APhA supports the establishment and enforcement of regulations through Boards of Pharmacy that restrict the use of the words "pharmacy", "drug store", "apothecary" or any other words or symbols of similar meaning or signage and business names to entities in which the practice of pharmacy is conducted.

(JAPhA. NS37:460; July/August 1997) (Reviewed 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4): 380; July/August 2016)

APhA advocates the elimination of coupons, rebates, discounts, and other incentives provided to patients that promote the transfer of prescriptions between competitors.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA encourages the listing of all pharmacies in telephone, Internet and other directories under "Pharmacies."

(JAPhA. NS8:380; July 1968) (JAPhA. NS42(5) (suppl 1):S62; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (Reviewed 2012) Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports the development of guidelines or standards to enhance the depiction of the pharmacy profession in all public media.

(Am Pharm. NS24(7):60; July 1984) (JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1:S62; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA encourages the Federal Trade Commission, the US attorney general or other appropriate agency to investigate misleading and deceptive marketing practices of issuers of discount cards.

(JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S61; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports use of the phrase "community pharmacy" rather than "retail pharmacy."

(JAPhA. NS40(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2000) (Reviewed 2002) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012)(Reviewed 2017)

APhA opposes the use of the same brand name (or minor modifications of the same name) for prescription and nonprescription drug products containing different active ingredients.

(JAPhA. NS36(6);396 June 1996) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Review 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA does not oppose the dissemination of price information to patients, by advertising or by any other means.

(JAPhA. NS17:448; July 1977) (JAPhA. NS44(5):552; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports legislative and regulatory activities permitting direct-to-consumer advertising concerning medical or health conditions treatable by prescription or nonprescription drug products. These advertisements must conform to rules and regulations that ensure complete, comprehensive, and understandable information that informs consumers of potential benefits and risks of the product.

2. APhA opposes false or misleading advertising for prescription or nonprescription drugs or any promotional efforts that encourage indiscriminate use of medication.

3. APhA supports the availability of accurate information to consumers about medication use and recognizes the responsibility of pharmacists to provide appropriate responses to consumer inquiries stimulated by direct-to-consumer advertising as a compensated pharmaceutical service. In addition, APhA recommends that health care professionals, including but not limited to pharmacists, receive new product information on direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns prior to this information being made available to consumers.

(JAPhA. 39(4):447; July/August 1999) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA calls on all national and state pharmacy organizations, colleges/schools of pharmacy, and other stakeholders to support the development of a profession-wide effort to address harassment, intimidation, and abuse of power or position.

2. APhA supports the development of a profession-wide guideline on reporting harassment, intimidation, or abuse of power or position in their pharmacy education and training, professional practice, or volunteer service to pharmacy organizations.

3. APhA recommends all pharmacy organizations incorporate harassment, intimidation, and abuse training in their member professional development and education activities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15-e16; July/August 2021)

APhA supports the initiation of a collaborative/federated organizational structure that brings pharmacy organizations together. This model will unify pharmacy's voice in healthcare and regulatory settings, improve operational efficiencies, conserve limited resources, and will preserve individual organizational identities and traditions all for the benefit of the profession of pharmacy.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.

3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.

4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

(JAPhA. 58(4):355-365 July/August 2018) (JAPhA. 62 (4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff are essential members of the healthcare team and should be actively engaged and supported in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and countermeasure activities related to public health and other emergencies.

2. APhA reaffirms the 2016 policy on the Role of the Pharmacist in National Defense, and calls for the active and coordinated engagement of all pharmacists in public health and other emergency planning and response activities.

3. APhA advocates for the timely removal of regulatory restrictions, practice limitations, and financial barriers during public health and other emergencies to meet immediate patient care needs.

4. APhA urges regulatory bodies and government agencies to recognize pharmacists' training and ability to evaluate patient needs, provide care, and appropriately refer patients during public health and other emergencies.

5. APhA advocates for pharmacists' authority to ensure patient access to care through the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, as well as provision of other patient care services during times of public health and other emergencies.

6. APhA calls for processes to ensure that any willing and able pharmacy and pharmacy practitioner is not excluded from providing pharmacist patient care services during public health and other emergencies.

7. APhA calls on public and private payers to establish and implement payment policies that compensate pharmacists providing patient care services, including during public health and other emergencies, within their recognized authority.

8. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists as essential members in the planning, development, and implementation of alternate care sites or delivery models during public health and other emergencies.

9. APhA reaffirms the 2015 Interoperability of Communications Among Health Care Providers to Improve Quality of Care and encourages pharmacists, as members of the healthcare team, to communicate care decisions made during public health and other emergencies with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports education about digital health technologies and integration in pharmacy practice, in pharmacy school curricula, and for the pharmacy workforce.

2. APhA supports inclusion of pharmacists in the design and development of digital health technologies.

3. APhA supports that digital health technologies be interoperable with and integrated into pharmacy management systems and electronic health records.

4. APhA supports pharmacists applying digital health technologies to optimize patient care outcomes.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the standardization of user interfaces to improve quality and reduce errors unique to e-prescribing.

2. APhA supports reporting mechanisms and research efforts to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and quality of e-prescribing systems, computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) systems, and the e-prescriptions that they produce, in order to improve health information technology systems and, ultimately, patient care.

3. APhA supports the development of financial incentives for pharmacists and prescribers to provide high quality e-prescribing activities.

4. APhA supports the inclusion of pharmacists in quality improvement and meaningful use activities related to the use of e-prescribing and other health information technology that would positively impact patient health outcomes.

5. APhA supports laws and regulations that require e-prescribing of controlled substances to reduce fraudulent prescriptions.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2015) (JAPhA. 60:(5):e10); September/October 2020)

1. APhA advocates for nationwide integration and uniformity of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) that incorporate federal, state, and territory databases for the purpose of providing health care professionals with accurate and real-time information to assist in clinical decision making when providing patient care services related to controlled substances.

2. APhA supports pharmacist involvement in the development of uniform standards for an integrated nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) that includes the definition of authorized registered users, documentation, reporting requirements, system response time, security of information, minimum reporting data sets, and standard transaction format.

3. APhA supports mandatory prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) enrollment by all health care providers, mandatory reporting by all those who dispense controlled substances, and appropriate system query by registrants during the patient care process related to controlled substances.

4. APhA advocates for the development of seamless workflow integration systems that would enable consistent use of a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) by registrants to facilitate prospective drug review as part of the patient care process related to controlled substances.

5. APhA advocates for continuous, sustainable federal funding sources for practitioners and system operators to utilize and maintain a standardized integrated and real-time nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).

6. APhA supports the use of interprofessional advisory boards that include pharmacists to coordinate collaborative efforts for (a) compiling, analyzing, and using prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data trends related to controlled substance misuse, abuse, and/or fraud; (b) providing focused provider education and patient referral to treatment programs; and (c) supporting research activities on the impact of PDMPs.

7. APhA supports education and training for registrants about a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to ensure proper data integrity, use, and confidentiality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364-365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

APhA supports regulations that would allow pharmacies to transfer prescriptions for controlled substances for the purposes of an initial fill.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10); September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the development of electronic systems that enhance and simplify the ability of pharmacists in all practice settings to receive, send, and track referrals among all members of the health care team, including other pharmacists, irrespective of the health care system, model, or network in which the patient participates.

2. APhA supports the interoperability and integration of referral tracking systems with electronic health records so patients can receive the benefit of optimally coordinated care from all members of the health care team.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA emphasizes genomics as an essential aspect of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA recognizes pharmacists as the health care professional best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genomic information. All pharmacists involved in the care of the patient should have access to relevant genomic information.

3. APhA supports processes to protect patient data confidentiality and opposes unethical utilization of genomic data.

4. APhA demands payers include pharmacists as eligible providers for covered genomic interpretation and related services to support sustainable models that optimize patient care and outcomes.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the exchange, storage, utilization, and documentation of clinically actionable genetic variations and actions taken by the pharmacist in the provision of patient care.

6. APhA recommends pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists lead the collaborative development of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmacogenomics and related services.

7. APhA recommends the inclusion of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the collaborative development of pharmacogenomics clinical support tools and resources.

8. APhA encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment and published guidelines and resources when providing access to testing or utilizing direct-to-consumer genomic test results in their patient care services.

9. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to include clinical application of genomics as a required element of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

10. APhA encourages the creation of continuing professional development and post-graduate education and training programs for pharmacists in genomics and its clinical application to meet varying practice needs.

11. APhA encourages the funding of pharmacist-led research examining the cost effectiveness of care models that utilize pharmacists providing genomic services.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018)

1. APhA supports the establishment of secure, portable, and interoperable electronic patient health care records.

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other stakeholders in the development and implementation of multidirectional electronic communication systems to improve patient safety, enhance quality care, facilitate care transitions, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.

3. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists in the establishment and enhancement of electronic health care information technologies and systems that must be interoperable, HIPAA compliant, integrated with claims processing, updated in a timely fashion, allow for data analysis, and do not place disproportionate financial burden on any one health care provider or stakeholder.

4. APhA advocates for pharmacists and other health care providers to have access to view, download and transmit electronic health records. Information shared among providers using a health information exchange should utilize a standardized secure interface based on recognized international health record standards for the transmission of health information.

5. APhA supports the integration of federal, state, and territory health information exchanges into an accessible, standardized, nationwide system.

