Against the backdrop of a nation impatient for a legislative verdict on health care reform, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores today kicks off RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill, which has drawn nearly 70% more participants this year.

NACDS said the second annual lobbying event, which runs to Thursday, will have more total attendees and more pharmacists from more states, more state pharmacy associations and more pharmacy schools.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As the nation awaits the legislative verdict on health care reform, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill, which kicks off on Wednesday, has drawn nearly 70% more participants this year.

NACDS said Tuesday that the second annual RxImpact Day event, held March 10 and 11 in Washington, D.C., will include more total attendees and more pharmacists from more states, more state pharmacy associations and more pharmacy schools.

The grassroots initiative, in which pharmacy industry advocates get a chance to meet with members of Congress and their staff, aims to convey NACDS’ core message about the link between pharmacy services and the cost savings and health improvements that result when patients take their medications as prescribed.

This year, RxImpact Day will have a 67% increase in attendees (from 150 to 250); a 33% increase in states represented (from 27 to 36); a 150% increase in state pharmacy associations (from 10 to 25); and a 700% increase in pharmacy schools represented (from two to 16), according to NACDS.

Also as part of the event, NACDS is conducting a "Virtual Hill Day" through which pharmacy advocates will contact their elected officials via e-mail and mail.

"Last year, NACDS made a strong statement with this event that pharmacy is committed to telling its story as the face of neighborhood health care and that pharmacy is determined to do what it takes to deserve victories in the public policy arena," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. "The success stories of those who pioneered the event in 2009, combined with additional victories for the NACDS pro-patient, pro-pharmacy agenda, have generated tremendous enthusiasm for this program in 2010."

NACDS said the pharmacy advocates will urge policies related to advancement of medication therapy management (MTM); a legislative remedy to the Medicaid average manufacturer price (AMP) model and how the current model jeopardizes patient access to pharmacies; and ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries maintain access to vaccines and durable medical equipment (DME), such as diabetes testing supplies, through their neighborhood pharmacies, despite policies and policy proposals that threaten this access.