The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) House of Delegates has released its report of policies adopted at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition (APhA2016) in Baltimore, Maryland. More than 300 delegates representing diverse practice and geographic backgrounds casted votes on the 2016 Association policies.

The APhA House of Delegates adopted new policy on biologic, biosimilar, and interchangeable biologic drug products. Under the policy APhA urges the development of programs and policies that facilitate patient access to and affordability of biologic products as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the development of standards and pathways that will evaluate the interchangeability of biologic products.  The policy recognizes FDA’s Purple Book as an authorative reference for product interchangeability and need for process consistency related to product interchangeability. 

The APhA House of Delegates also adopted new policy on point-of-care testing, which supports laws, regulations, and policies that enable pharmacist-provided, point-of-care testing and related clinical services that are consistent with the pharmacists’ role in team-based care. Conversely, the policy opposes laws and regulations that create barriers to testing that are Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) - waived and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.

In addition, the policy supports patients taking active roles in the management of their health, including their ability to request and obtain pharmacist-provided, point-of-care tests and related clinical services; and advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided, point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

New business items were also adopted, including policies on:

• Substance Use Disorder
• Legalization or Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs
• Medication Assisted Treatment
• Opioid Overdose Prevention
• Labeling and Measurement of Oral Liquid Medications

The APhA House of Delegates is the legislative body for the development process of Association Policy. The delegates who voted on the 2016 policies represented the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico; 12 national pharmacy organizations; five federal pharmacy groups, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, Public Health Services and Veteran Affairs; and APhA specific delegates from the three academies, former presidents, and former speakers.

The House of Delegates meet during the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition to debate and adopt policy proposals developed throughout the year. The Association’s Academies and Board of Trustees are currently reviewing and formulating plans for utilization and implementation of adopted policy.  Preparation and work has already begun for the 2017 House of Delegates to be held at the 2017 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition next March in San Francisco, CA.

For a full list of the 2016 House of Delegates policies and actions go to 2016 Report of the APhA House of Delegates.