6. APhA opposes business practices and policies that obstruct the electronic access and exchange of patient health information because these practices compromise patient safety and the provision of optimal patient care.

7. APhA advocates for the development of systems that facilitate and support electronic communication between pharmacists and prescribers concerning patient adherence, medication discontinuation, and other clinical factors that support quality care transitions.

8. APhA supports the development of education and training programs for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and other health care professionals on the appropriate use of electronic health records to reduce errors and improve the quality and safety of patient care.

9. APhA supports the creation and non-punitive application of a standardized, interoperable system for voluntary reporting of errors associated with the use of electronic health care information technologies and systems to enable aggregation of protected data and develop recommendations for improved quality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364; July/August 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports patient utilization of personal health records, defined as records of health-related information managed, shared, and controlled by the individual, to facilitate self-management and communication across the continuum of care.

2. APhA urges both public and private entities to identify and include pharmacists and other stakeholders in the development of personal health record systems and the adoption of standards, including but not limited to terminology, security, documentation, and coding of data contained within personal health records.

3. APhA supports the development, implementation, and maintenance of personal health record systems that are accessible and searchable by pharmacists and other health care providers, interoperable and portable across health information systems, customizable to the needs of the patient, and able to differentiate information provided by a health care provider and the patient.

4. APhA supports pharmacists taking the leadership role in educating the public about the importance of maintaining current and accurate medication-related information within personal health records.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports the use of automation and technology in pharmacy practice, with pharmacists maintaining oversight of these systems.

2. APhA recommends that pharmacists and other pharmacy personnel implement policies and procedures addressing the use of technology and automation to ensure safety, accuracy, security, data integrity, and patient confidentiality.

3. APhA supports initial and ongoing system-specific education and training of all affected personnel when automation and technology are utilized in the workplace.

4. APhA shall work with all relevant parties to facilitate the appropriate use of automation and technology in pharmacy practice.

(JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA supports the use of automation for prescription preparation and supports technical and personnel assistance for performing administrative duties and facilitating pharmacists' provision of pharmaceutical care.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2008)(Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA emphasizes genomics as an essential aspect of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA recognizes pharmacists as the health care professional best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genomic information. All pharmacists involved in the care of the patient should have access to relevant genomic information.

3. APhA supports processes to protect patient data confidentiality and opposes unethical utilization of genomic data.

4. APhA demands payers include pharmacists as eligible providers for covered genomic interpretation and related services to support sustainable models that optimize patient care and outcomes.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the exchange, storage, utilization, and documentation of clinically actionable genetic variations and actions taken by the pharmacist in the provision of patient care.

6. APhA recommends pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists lead the collaborative development of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmacogenomics and related services.

7. APhA recommends the inclusion of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the collaborative development of pharmacogenomics clinical support tools and resources.

8. APhA encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment and published guidelines and resources when providing access to testing or utilizing direct-to-consumer genomic test results in their patient care services.

9. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to include clinical application of genomics as a required element of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

10. APhA encourages the creation of continuing professional development and post-graduate education and training programs for pharmacists in genomics and its clinical application to meet varying practice needs.

11. APhA encourages the funding of pharmacist-led research examining the cost effectiveness of care models that utilize pharmacists providing genomic services.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018)

1. APhA urges the development of programs and policies that facilitate patient access to and affordability of biologic products.

2. APhA urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the development of standards and pathways that will evaluate the interchangeability of biologic products.

3. APhA recognizes the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Purple Book as an authoritative reference about biologic product interchangeability within the United States.

4. APhA opposes interchangeable biologic product substitution processes that require authorization, recordkeeping, or reporting beyond generic product substitution processes.

5. APhA encourages scientific justification for extrapolation of indications for biologic products to ensure patient safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

4. APhA supports the inclusion of pharmacogenomic analysis in the drug development/approval and postmarketing surveillance processes.

(JAPhA. NS50(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA recognizes the urgent need for education and training of pharmacists and student pharmacists relative to the therapeutic and diagnostic use of pharmaceutical biotechnology products. APhA, therefore, supports the continuing development and implementation of such education and training.

(Am Pharm. NS28(6):394; June 1988) (JAPhA. NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA encourages the development of appropriate educational materials and guidelines to assist pharmacists in addressing the ethical issues associated with the appropriate use of biotechnology-based products.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):29; June 1991) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA supports efforts to increase immunization rates of health care professionals, for the purposes of protecting patients and urges all pharmacy personnel to receive all immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for healthcare workers.

2. APhA encourages employers to provide necessary immunizations to all pharmacy personnel.

3. APhA encourages federal, state, and local officials and agencies to recognize pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff as among the highest priority groups to receive medications, vaccinations, and other protective measures as essential healthcare workers.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019) (JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.

2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.

3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.

4. APhA affirms that the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.

5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.

6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)(Amended 2022)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff are essential members of the healthcare team and should be actively engaged and supported in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and countermeasure activities related to public health and other emergencies.

2. APhA reaffirms the 2016 policy on the Role of the Pharmacist in National Defense, and calls for the active and coordinated engagement of all pharmacists in public health and other emergency planning and response activities.

3. APhA advocates for the timely removal of regulatory restrictions, practice limitations, and financial barriers during public health and other emergencies to meet immediate patient care needs.

4. APhA urges regulatory bodies and government agencies to recognize pharmacists' training and ability to evaluate patient needs, provide care, and appropriately refer patients during public health and other emergencies.

5. APhA advocates for pharmacists' authority to ensure patient access to care through the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, as well as provision of other patient care services during times of public health and other emergencies.

6. APhA calls for processes to ensure that any willing and able pharmacy and pharmacy practitioner is not excluded from providing pharmacist patient care services during public health and other emergencies.

7. APhA calls on public and private payers to establish and implement payment policies that compensate pharmacists providing patient care services, including during public health and other emergencies, within their recognized authority.

8. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists as essential members in the planning, development, and implementation of alternate care sites or delivery models during public health and other emergencies.

9. APhA reaffirms the 2015 Interoperability of Communications Among Health Care Providers to Improve Quality of Care and encourages pharmacists, as members of the healthcare team, to communicate care decisions made during public health and other emergencies with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists are trained to provide patient care, and have the ability to address patient needs, regardless of geographic location.

2. APhA advocates for the continued development of uniform laws and regulations that facilitate pharmacists', student pharmacists', and pharmacy technicians' timely ability to practice in multiple states to meet practice and patient care needs.

3. APhA supports individual pharmacists' and student pharmacists' authority to provide patient care services across state lines whether in person or remotely.

4. APhA supports consistent and efficient centralized processes across all states for obtaining and maintaining pharmacist, pharmacy intern, and pharmacy technician licensure and/or registration.

5. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to reduce administratively and financially burdensome requirements for licensure while continuing to uphold patient safety.

6. APhA encourages the evaluation of current law exam requirements for obtaining and maintaining initial state licensure, as well as licensure in additional states, to enhance uniformity and reduce duplicative requirements.

7. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to involve a member of the board of pharmacy and a practicing pharmacist in the review and updating of state jurisprudence licensing exam questions.

8. APhA calls for development of profession-wide consensus on licensing requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel to support contemporary pharmacy practice.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e14-e15;July/August 2021)

1. APhA urges government authorities to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, and other pharmaceutical supply distributors and providers accountable to state and federal price gouging laws in selling those items to patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and other health care providers during times of local, state, or national emergency.

2. APhA urges government authorities to aggressively enforce laws and regulations against adulterated products and false and misleading claims by entities offering to sell pharmaceutical and medical products to health care providers and consumers.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA asserts that the quality and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products and the global pharmaceutical and medical product supply chain are essential to the United States national security and public health.

2. APhA advocates for pharmacist engagement in the development and implementation of national and global strategies to ensure the availability, quality, and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products.

3. APhA calls for the development, implementation, and oversight of enhanced and transparent processes, standards, and information that ensure quality and safety of all pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing processes.

4. APhA calls on the federal government to penalize entities who create barriers that threaten the availability, quality, and safety of United States pharmaceutical and other medical product supplies.

5. APhA calls for the development of redundancy and risk mitigation strategies in the manufacturing process to ensure reliable and consistent availability of safe and high-quality pharmaceutical and other medical products.

6. APhA advocates for regulatory and market incentives that bolster the availability, quality, and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products.

7. APhA calls for greater transparency, accuracy, and timeliness of information and notification to health care professionals regarding drug shortages, product quality and manufacturing issues, supply disruption, and recalls.

8. APhA encourages pharmacy providers, health systems, and payers to develop coordinated response plans, including the use of therapeutic alternatives, to mitigate the impact of drug shortages and supply disruptions.

9. APhA supports federal legislation that engages pharmacists, other health professionals, and manufacturers in developing a United States-specific essential medicines list and provides funding mechanisms to ensure consistent availability of these products.

10. APhA recommends the use of pharmacists in the delivery of public messages, through media and other communication channels, regarding pharmaceutical supply and quality issues.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020)

1. APhA strongly urges all employers of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel, and the settings in which they practice, to implement protection and control measures and procedures, per consensus recommendations when available, and access to protective gear and cleaning supplies that ensure the safety of pharmacy personnel and that of their family members and the public.

