Following the 2015 White House Conference on Aging the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Executive Vice President and CEO Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon), FAPhA issued the following statement encouraging continued support for the federal government developing senior health care policy which better incorporates pharmacists with other health care providers to provide better coordinated care. 

“Pharmacists are critical to improving health care quality. But their contributions have largely gone unrecognized in federal law. Nearly all other health care professionals’ services, except those of the pharmacist, are covered under Medicare including midwives and dieticians. With the number of Americans aged 65 years and older projected to increase 36% by 2020, APhA urges support for the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (S. 314/H.R. 592). This legislation would make a range of patient care services available to Medicare patients in underserved communities, such as managing chronic conditions and complex medication regimens.

In his opening speech at the White House Conference on Aging, President Obama said, ‘We are moving Medicare towards payment models that require quality of care instead of quantity of care…’ Pharmacists, with more medication education and training than any other health care professional, are ready and willing to play a larger patient care role. When pharmacists are involved, access increases, outcomes improve and costs are reduced.

Senior patients need better access to care, which is why it is APhA’s goal to help pass the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act. APhA will continue working with Congress and the Administration on expanding patients’ access to pharmacist services and improving the quality of health care.

APhA thanks pharmacists and other healthcare team members for helping seniors across the United States receive better care and achieve better outcomes.”