Pharmacist provider status continues to gain momentum at the federal, state, and private sector levels. As many of you know, pharmacy had another recent state win with Wisconsin’s new provider status law. Passed with unanimous support from the Wisconsin State Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin Act 294 provides that “a pharmacist may perform any patient care service delegated to the pharmacist by a physician.” The legislation became reality because of the hard work of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin and its close collaboration with other stakeholders, including the Wisconsin Medical Society. Pharmacists want to work with other members of the patient’s health care team to advance the health of our patients.

At our Annual Meeting this year, more than 400 pharmacists and student pharmacists participated in the launch of the Pharmacists Provide Care campaign to achieve recognition for pharmacists as health care providers. As I discussed in my presentation at the meeting’s Second General Session, pharmacy’s star is rising. Our patients already think of us as health care providers. When we tell the story of the role pharmacists can play in providing high quality, accessible and affordable health care, our elected officials become receptive to helping pharmacists attain the recognition we deserve.

I told my story, and now I encourage you to visit PharmacistsProvideCare.com to sign up for our provider status campaign and share your patient care story, as well as send a letter to Members of Congress requesting their support of federal provider status legislation—H.R. 4190. Together, we can advance our profession and provide our patients with the benefit of our full range of pharmacists’ services.

Congratulations, Wisconsin! Let’s keep the momentum going!