2. APhA urges federal and state government officials, manufacturers, distributors, and health system administrators to recognize pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as "front-line providers" who should receive appropriate personal protective equipment and other resources to protect their personal safety and support their ability to continue to provide patient care.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

APhA endorses the position that the pharmacist, as a member of the health care team, has the ethical responsibility to assume a role in disaster preparedness and emergency care operations. In view of these responsibilities, it shall be the policy of APhA,

1. Cooperate with all responsible agencies and departments of the federal government;

2. Provide leadership and guidance for the profession of pharmacy by properly assuming its role with other health profession organizations at the national level (e.g., American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Dental Association, American Nurses Association, and American Veterinary Medical Association);

3. Assist and cooperate with all national specialty pharmaceutical organizations to provide assistance and coordination in civil defense matters relevant to their area of concern;

4. Encourage and assist the state and local pharmacy associations in their efforts to cooperate with the state and local governments as well as the state and local health profession organizations in order that the pharmacist may assume their proper place in civil defense operations; and

5. Provide leadership and guidance so that individual pharmacists can contribute their services to civil defense and disaster planning, training, and operations in a manner consistent with their position as a member of the health team.

(JAPhA. NS3:330; June 1963) (JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S62; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010) (JAPhA. NS51(4): 483; July/August 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4):379; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA should continue to:

1. Emphasize its support for programs on disaster preparedness that involve the services of pharmacists (e.g., Medical Reserve Corps) and emergency responder registration networks [e.g., Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professions (ESAR-VHP)];

2.. Improve and expand established channels of communication between pharmacists; local, state, and national pharmacy associations; boards and colleges of pharmacy; and allied health professions;

3. Maintain its present liaison with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) of the Department of Health and Human Services and continue to seek Office of Emergency Management (OEM) assistance through professional service contracts to further develop pharmacy's activities in all phases of preparation before disasters; and

4. Encourage routine inspection of drug stockpiles and disaster kits by state boards of pharmacy.

(JAPhA. N)S6:328; June 1996) (JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S62; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (JAPhA NS51(4):483; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. The committee recommends that APhA develop a disaster plan for the guidance of pharmacy organizations in responding to the needs of pharmacists who experience losses from disasters and that this model plan be disseminated to state associations for their reference.

2. The committee recommends that APhA cooperate with associations representing pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and others in the pharmaceutical supply system in developing a mechanism to facilitate the communication of information about the losses incurred by pharmacists as a result of disasters. Those firms that make it a practice to replace uninsured losses of inventories of their products could do so promptly and efficiently so that normal pharmaceutical services to the affected community are resumed as soon as possible.

(JAPhA. NS11:256; May 1971) (JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S62; September/October 2002) (JAPhA. NS46(5):562; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to revise the drug and medical device classification paradigms for prescription and nonprescription medications and medical devices to allow greater access to certain medications and medical devices under conditions of safe use while maintaining patients' relationships with their pharmacists and other health care providers.

2. APhA supports the implementation or modification of state laws and regulations to facilitate pharmacists' implementation and provision of services related to a revised drug and medical device classification system.

3. APhA supports a patient care delivery model built on coordination and communication between pharmacists and other health care team members in the evaluation and management of care delivery.

4. APhA affirms that pharmacists are qualified to provide clinical interventions on medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

5. APhA urges manufacturers, FDA, and other stakeholders to include pharmacists' input in the development and adoption of technology and standardized processes for services related to medications and medical devices under FDA's defined conditions of safe use.

6. APhA supports the utilization of best practices, treatment algorithms, and clinical judgment of pharmacists and other health care providers to guide the evaluation and management of care delivery related to medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

7. APhA encourages the inclusion of medications, medical devices, and their associated services provided under FDA's defined conditions of safe use within health benefit coverage.

8. APhA supports compensation of pharmacists and other health care professionals for the provision of services related to FDA's defined conditions of safe use programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists' patient care services and related prescribing by pharmacists help improve patient access to care, patient outcomes, and community health, and they align with coordinated, team-based care.

2. APhA supports increased patient access to care through pharmacist prescriptive authority models.

3. APhA opposes requirements and restrictions that impede patient access to pharmacist-prescribed medications and related services.

4. APhA urges prescribing pharmacists to coordinate care with patients' other health care providers through appropriate documentation, communication, and referral.

5. APhA advocates that medications and services associated with prescribing by pharmacists must be covered and compensated in the same manner as for other prescribers.

6. APhA supports the right of patients to receive pharmacist-prescribed medications at the pharmacy of their choice.

(JAPhA. 57(4):442; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports regulatory changes to further facilitate clinical research related to the clinical efficacy and safety associated with the use of cannabis and its various components.

2. APhA encourages health care provider education related to the clinical efficacy, safety, and management of patients using cannabis and its various components.

3. APhA advocates that the pharmacist collect and document information in the pharmacy patient profile about patient use of cannabis and its various components and provide appropriate patient counseling.

4. APhA supports pharmacist participation in furnishing cannabis and its various components when scientific data support the legitimate medical use of the products and delivery mechanisms, and federal, state, or territory laws or regulations permit pharmacists to furnish them.

5. APhA opposes pharmacist involvement in furnishing cannabis and its various components for recreational use.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015)

APhA supports vigorous enforcement of laws to ensure that all those who sell or dispense prescription and non-prescription drugs comply with legal criteria.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):42; July 1978) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) JAPhA. NS46(5):562; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA recognizes and supports pharmacist administration of prescription and non-prescription drugs as a component of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA supports the development of educational programs and practice guidelines for student pharmacists and practitioners for the administration of prescription and non-prescription drugs.

3. APhA supports pharmacist compensation for administration of prescription and non-prescription drugs and services related to such administration.

4. APhA urges adoption of state laws and regulations authorizing pharmacist administration of prescription and non-prescription drugs.

(JAPhA. 38(4):417; July/August 1998) (JAPhA. NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006)(Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2020)

APhA supports issuing drug products to patients by non-pharmacists under the control and direction of pharmacists.

(Am Pharm. NS24(7):60; July 1984) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports the voluntary involvement of pharmacists, in collaboration with other health care providers, in emergency contraceptive programs that include patient evaluation, patient education, and direct provision of emergency contraceptive medications.

(JAPhA. NS40(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2000) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2009)(Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA supports making insect sting kits and other, life-saving, emergency, treatment kits available for lawful dispensing by pharmacists without a prescription order, based on the pharmacist's professional judgment.

2. APhA supports permitting pharmacists to lawfully dispense and administer legend drugs in emergency situations, without an order from a licensed prescriber, provided that: (a) there is an assessment on the part of the pharmacist and the patient that the drug is needed immediately to preserve the well-being of the patient; (b) the normal legal means for obtaining authorization to dispense the drug must not be immediately available, such as in cases where the patient's physician is not available; and (c) the quantity of the drug, that can be dispensed in an emergency situation, is enough so that the emergency situation can subside, and the patient can be sustained for the immediate emergency, as determined by the pharmacist's professional judgment.

3. APhA supports expansion of state Good Samaritan Acts to provide pharmacists immunity from professional liability for dispensing in emergency situations without order from a licensed prescriber.

4. APhA supports permitting pharmacists to lawfully dispense and/or administer legend drugs without an order from a licensed prescriber during disaster situations.

(Am Pharm. NS19(7):68; June 1979) (Reviewed 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (Revised 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA supports the repeal of state laws that prohibit the dispensing of an otherwise legal prescription order, issued by a prescriber licensed in another state.

(Am Pharm. NS19(7):67; June 1979) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA advocates for pharmacists' independent prescriptive authority of medications indicated for opioid use disorders (MOUDs) and other substance use disorders to expand patient access to treatment.

(JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA supports policies and practices that increase the availability of naloxone.

2. APhA supports the availability of naloxone as both a prescription and non-prescription medication.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists and payers to ensure equitable access to and affordability of at least one naloxone formulation regardless of prescription status.

4. APhA encourages payers to provide fair reimbursement to dispensers of naloxone.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August)

1. APhA supports the use of evidence-based medicine as first-line treatment for opioid use disorder for patients, including healthcare professionals in and out of the workplace, for as long as needed to treat their disease.

2. APhA encourages pharmacies to maintain an inventory of medications used in treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD), to ensure access for patients.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists and payers to ensure patients have equitable access to, and coverage for, at least one medication from each class of medications used in the treatment of opioid use disorder.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA advocates for nationwide integration and uniformity of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) that incorporate federal, state, and territory databases for the purpose of providing health care professionals with accurate and real-time information to assist in clinical decision making when providing patient care services related to controlled substances.

2. APhA supports pharmacist involvement in the development of uniform standards for an integrated nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) that includes the definition of authorized registered users, documentation, reporting requirements, system response time, security of information, minimum reporting data sets, and standard transaction format.

3. APhA supports mandatory prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) enrollment by all health care providers, mandatory reporting by all those who dispense controlled substances, and appropriate system query by registrants during the patient care process related to controlled substances.

4. APhA advocates for the development of seamless workflow integration systems that would enable consistent use of a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) by registrants to facilitate prospective drug review as part of the patient care process related to controlled substances.

5. APhA advocates for continuous, sustainable federal funding sources for practitioners and system operators to utilize and maintain a standardized integrated and real-time nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).

6. APhA supports the use of interprofessional advisory boards that include pharmacists to coordinate collaborative efforts for (a) compiling, analyzing, and using prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data trends related to controlled substance misuse, abuse, and/or fraud; (b) providing focused provider education and patient referral to treatment programs; and (c) supporting research activities on the impact of PDMPs.

