Contact:
Andrea Rybicki (517) 377-0232 andrea@michiganpharmacists.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2003
Horton resident,
Mickey Mortimer will receive the 2003 Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA)
Executive Board Medal Award during the association's Annual Convention &
Exposition held Feb. 21-23 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich.
The Executive Board Medal Award is given annually to an individual who has demonstrated
an extraordinary personal commitment to MPA. The award was developed to recognize
individuals who have been instrumental to the MPA Executive Board and to the
association in advancing pharmacy's agenda. Of the 24 recipients, only eight
(including Mortimer) have been non-pharmacists. The Executive Board Medal Award
is, in fact, the highest award given by MPA to recognize non-pharmacists for
contributions to the pharmacy profession.
Mortimer served as the Michigan State Representative for the 65th district from
1998-2002. During the last four years of his term, Mortimer served as Chairman
of the House Appropriations Community Health Subcommittee, which determines
the pharmacy-dispensing fee within Medicaid. Despite pressure from the Engler
Administration, he stood his ground, and in October 2002, pharmacy received
a five-cent increase in the Medicaid dispensing fee.
Mortimer also instituted legislation allowing the state to create the Preferred
Drug List, saving Michigan money without penalizing pharmacists or pharmacy.
Beyond this, he has stood by pharmacy in every issue that was brought before
the House.
The MPA, serving 3,500 pharmacy professionals, strives to be a leader in professional
and scientific advancement by following its mission of encouraging and supporting
its members as the professionals responsible for the delivery of patient-oriented
pharmaceutical care.
###