From left: Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) chats with chain drug execs Bob Narveson, Steve Anderson and John Standley on the Senate subway during RxImpact Day.

Over 400 community pharmacists, pharmacy executives, pharmacy students and other pharmacy advocates from 40 states traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to participate in the sixth annual NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill.

National Association of Chain Drug Stores members and other industry advocates held meetings with more than 80% of the U.S. Congress, including 136 of 139 lawmakers serving on congressional committees with jurisdiction on health care issues.

WASHINGTON — More than 400 community pharmacists, pharmacy executives, pharmacy students and other pharmacy advocates from 40 states traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to participate in the 6th Annual NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill.

From left: Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) chats with chain drug execs Bob Narveson, Steve Anderson and John Standley on the Senate subway during RxImpact Day.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores said Friday that during its annual lobbying event, NACDS members and other industry advocates held meetings with more than 80% of the U.S. Congress, including 136 of 139 lawmakers serving on congressional committees with jurisdiction on health care issues.

RxImpact Day, which was held March 12 and 13, is designed to demonstrate pharmacists’ expanding role in the delivery of health care services nationwide.

"The NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill is an important opportunity for pharmacy advocates from across the country to discuss pro-patient, pro-pharmacy issues with lawmakers in the nation’s capital," NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. "Extremely valued by those in greatest need, pharmacies help patients use medicines safely and stay healthy, and provide innovative pharmacy services to improve patient health and quality of life, also helping to improve health care affordability."

NACDS noted that this year’s RxImpact Day program included such prominent speakers as Mike Allen, chief White House correspondent for the political journal Politico, who gave insights on politics in Washington and across the nation during the Welcome Dinner on Wednesday evening.

Rep. Fred Upton (R., Mich.) receives the NACDS Congressional Leadership Award from NACDS CEO Steve Anderson.

Rep. Fred Upton (R., Mich.) was the keynote speaker for Thursday’s Breakfast Briefing and received the NACDS Congressional Leadership Award for his commitment to community pharmacy, NACDS said. He serves as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over key pharmacy issues.

RxImpact Day coincided with the introduction of H.R. 4190, a bill that would amend the Social Security Act to designate pharmacists as health care providers under the Medicare program.

"It is timely that this commonsense, bipartisan legislation was introduced the week of our annual grassroots advocacy fly-in," Anderson stated. "So well-represented in Washington this week, retail pharmacies are oftentimes the most readily accessible health care provider. Research has shown that nearly all Americans (89%) live within five miles of a community retail pharmacy. Combined with their expertise and training, pharmacists as health care providers can serve their patients to their full capabilities."

Sen. John Tester (D., Mont.) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash.) also submitted comments to the Congressional Record in support of their constituents and community pharmacy in lead-up to RxImpact Day, NACDS added.

"Pharmacy has an important part to play, working collaboratively with other health care professionals and providers, in providing patient care for those in need," Anderson commented. "And events like the NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill further reinforce the recognition by lawmakers of that evolving role of pharmacy in patient care."

During the RxImpact Day event, chain drug executives met with Jonathan Blum, principal deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Pictured from the left: Kermit Crawford, Walgreens; Steve Anderson, NACDS; Juan Ortiz, Navarro Discount Pharmacy; Blum of CMS; John Standley, Rite Aid; Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee; Lynne Fruth, Fruth Pharmacy; Bob Narveson, Thrifty White Pharmacy; and Ken Martindale, Rite Aid.