7. APhA supports education and training for registrants about a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to ensure proper data integrity, use, and confidentiality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364-365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

APhA supports regulations that would allow pharmacies to transfer prescriptions for controlled substances for the purposes of an initial fill.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10); September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports legislative, regulatory, and private sector efforts that include pharmacists' input and that will balance patient/consumers' need for access to medications for legitimate medical purposes with the need to prevent the diversion, misuse, and abuse of medications.

2. APhA supports consumer sales limits of nonprescription drug products, such as methamphetamine precursors, that may be illegally converted into drugs for illicit use.

3. APhA encourages education of all personnel involved in the distribution chain of nonprescription products so they understand the potential for certain products, such as methamphetamine precursors, to be illegally converted into drugs for illicit use. APhA supports comprehensive substance use disorder education, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

4. APhA supports public and private initiatives to fund treatment and prevention of substance use disorders.

5. APhA supports stringent enforcement of criminal laws against individuals who engage in drug trafficking.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016) (JAPhA. 59(4): e28; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA urges pharmacists to expand patient access to secure, convenient, and ecologically responsible drug disposal options, in accordance with the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, by implementing disposal programs they deem appropriate for their individual practice sites, patient care settings, and business models in an effort to reduce the amount of dispensed but unused prescription drug product available for diversion and misuse.

(JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017)

APhA supports expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including but not limited to pharmacist-administered injection services for treatment and maintenance of substance use disorders that are based on a valid prescription.

(JAPhA. 56(4):370; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports access to third-party (non-patient recipient) prescriptions for opioid reversal agents that are furnished by pharmacists.

2. APhA affirms that third-party (non-patient-recipient) prescriptions should be reimbursed by public and private payers.

(JAPhA. 56(4):370; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in overdose, drug diversion, and substance-related and addictive disorders.

2. APhA supports recognition of pharmacists as the health care providers who must exercise professional judgment in the assessment of a patient's conditions to fulfill corresponding responsibility for the use of controlled substances and other medications with the potential for misuse, abuse, and/or diversion.

3. APhA supports pharmacists' access to and use of prescription monitoring programs to identify and prevent drug misuse, abuse, and/or diversion.

4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws and regulations that permit pharmacists to furnish opioid reversal agents to prevent opioid-related deaths due to overdose.

5. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in selecting appropriate therapy and dosing and initiating and providing education about the proper use of opioid reversal agents to prevent opioid-related deaths due to overdose.

(JAPhA. 54(4):358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA supports and encourages a cooperative effort among state and national pharmacy associations, state boards of pharmacy, and state legislative bodies to authorize, develop, implement and maintain mechanisms for the comprehensive funding of state recovery programs for pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

(JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S61; September/October 2002) (JAPhA. NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010) (JAPhA. NS51(4):483; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA advocates that pharmacists should not practice while subject to physical or mental impairment due to the influence of drugs -

2. APhA supports establishment of counseling, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation programs for pharmacists and student pharmacists who are subject to physical or mental impairment due to the influence of drugs - including alcohol - or other causes, when such impairment has potential for adversely affecting their abilities to function in their professional capacities.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):32; July 1982) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (JAPhA. NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA encourages pharmacists to voluntarily remove all proprietary drug products with potential for abuse or adverse drug interactions from general sales areas and to make their dispensing the personal responsibility of the pharmacist.

(JAPhA. NS11:267; May 1971) (JAPhA NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports the continued classification of heroin as a Schedule I controlled substance.

2. APhA supports research by qualified investigators under the Investigational New Drug (IND) process to explore the potential medicinal uses of Schedule I controlled substances and their analogues.

3. APhA supports comprehensive education to maximize the proper use of approved analgesic drugs for treating patients with chronic pain.

4. APhA recognizes that pharmacists receiving controlled substance prescription orders used for analgesia have a responsibility to ensure that the medication has been prescribed for a legitimate medical use and that patients achieve the intended therapeutic outcomes

5. APhA advocates that pharmacists play an important role on the patient care team providing pain control and management.

(Am Pharm. NS23(6):52; June 1983) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA urges the Drug Enforcement Administration, in processing employment waiver requests, to defer to the decisions of state boards of pharmacy related to the licensure of pharmacists suffering from alcohol and other chemical dependencies.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA endorses the concept of the "Drug-Free Workplace" and recommends that, where drug testing is performed in the workplace, it be conducted in conjunction with an employee assistance program.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):45; June 1990) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA encourages federal government agencies to provide mechanisms for supporting experimental, drug dependence, treatment programs based on principles of maintenance and/or detoxification.

2. APhA supports the development of a comprehensive educational program on drug use and misuse, starting with children in primary grades (kindergarten-grade 5).

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):32; July 1982) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports the denaturing of abused products containing hallucinogens by appropriate means, such as the addition of harmless chemicals with obnoxious scents or with the ability to produce nausea when the products are abused, but not when used as directed.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):40; May 1981) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports regulatory changes to further facilitate clinical research related to the clinical efficacy and safety associated with the use of cannabis and its various components.

2. APhA encourages health care provider education related to the clinical efficacy, safety, and management of patients using cannabis and its various components.

3. APhA advocates that the pharmacist collect and document information in the pharmacy patient profile about patient use of cannabis and its various components and provide appropriate patient counseling.

4. APhA supports pharmacist participation in furnishing cannabis and its various components when scientific data support the legitimate medical use of the products and delivery mechanisms, and federal, state, or territory laws or regulations permit pharmacists to furnish them.

5. APhA opposes pharmacist involvement in furnishing cannabis and its various components for recreational use.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015)

1. APhA supports research by properly qualified investigators operating under the investigational new drug (IND) process to explore fully the potential medicinal uses of marijuana and its constituents or derivatives.

2. APhA opposes state by state, marijuana specific, or other drug specific legislation intended to circumvent the federal laws and regulations pertaining to: (a) marketing approval of new drugs based on demonstrated safety and efficacy, or (b) controlling restrictions relating to those substances having a recognized hazard of abuse.

(Am Pharm. NS20(7):71; July 1980) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA encourages developers of methadone programs to place pharmacists in charge of their drug distribution and control systems.

(JAPhA. NS12:308; June 1972) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA is opposed to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes.

2. APhA should educate the public on the dangers of the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes.

3. APhA encourages enforcement of laws related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):420; June 1986) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA encourages state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to revise laws and regulations to support the patient-centered care of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with injection drug use, APhA supports the expansion of interprofessional harm reduction education in the curriculum of schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists to initiate, sustain, and integrate evidence-based harm reduction principles and programs into their practice to optimize the health of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

4. APhA supports pharmacists' roles to provide and promote consistent, unrestricted, and immediate access to evidence-based, mortality- and morbidity-reducing interventions to enhance the health of people who inject nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances and their communities, including sterile syringes, needles, and other safe injection equipment, syringe disposal, fentanyl test strips, immunizations, condoms, wound care supplies, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), point-of-care testing for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), opioid overdose reversal medications, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and addiction treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to overdose prevention sites and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA opposes legalization of the possession, sale, distribution, or use of illicit drug substances for non-medical uses.

2. APhA supports the use of drug courts or other evidence-based mechanisms-when appropriate as determined by the courts-to provide alternate pathways within the criminal justice system for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who are charged with drug-related offenses and who have substance use or other related medical disorders.

3. APhA supports criminal penalties for persons convicted of drug-related crimes, including but not limited to drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, and drug diversion, whenever alternate pathways are inappropriate as determined by the courts.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):46; June 1990) (Reviewed 2003)(Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (JAPhA 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

1. APhA encourages the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other regulatory agencies to recognize pharmacists as partners that are committed to ensuring that patients in legitimate need of controlled substances are able to receive the medications.

2. APhA supports efforts to modernize and harmonize state and federal controlled substance laws.

3. APhA urges DEA and other regulatory agencies to balance patient care and regulatory issues when developing, interpreting, and enforcing laws and regulations.

4. APhA encourages DEA and other regulatory agencies to recognize the changes occurring in health care delivery and to establish a transparent and inclusive process for the timely updating of laws and regulations.

5. APhA encourages the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with professional organizations to identify and reduce (a) the burdens on health care providers, (b) the cost of health care delivery, and (c) the barriers to patient care in the establishment and enforcement of controlled substance laws.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA urges pharmacies and facilities that include pharmacies to discontinue the sale of tobacco products.

2. APhA urges the federal government and state governments to limit participation in government-funded prescription programs to pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

3. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products.

4. APhA urges colleges of pharmacy to only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products as experience sites for their students.

5. APhA urges the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to adopt the position that college-administered pharmacy experience programs should only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

6. APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists who are seeking employment opportunities to first consider positions in pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA encourages state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to revise laws and regulations to permit the unrestricted sale or distribution of sterile syringes and needles by or with the knowledge of a pharmacist in an effort to decrease the transmission of blood-borne diseases.

(JAPhA. 39(4):447; July/August 1999) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA opposes drug manufacturers' refusal to supply certain drugs to correctional health services units necessary to provide medical treatment of inmates.

2. APhA advocates for inmates to have an opportunity, equal to that of non-inmates, to access medications that correctional healthcare providers deem medically necessary for appropriate and humane health care treatment.

