WASHINGTON, DC – Recognition of pharmacists' value to patients and the health care system continues to grow with the recent release of the National Governors Association (NGA) report, The Expanding Role of Pharmacists in a Transformed Health Care System. The report, released yesterday, discusses how states can better integrate pharmacists into health care delivery and create efficient models of care focused on improved quality and health outcomes, as well as reduced costs.

“We are thrilled that the National Governors Association cites the use of pharmacists and their patient care services as an opportunity for states to provide more effective and efficient health care,” said Stacie S. Maass, Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs, American Pharmacists Association (APhA). “The report acknowledges what our profession and our patients already know – that pharmacists and their patient care services are an integral part of the patient’s health care team because of the value they bring to patients and the health care system.”

The NGA report highlights the potential of the pharmacist to address key challenges faced by the health care system, including the growing number of patients who have multiple chronic conditions and complex medication needs.

NGA Executive Director Dan Crippen recognized the importance of including pharmacists on a patient’s overall health care team saying, “As the health care system undergoes a major transformation in both finance and the delivery of services, states are focusing on improved quality and health outcomes… Integrating pharmacists, who represent the third largest health profession, into the health care delivery system is one way to meet those goals.”

The report also calls on states to consider ways to address the challenges currently faced by pharmacists, including, “…restrictions in CPAs (collaborative practice agreements), recognition of pharmacists as health care providers to ensure compensation for direct patient care services, and access to health IT systems.”

About Pharmacists Provide Care Campaign
Pharmacists Provide Care is a campaign of the American Pharmacists Association to educate the public about the role of pharmacists as health care providers and advocate for recognition of pharmacists and their services under federal law. For decades, pharmacists have been one of the few health care professions that lack recognition as health care providers in federal law. Extending provider status to pharmacists through the recognition of their services will give patients greater access to pharmacists’ patient care services, allow pharmacists to work more closely with health care teams to manage chronic conditions, help patients transition between health care settings, reduce hospital readmissions and control medical costs. More information is available at www.pharmacistsprovidecare.com.

About the American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, is a 501 (c)(6) organization, representing more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. For more information, please visit www.pharmacist.com.