In recent weeks, we’ve continued to raise pharmacy’s visibility on Capitol Hill. As pharmacists and student pharmacists advocate with their Members of Congress and congressional staff for H.R. 4190, we helped organize the second annual health fair on Capitol Hill on September 17 and a provider status briefing at the Capitol building on September 24. Both events were sponsored by the House Community Pharmacy Caucus, which is co-chaired by Reps. Austin Scott (R-GA) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

At the provider status briefing that was attended by congressional staffers, the three panelists spoke for APhA, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. We were represented by Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, BCPS, FAPhA, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Professor and Chair, who spoke on “Pharmacy 101—Education” and in particular about the growing emphasis on interprofessional education and the improved clinical and economic outcomes of the Maryland P³ Program that she established and directs.  

Throughout her presentation, Magaly emphasized that pharmacists, with their education and training, are often an underutilized provider in the patient’s health care team. This is a point we’ve been making consistently throughout the quest for access and coverage for pharmacists’ services. Community and ambulatory care pharmacists are at a frequently visited and critical interface with consumers. The network of high performing pharmacies that Magaly and her team has assembled is a great example where services can be delivered when coverage exists.

One hundred and sixteen U.S. representatives have officially signed on to cosponsor H.R. 4190. As Members of Congress campaign in their home districts before the November 4 elections, we’ll keep the exciting momentum going on Capitol Hill and across the country. I encourage you to reach out to your U.S. representative to cosponsor H.R. 4190 if he or she hasn’t already!