3. APhA advocates for correctional healthcare providers to have opportunity, equal to that of non-correctional healthcare providers, to access, prescribe, and procure pharmaceuticals deemed necessary for medical treatment of inmates.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to revise the drug and medical device classification paradigms for prescription and nonprescription medications and medical devices to allow greater access to certain medications and medical devices under conditions of safe use while maintaining patients' relationships with their pharmacists and other health care providers.

2. APhA supports the implementation or modification of state laws and regulations to facilitate pharmacists' implementation and provision of services related to a revised drug and medical device classification system.

3. APhA supports a patient care delivery model built on coordination and communication between pharmacists and other health care team members in the evaluation and management of care delivery.

4. APhA affirms that pharmacists are qualified to provide clinical interventions on medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

5. APhA urges manufacturers, FDA, and other stakeholders to include pharmacists' input in the development and adoption of technology and standardized processes for services related to medications and medical devices under FDA's defined conditions of safe use.

6. APhA supports the utilization of best practices, treatment algorithms, and clinical judgment of pharmacists and other health care providers to guide the evaluation and management of care delivery related to medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

7. APhA encourages the inclusion of medications, medical devices, and their associated services provided under FDA's defined conditions of safe use within health benefit coverage.

8. APhA supports compensation of pharmacists and other health care professionals for the provision of services related to FDA's defined conditions of safe use programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA urges the development of programs and policies that facilitate patient access to and affordability of biologic products.

2. APhA urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the development of standards and pathways that will evaluate the interchangeability of biologic products.

3. APhA recognizes the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Purple Book as an authoritative reference about biologic product interchangeability within the United States.

4. APhA opposes interchangeable biologic product substitution processes that require authorization, recordkeeping, or reporting beyond generic product substitution processes.

5. APhA encourages scientific justification for extrapolation of indications for biologic products to ensure patient safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

1. APhA supports restructuring the current drug classification system and drug approval process. Evidence should drive the restructuring beyond the current prescription and nonprescription classes to ensure appropriate access to medications and pharmacist services and improve medication use and outcomes.

2. APhA encourages pharmacists to exercise their professional judgment to manage access to nonprescription medications and dietary supplements to facilitate patient/caregiver interaction with their pharmacist.

(JAPhA. NS46(5):561; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff are essential members of the healthcare team and should be actively engaged and supported in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and countermeasure activities related to public health and other emergencies.

2. APhA reaffirms the 2016 policy on the Role of the Pharmacist in National Defense, and calls for the active and coordinated engagement of all pharmacists in public health and other emergency planning and response activities.

3. APhA advocates for the timely removal of regulatory restrictions, practice limitations, and financial barriers during public health and other emergencies to meet immediate patient care needs.

4. APhA urges regulatory bodies and government agencies to recognize pharmacists' training and ability to evaluate patient needs, provide care, and appropriately refer patients during public health and other emergencies.

5. APhA advocates for pharmacists' authority to ensure patient access to care through the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, as well as provision of other patient care services during times of public health and other emergencies.

6. APhA calls for processes to ensure that any willing and able pharmacy and pharmacy practitioner is not excluded from providing pharmacist patient care services during public health and other emergencies.

7. APhA calls on public and private payers to establish and implement payment policies that compensate pharmacists providing patient care services, including during public health and other emergencies, within their recognized authority.

8. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists as essential members in the planning, development, and implementation of alternate care sites or delivery models during public health and other emergencies.

9. APhA reaffirms the 2015 Interoperability of Communications Among Health Care Providers to Improve Quality of Care and encourages pharmacists, as members of the healthcare team, to communicate care decisions made during public health and other emergencies with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

APhA supports coordination of patients' comprehensive pharmacy and medical benefits that allows for provision of and compensation for pharmacists' patient care services; aligns incentives to optimize patient outcomes; streamlines administrative processes; reduces overall health care costs and preserves patients' right to choose providers under their pharmacy and medical benefits.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA opposes drug manufacturers' refusal to supply certain drugs to correctional health services units necessary to provide medical treatment of inmates.

2. APhA advocates for inmates to have an opportunity, equal to that of non-inmates, to access medications that correctional healthcare providers deem medically necessary for appropriate and humane health care treatment.

3. APhA advocates for correctional healthcare providers to have opportunity, equal to that of non-correctional healthcare providers, to access, prescribe, and procure pharmaceuticals deemed necessary for medical treatment of inmates.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA urges government authorities to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, and other pharmaceutical supply distributors and providers accountable to state and federal price gouging laws in selling those items to patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and other health care providers during times of local, state, or national emergency.

2. APhA urges government authorities to aggressively enforce laws and regulations against adulterated products and false and misleading claims by entities offering to sell pharmaceutical and medical products to health care providers and consumers.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA asserts that the quality and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products and the global pharmaceutical and medical product supply chain are essential to the United States national security and public health.

2. APhA advocates for pharmacist engagement in the development and implementation of national and global strategies to ensure the availability, quality, and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products.

3. APhA calls for the development, implementation, and oversight of enhanced and transparent processes, standards, and information that ensure quality and safety of all pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing processes.

4. APhA calls on the federal government to penalize entities who create barriers that threaten the availability, quality, and safety of United States pharmaceutical and other medical product supplies.

5. APhA calls for the development of redundancy and risk mitigation strategies in the manufacturing process to ensure reliable and consistent availability of safe and high-quality pharmaceutical and other medical products.

6. APhA advocates for regulatory and market incentives that bolster the availability, quality, and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products.

7. APhA calls for greater transparency, accuracy, and timeliness of information and notification to health care professionals regarding drug shortages, product quality and manufacturing issues, supply disruption, and recalls.

8. APhA encourages pharmacy providers, health systems, and payers to develop coordinated response plans, including the use of therapeutic alternatives, to mitigate the impact of drug shortages and supply disruptions.

9. APhA supports federal legislation that engages pharmacists, other health professionals, and manufacturers in developing a United States-specific essential medicines list and provides funding mechanisms to ensure consistent availability of these products.

10. APhA recommends the use of pharmacists in the delivery of public messages, through media and other communication channels, regarding pharmaceutical supply and quality issues.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020)

1. APhA recognizes that certain complex medications require more specialized care and resources. Further, APhA asserts that delineation of medications as specialty versus non-specialty, and associated payer and manufacturer practices, may introduce continuity of care disruption, patient access issues, and financial inequities.

2. APhA supports pharmacists and pharmacies choosing to specialize or incorporate specialty pharmacy services into their practice to optimize patient outcomes.

3. APhA opposes payer policies and practices that limit patient choice of pharmacy providers, disrupt continuity of care, or compromise patient safety through the creation of specialty drug lists, and restrictive specialty pharmacy networks

4. APhA opposes manufacturer distribution and related business practices that restrict patient or pharmacy access to medications, medical products, and patient care services.

5. APhA advocates for the adoption of pharmacy profession-developed, harmonized practice standards for specialized pharmacy practices, and specialty pharmacy services and products.

6. APhA encourages increased availability and use of data integration, patient financial assistance, and other resources to inform clinical practice and support the provision of specialized pharmacy practices and specialty pharmacy services.

7. APhA supports the availability of education and training for pharmacists and student pharmacists related to specialized pharmacy practices and specialty pharmacy services.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA urges the development of programs and policies that facilitate patient access to and affordability of biologic products.

2. APhA urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the development of standards and pathways that will evaluate the interchangeability of biologic products.

3. APhA recognizes the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Purple Book as an authoritative reference about biologic product interchangeability within the United States.

4. APhA opposes interchangeable biologic product substitution processes that require authorization, recordkeeping, or reporting beyond generic product substitution processes.

5. APhA encourages scientific justification for extrapolation of indications for biologic products to ensure patient safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

1. APhA supports access to third-party (non-patient recipient) prescriptions for opioid reversal agents that are furnished by pharmacists.

2. APhA affirms that third-party (non-patient-recipient) prescriptions should be reimbursed by public and private payers.

(JAPhA. 56(4):370; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports the immediate reporting by manufacturers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of disruptions that may impact the market supply of medically necessary drug products to prevent, mitigate, or resolve drug shortage issues and supports the authority for FDA to impose penalties for failing to report.

2. APhA supports revising current laws and regulations that restrict the FDA's ability to provide timely communication to pharmacists, other health care providers, health systems, and professional associations regarding potential or real drug shortages.

3. APhA encourages the FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other stakeholders to collaborate in order to minimize barriers (e.g., aggregate production quotas, annual assessment of needs, unapproved drug initiatives) that contribute to or exacerbate drug shortages.

4. APhA should actively support legislation to hasten the development of an efficient regulatory process to approve therapeutically equivalent generic versions of biologic drug products.

5. APhA encourages pharmacists and other health care providers to assist in maintaining continuity of care during drug shortage situations by (a) creating a practice site drug shortage plan as well as policies and procedures; (b) using reputable drug shortage management and information resources in decision making; (c) communicating with patients and coordinating with other health care providers; (d) avoiding excessive ordering and stockpiling of drugs; (e) acquiring drugs from reputable distributors; and (f) heightening their awareness of the potential for counterfeit or adulterated drugs entering the drug distribution system.

6. APhA encourages accrediting and regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical science and manufacturing communities to evaluate policies/procedures related to the establishment and use of drug expiration dates and any impact those policies/procedures may have on drug shortages.

