 2010, legislation was introduced to amend the Michigan Public Health Code by formally recognizing pharmacy technicians and requiring licensure and certification. Unfortunately, the bill languished in
the Health Policy Committee.
WHY IS PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT?
BOTTOM LINE
Support pharmacy technician licensing and certification in order to safeguard the health of your
constituents. Integral members of the pharmacy team must have minimum standards of education to ensure the
best care possible for patients depending on medications to get well and maintain their health.
2011 Legislative Priorities
The following details MPA’s legislative priorities in 2011. Also, click here to access a printable legislative priorities sheet.
PUBLIC HEALTH
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
INSURANCE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY
MEDICAID
If you have questions regarding MPA’s legislative priorities, please contact:
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