7. APhA encourages the active investigation and appropriate prosecution of entities that engage in price gouging and profiteering of medically necessary drug products in response to drug shortages.

(JAPhA. NS52(4): 457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA advocates the elimination of coupons, rebates, discounts, and other incentives provided to patients that promote the transfer of prescriptions between competitors.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA opposes distribution programs and policies by manufacturers, governmental agencies, and voluntary health groups that circumvent the pharmacist and promote the dispensing of prescription, legend drugs by non-pharmacists. These programs and policies should, in the public interest, be eliminated.

(JAPhA. NS6:293; June 1966) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA supports pharmaceutical industry adoption of a "transparent pricing" system that would eliminate hidden discounts, free goods, and other subtle economic devices.

(JAPhA. NS8:362; July 1968) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021)

3. APhA supports public education about the risk of using medications whose production, distribution, or sale does not comply with U.S. federal and state laws and regulations.

4. APhA urges pharmacists and other health care professionals to report suspected counterfeit products to the Food and Drug Administration.

(JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA opposes any manufacturer-provider relationship that involves product licensing agreements and/or restricted distribution arrangements that infringe on pharmacists' rights to provide pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical care to their patients.

(Am Pharm. NS34(6):55; June 1994) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA encourages the development and use of quality-control procedures by all persons or entities involved in the distribution and dispensing of drug products. Such procedures should assure drug product integrity and stability in accordance with official compendia standards.

(Am Pharm. NS29(7):464; July 1989) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports a system of equal opportunity with the same terms, conditions, and prices available for all pharmacies.

(Am Pharm. NS25(5):52; May 1985) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA opposes any legislation that would grant FDA authority to restrict the channels of drug distribution for any prescription drug as a condition for approval for marketing the drug under approved labeling.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):30; July 1978) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports development, distribution, and use of unit-of-use packaging as the pharmaceutical industry standard to enhance patient safety, patient adherence, drug distribution efficiencies, and Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) regulations.

2. APhA encourages collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry, repackagers, third-party payers, and appropriate federal agencies to effect the changes necessary for the adoption of unit-of-use packaging as the industry standard.

3. APhA supports the enactment of legislation and regulations to permit pharmacists to modify prescribed quantities to correspond with commercially available unit-of-use packages.

(JAPhA. NS43(5:)(suppl 1):S57; September/October 2003) (JAPhA. NS46(5):562; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018) (JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA supports the role of the pharmacist to select appropriate drug product packaging.

2. APhA supports the pharmaceutical industry's performance of compatibility and stability testing of drug products in officially defined containers to assist pharmacist selection of appropriate drug product packaging.

3. APhA supports the value of unit-of-use packaging to enhance patient care but recognizes that product and patient needs may preclude its use.

4. APhA encourages the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that all unit-of-use packaging will accommodate a standard pharmacy label.

(Am Pharm. NS32(6):515; June 1992) (JAPhA. NS44(5): 551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2020)

APhA supports the use of tamper-evident packaging on pharmaceutical products throughout the supply chain before dispensing to reduce the potential of counterfeit and/or adulterated medications reaching patients.

(JAPhA. N552(4):58; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA encourages including a description of a medication's appearance on the pharmacy label or receipt as a means of reducing medication errors and distribution of counterfeit medications.

(JAPhA. NS52(4): 458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA supports packaging all drugs intended for parenteral use in humans in single-dose containers, except where clearly not feasible.

(JAPhA. NS11:270; May 1971) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to revise the drug and medical device classification paradigms for prescription and nonprescription medications and medical devices to allow greater access to certain medications and medical devices under conditions of safe use while maintaining patients' relationships with their pharmacists and other health care providers.

2. APhA supports the implementation or modification of state laws and regulations to facilitate pharmacists' implementation and provision of services related to a revised drug and medical device classification system.

3. APhA supports a patient care delivery model built on coordination and communication between pharmacists and other health care team members in the evaluation and management of care delivery.

4. APhA affirms that pharmacists are qualified to provide clinical interventions on medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

5. APhA urges manufacturers, FDA, and other stakeholders to include pharmacists' input in the development and adoption of technology and standardized processes for services related to medications and medical devices under FDA's defined conditions of safe use.

6. APhA supports the utilization of best practices, treatment algorithms, and clinical judgment of pharmacists and other health care providers to guide the evaluation and management of care delivery related to medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

7. APhA encourages the inclusion of medications, medical devices, and their associated services provided under FDA's defined conditions of safe use within health benefit coverage.

8. APhA supports compensation of pharmacists and other health care professionals for the provision of services related to FDA's defined conditions of safe use programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists' patient care services and related prescribing by pharmacists help improve patient access to care, patient outcomes, and community health, and they align with coordinated, team-based care.

2. APhA supports increased patient access to care through pharmacist prescriptive authority models.

3. APhA opposes requirements and restrictions that impede patient access to pharmacist-prescribed medications and related services.

4. APhA urges prescribing pharmacists to coordinate care with patients' other health care providers through appropriate documentation, communication, and referral.

5. APhA advocates that medications and services associated with prescribing by pharmacists must be covered and compensated in the same manner as for other prescribers.

6. APhA supports the right of patients to receive pharmacist-prescribed medications at the pharmacy of their choice.

(JAPhA. 57(4):442; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA reaffirms that as health care professionals, pharmacists are expected to act in the best interest of patients when making clinical recommendations.

2. APhA supports pharmacists using evidence-based practices to guide decisions that lead to the delivery of optimal patient care.

3. APhA supports pharmacist development, adoption, and use of policies and procedures to manage potential conflicts of interest in practice.

4. APhA should develop core principles that guide pharmacists in developing and using policies and procedures for identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest.

(JAPhA. NS51(4): 482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA calls for education and collaboration among health professional organizations, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that all manufacturer, distributor, and repackaged marketed prescription drugs used in patient care have been FDA-approved as safe and effective.

2. APhA supports initiatives aimed at closing regulatory and distribution-system loopholes that facilitate market entry of new prescription drugs products without FDA approval.

3. APhA encourages health professionals to consider FDA approval status of prescription drug products when making decisions about prescribing, dispensing, substitution, purchasing, formulary development, and in the development of pharmacy/medical education programs and drug information compendia.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports pharmacists using professional judgment to make informed decisions regarding the appropriateness of use or the sale of complementary and alternative medicines.

2. APhA shall assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in becoming knowledgeable about complementary and alternative medications to facilitate the counseling of patients regarding effectiveness, proper use, indications, safety, and possible interactions.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997) (Reviewed 2002) (JAPhA. NS45(5):556-557; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA supports the requirements that all drug manufacturers must obtain a federal license or registration, conditioned upon an inspection of the manufacturer's facilities before manufacturing is begun.

(JAPhA. NS10:347; June 1970) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA supports a uniform procedure nationwide for designating on a prescription order that drug product selection by the pharmacist is precluded by the prescriber.

(Am Pharm. NS29(1):67; January 1989) (JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):58; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports state substitution laws that emphasize pharmacists' professional responsibility for determining, on the basis of available evidence, including professional literature, clinical studies, drug recalls, manufacturer reputation and other pertinent factors, that the drug products they dispense are therapeutically effective.

(JAPhA. NS11:260; May 1971) (JAPhA. NS 44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA opposes the enactment of legislation that would act to restrict the clinical judgments of medical practitioners and other health professionals.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):32; July 1982) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017)

1. APhA urges the development of programs and policies that facilitate patient access to and affordability of biologic products.

2. APhA urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the development of standards and pathways that will evaluate the interchangeability of biologic products.

3. APhA recognizes the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Purple Book as an authoritative reference about biologic product interchangeability within the United States.

4. APhA opposes interchangeable biologic product substitution processes that require authorization, recordkeeping, or reporting beyond generic product substitution processes.

5. APhA encourages scientific justification for extrapolation of indications for biologic products to ensure patient safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

APhA should initiate educational programs for pharmacists and other health care professionals concerning the determination of therapeutic equivalence of generic/biosimilar versions of biologic drug products

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA encourages continuing dialogue with other health care organizations on pharmacist's role in therapeutic interchange, including the formation of a task force to include representatives of pharmacy, industry, government, and medicine for the purpose of adoption of uniform terminology and definitions related to chemical, biological, and therapeutic equivalence.

2. APhA supports the concept of therapeutic interchange of various drug products by pharmacists under arrangements in which pharmacists and authorized prescribers interrelate on behalf of the care of patients.

(JAPhA. NS27:424; June 1987) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports recognition of the pharmacist's role in the selection of pharmaceutical alternates (i.e., drug products containing the same therapeutic moiety, but differing in salt, ester, or comparable physical/chemical form or differing in dosage form)

(Am Pharm. NS23(6):52; June 1983) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports;

(a) the use of contemporary communications technologies to enhance communication of recall information to all relevant parties;

(b) developing and promoting strategies to identify and communicate with patients who may have received recalled products, when appropriate;

(c) identifying compensation mechanisms for resources expended in responding to recalls; and

(d) maintaining the FDA recall program, which ensures that appropriate promptness of action can be taken based on the depth and severity of the recall.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):38; June 1995) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (JAPhA. NS51(4): 483; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in overdose, drug diversion, and substance-related and addictive disorders.

2. APhA supports recognition of pharmacists as the health care providers who must exercise professional judgment in the assessment of a patient's conditions to fulfill corresponding responsibility for the use of controlled substances and other medications with the potential for misuse, abuse, and/or diversion.

3. APhA supports pharmacists' access to and use of prescription monitoring programs to identify and prevent drug misuse, abuse, and/or diversion.

4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws and regulations that permit pharmacists to furnish opioid reversal agents to prevent opioid-related deaths due to overdose.

5. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in selecting appropriate therapy and dosing and initiating and providing education about the proper use of opioid reversal agents to prevent opioid-related deaths due to overdose.

(JAPhA. 54(4):358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA denounces all forms of racism.

2. APhA affirms that racism is a social determinant of health that contributes to persistent health inequities.

3. APhA urges the entire pharmacy community to actively work to dismantle racism.

4. APhA urges the integration of anti-racism education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

5. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decision-makers, and employers to create sustainable opportunities, incentives, and initiatives in education, research, and practice to address racism.

6. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decision-makers, and employers to routinely and systematically evaluate organizational policies and programs for their impact on racial inequities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA calls on all national and state pharmacy organizations, colleges/schools of pharmacy, and other stakeholders to support the development of a profession-wide effort to address harassment, intimidation, and abuse of power or position.

2. APhA supports the development of a profession-wide guideline on reporting harassment, intimidation, or abuse of power or position in their pharmacy education and training, professional practice, or volunteer service to pharmacy organizations.

3. APhA recommends all pharmacy organizations incorporate harassment, intimidation, and abuse training in their member professional development and education activities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15-e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA advocates for the identification of medical conditions that may be safely and effectively treated by community-based pharmacists.

2. APhA encourages the training and education of pharmacists and student pharmacists regarding identification, treatment, monitoring, documentation, follow-up, and referral for medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists

3. APhA advocates for laws and regulations that allow pharmacists to identify and manage medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists.

4. APhA advocates for appropriate remuneration for the assessment and treatment of medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists from government and private payers to ensure sustainability and access for patients.

5. APhA supports research to examine the outcomes of services that focus on medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports education about digital health technologies and integration in pharmacy practice, in pharmacy school curricula, and for the pharmacy workforce.

2. APhA supports inclusion of pharmacists in the design and development of digital health technologies.

3. APhA supports that digital health technologies be interoperable with and integrated into pharmacy management systems and electronic health records.

4. APhA supports pharmacists applying digital health technologies to optimize patient care outcomes.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA strongly believes that all pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be safe in their work and learning environments and be free from firearm-related violence.

2. APhA strongly recommends that technician training programs, schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training programs, and employers should develop programs to increase readiness in the event of an active shooter.

3. APhA strongly believes pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be trained to recognize and refer patients at high risk of violence to themselves or others.

4. APhA encourages pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians who are victims of firearm-related violence to seek the help of counselors and other trained mental health professionals.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019)

1. APhA supports labeling of all prescription and nonprescription products, as well as dietary supplement products, to indicate the presence of gluten.

2. APhA encourages manufacturers to formulate drug products without use of wheat, barley, rye, or their derivatives whenever possible.

3. APhA supports additional research on the effects of gluten intolerance and celiac malabsorption, particularly as it relates to medication absorption.

4. APhA supports pharmacist education regarding celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

5. APhA encourages the development of analytical methods that can accurately detect lower levels of gluten than the current standard (20 ppm) and for the establishment of evidence-based gluten-free standards for the labeling of foods, excipients, dietary supplements, and prescription and nonprescription products.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA calls for employers to develop policies and resources to support pharmacy personnel's ability to retreat or withdraw, without retaliation, from interactions that threaten their safety and well-being.

2. APhA encourages the development or utilization of educational programs and resources by the Association, employers, and other institutions to prepare pharmacy personnel to respond to situations that threaten their safety and well-being.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA encourages all health care personnel to receive training and provide services to identify, assist, and refer people at risk for, or currently experiencing, a mental health crisis.

2. APhA encourages employers and policy makers to provide the support, resources, culture, and authority necessary for all pharmacy personnel to engage and assist individuals regarding mental health and emotional well-being.

3. APhA supports integration of a mental health assessment as a vital component of pharmacist-provided patient care services.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019)

1. APhA encourages all stakeholders to develop and adopt evidence-based approaches to educate the public and all health care professionals to reduce the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses.

2. APhA supports the increased utilization of pharmacists and student pharmacists with appropriate training to actively participate in the care of patients with mental health diagnoses as members of interprofessional health care teams in all practice settings.

3. APhA supports the expansion of mental health education and training in the curriculum of all schools and colleges of pharmacy, post-graduate training, and within continuing professional development programs.

4. APhA supports the development of education and resources to address health care professional resiliency and burnout.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018)

1. APhA emphasizes genomics as an essential aspect of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA recognizes pharmacists as the health care professional best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genomic information. All pharmacists involved in the care of the patient should have access to relevant genomic information.

3. APhA supports processes to protect patient data confidentiality and opposes unethical utilization of genomic data.

4. APhA demands payers include pharmacists as eligible providers for covered genomic interpretation and related services to support sustainable models that optimize patient care and outcomes.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the exchange, storage, utilization, and documentation of clinically actionable genetic variations and actions taken by the pharmacist in the provision of patient care.

6. APhA recommends pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists lead the collaborative development of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmacogenomics and related services.

7. APhA recommends the inclusion of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the collaborative development of pharmacogenomics clinical support tools and resources.

8. APhA encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment and published guidelines and resources when providing access to testing or utilizing direct-to-consumer genomic test results in their patient care services.

9. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to include clinical application of genomics as a required element of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

10. APhA encourages the creation of continuing professional development and post-graduate education and training programs for pharmacists in genomics and its clinical application to meet varying practice needs.

11. APhA encourages the funding of pharmacist-led research examining the cost effectiveness of care models that utilize pharmacists providing genomic services.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists should have the authority and support to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience in delivering patient care in all practice settings and activities.

2. APhA supports continuing efforts toward establishing a consistent and accurate perception of the contemporary role and practice of pharmacists by the general public, patients, and all persons and institutions engaged in health care policy, administration, payment, and delivery.

3. APhA supports continued collaboration with stakeholders to facilitate adoption of standardized practice acts, appropriate related laws, and regulations that reflect contemporary pharmacy practice.

4. APhA supports the establishment of multistate pharmacist licensure agreements to address the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession and pharmacist-provided patient care.

5. APhA urges the continued development of consensus documents, in collaboration with medical associations and other stakeholders, that recognize and support pharmacists' roles in patient care as health care providers.

6. APhA urges universal recognition of pharmacists as health care providers and compensation based on the level of patient care provided using standardized and future health care payment models.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2016) (JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA advocates that all pharmacists become knowledgeable about the subject of nutrition.

2. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy as well as providers of continuing pharmacy education to offer education and training on the subject of nutrition.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):40; May 1981) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports education and training by schools and colleges of pharmacy, as well as providers of continuing pharmacy education, to prepare pharmacists to perform physical assessments of patients.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):40; May 1981) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA calls for education and collaboration among health professional organizations, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that all manufacturer, distributor, and repackaged marketed prescription drugs used in patient care have been FDA-approved as safe and effective.

2. APhA supports initiatives aimed at closing regulatory and distribution-system loopholes that facilitate market entry of new prescription drugs products without FDA approval.

3. APhA encourages health professionals to consider FDA approval status of prescription drug products when making decisions about prescribing, dispensing, substitution, purchasing, formulary development, and in the development of pharmacy/medical education programs and drug information compendia.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports pharmacists using professional judgment to make informed decisions regarding the appropriateness of use or the sale of complementary and alternative medicines.

2. APhA shall assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in becoming knowledgeable about complementary and alternative medications to facilitate the counseling of patients regarding effectiveness, proper use, indications, safety, and possible interactions.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997) (Reviewed 2002) (JAPhA. NS45(5):556-557; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA recognizes the urgent need for education and training of pharmacists and student pharmacists relative to the therapeutic and diagnostic use of pharmaceutical biotechnology products. APhA, therefore, supports the continuing development and implementation of such education and training.

(Am Pharm. NS28(6):394; June 1988) (JAPhA. NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA should continue to assist in the unification of the profession and the development of a national strategy by its continued support of the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy as the body responsible for the leadership, standards, public information and coordination of the professions voluntary credentialing programs.

2. APhA, in conjunction and cooperation with the Council on Credentialing and other national associations, should provide competence-based material and testing via technology, such as the APhA web-site and state association websites, to further the profession's self-assessment.

3. APhA, in conjunction and cooperation with the Council on Credentialing and other national associations, should develop the necessary products and programs to educate the public, insurers, and health professionals on credentialing and make them available to state associations at cost.

4. APhA supports the development, on a continuing basis, of programs such as Project ImPACT, that provide the opportunity to promote the profession and its impact on clinical, economic, and humanistic patient outcomes.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA shall continue to support educational programs for pharmacists on issues regarding generic drugs.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012)

1. APhA supports the education and training of pharmacists in the ordering and interpretation of laboratory tests as they may relate to the usage, dosing, and administration of drugs.

2. APhA opposes requiring certification of pharmacists as medical technologists for the practice of pharmacy.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):40; May 1981) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA advocates for nationwide integration and uniformity of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) that incorporate federal, state, and territory databases for the purpose of providing health care professionals with accurate and real-time information to assist in clinical decision making when providing patient care services related to controlled substances.

2. APhA supports pharmacist involvement in the development of uniform standards for an integrated nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) that includes the definition of authorized registered users, documentation, reporting requirements, system response time, security of information, minimum reporting data sets, and standard transaction format.

3. APhA supports mandatory prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) enrollment by all health care providers, mandatory reporting by all those who dispense controlled substances, and appropriate system query by registrants during the patient care process related to controlled substances.

4. APhA advocates for the development of seamless workflow integration systems that would enable consistent use of a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) by registrants to facilitate prospective drug review as part of the patient care process related to controlled substances.

5. APhA advocates for continuous, sustainable federal funding sources for practitioners and system operators to utilize and maintain a standardized integrated and real-time nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).

6. APhA supports the use of interprofessional advisory boards that include pharmacists to coordinate collaborative efforts for (a) compiling, analyzing, and using prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data trends related to controlled substance misuse, abuse, and/or fraud; (b) providing focused provider education and patient referral to treatment programs; and (c) supporting research activities on the impact of PDMPs.

7. APhA supports education and training for registrants about a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to ensure proper data integrity, use, and confidentiality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364-365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the establishment of secure, portable, and interoperable electronic patient health care records.

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other stakeholders in the development and implementation of multidirectional electronic communication systems to improve patient safety, enhance quality care, facilitate care transitions, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.

3. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists in the establishment and enhancement of electronic health care information technologies and systems that must be interoperable, HIPAA compliant, integrated with claims processing, updated in a timely fashion, allow for data analysis, and do not place disproportionate financial burden on any one health care provider or stakeholder.

4. APhA advocates for pharmacists and other health care providers to have access to view, download and transmit electronic health records. Information shared among providers using a health information exchange should utilize a standardized secure interface based on recognized international health record standards for the transmission of health information.

5. APhA supports the integration of federal, state, and territory health information exchanges into an accessible, standardized, nationwide system.

6. APhA opposes business practices and policies that obstruct the electronic access and exchange of patient health information because these practices compromise patient safety and the provision of optimal patient care.

7. APhA advocates for the development of systems that facilitate and support electronic communication between pharmacists and prescribers concerning patient adherence, medication discontinuation, and other clinical factors that support quality care transitions.

8. APhA supports the development of education and training programs for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and other health care professionals on the appropriate use of electronic health records to reduce errors and improve the quality and safety of patient care.

9. APhA supports the creation and non-punitive application of a standardized, interoperable system for voluntary reporting of errors associated with the use of electronic health care information technologies and systems to enable aggregation of protected data and develop recommendations for improved quality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364; July/August 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA opposes the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in pharmacies until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.

2. APhA opposes the use of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in areas subject to current clean air regulations for combustible tobacco products until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.

3. APhA urges pharmacists to become more knowledgeable about e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products.

(JAPhA. 54(4): 358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports the delivery of informatics education within pharmacy schools and continuing education programs to improve patient care, understand interoperability among systems, understand where to find information, increase productivity, and improve the ability to measure and report the value of pharmacists in the health care system.

2. APhA urges that pharmacists have read/write access to electronic health record data for the purposes of improving patient care and medication use outcomes.

3. APhA encourages inclusion of pharmacists in the definition, development, and implementation of health information technologies for the purpose of improving the quality of patient-centric health care.

4. APhA urges public and private entities to include pharmacist representatives in the creation of standards, the certification of systems, and the integration of medication use systems with health information technology.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2010)(Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. It is APhA's position that patient safety initiatives must include pharmacists in leadership roles.

2. APhA encourages dissemination of best practices derived from nationally aggregated reporting data systems to pharmacists for the purpose of improving the medication use process and making informed decisions that directly impact patient safety and quality.

3. APhA encourages the profession of pharmacy to continually review and evaluate ways to enhance training, curricula, continuing education and accountability of pharmacists to improve patient safety.

4. APhA encourages risk management and post-marketing surveillance programs to be standardized and include infrastructures and compensation necessary to allow pharmacists to support these patient safety programs.

5. APhA supports the creation of voluntary, standardized and interoperable reporting systems for patient safety events to minimize barriers to pharmacist participation and to enable aggregation of data and improve quality of medication use systems. The system should be free, voluntary, non-punitive, easily accessible, and user friendly for all providers within the healthcare system.

6. APhA supports the elimination of hand-written prescriptions or medication orders.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports continuing professional development, a self-directed, individualized, systematic approach to life-long learning, to support pharmacist's efforts to maintain professional competence in their practice.

2. APhA should work with appropriate organizations to provide self-assessment and plan development tools. APhA shall help identify and facilitate access to quality educational programs.

3. Employers should foster and support pharmacist participation in continuing professional development.

4. Continuing professional development is a learning process that requires full participation to achieve desired individual outcomes. To facilitate that participation, each pharmacist controls disclosure of their individual assessments and outcomes.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):554; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports the acceptance, for pharmacy continuing education credit of relevant, quality programs offered by other health-related continuing education providers.

2. APhA supports the acceptance of relevant programs offered by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited providers to meet continuing education requirements in other health disciplines.

(Am Pharm. NS32(6):515; June 1992) (Reviewed 2003) (JAPhA. NS45(5):560; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA should develop, in cooperation with other state and national associations, a voluntary process for self-assessing pharmaceutical care competence.

2. APhA opposes regulatory bodies utilizing continuing competence examinations as a requirement for renewal of a pharmacist's license.

3. APhA supports programs that measure and evaluate pharmacist competence based on established valid standards.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):460; July/August 1997) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA strongly endorses continuing education for pharmacists.

(JAPhA. NS14:494; September 1974) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports the award of continuing education credit for the successful completion of academic credit courses within the scope of pharmacy practice under circumstances that preserve the integrity of both the academic and the continuing education credit.

2. APhA endorses the development and implementation by colleges of pharmacy and other appropriate organizations, of standards and mechanisms by which academic credit can be awarded for successful completion of continuing education courses under circumstances that preserve the integrity of the academic credit.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):33; July 1982) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA advocates that pharmacists maintain their professional competence throughout their professional careers.

(JAPhA. NS15:336; June 1975) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006)(Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. Distance education components of first professional pharmacy degree programs must be constructed in a way to ensure socialization into the profession and understanding the ethos and essence of the profession, as such development is primarily derived through practical experience and interaction with faculty, colleagues, and patients.

2. APhA expects the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education to develop, maintain, and enforce applicable standards to ensure students trained in distance education programs achieve the same educational and professional competencies as students in on-site programs.

(JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S56; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (JAPhA. NS51(4): 482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy to consider, in their strategic planning process, offering non-traditional, post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy degree programs. Issues to be considered in such planning should include at least the following: (a) entry requirements, (b) educational and financial resources, and (c) competency evaluation for course credit.

2. APhA recommends that non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy degree programs have competency outcomes for graduates equal to those in traditional programs.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):28; June 1991) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports establishment of pharmacy practice-based research networks (PBRNs) to strengthen the evidence base in support of pharmacists' patient care services.

2. APhA encourages collaborations among stakeholders to determine the minimal infrastructure and resources needed to develop and implement local, regional, and nationwide networks for performing pharmacy practice-based research.

3. APhA encourages pharmacy residency programs to actively participate in pharmacy practice-based research network (PBRNs).

(JAPhA. NS48(4):471; July/August 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4): 366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA urges continued growth in the number of accredited pharmacy residency positions in all practice settings to better meet the future health care needs of the nation.

2. APhA encourages active involvement of schools and colleges of pharmacy in the development and advancement of accredited pharmacy practice residency programs.

3. APhA advocates for the allocation of adequate funding for accredited pharmacy residencies in all practice settings by governmental and other entities.

4. APhA supports postgraduate training for new PharmD graduates.

5. APhA supports accreditation of all pharmacy residency programs by federally recognized accrediting bodies to ensure quality training experiences.

(JAPhA. NS48(4):470; July/August 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA urges pharmacies and facilities that include pharmacies to discontinue the sale of tobacco products.

2. APhA urges the federal government and state governments to limit participation in government-funded prescription programs to pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

3. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products.

4. APhA urges colleges of pharmacy to only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products as experience sites for their students.

5. APhA urges the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to adopt the position that college-administered pharmacy experience programs should only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

6. APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists who are seeking employment opportunities to first consider positions in pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports a collaborative effort amongst stakeholders (e.g., professional pharmacy organizations, deans, faculty, preceptors, and student pharmacists) to develop and implement a nationally defined set of competencies to assess the successful completion of introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs). APhA believes that these competencies should reflect the professional knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for entry into advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

2. APhA encourages the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), in collaboration with state boards of pharmacy, practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders, to develop national standardization among schools and colleges of pharmacy to improve the quality of student pharmacists' experiential education. This standardization should be adopted by all schools and colleges of pharmacy and should include (a) a preceptor training program; (b) a model instrument for preceptors to evaluate student pharmacist performance in required pharmacy practice experiences; (c) a set of quality indicators for each required pharmacy practice experience; and (d) a report of quality indicator outcomes made available to all schools and colleges of pharmacy, faculty, and current and prospective students.

3. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to dedicate adequate and equitable financial and human resources to experiential education.

(JAPhA. NS48(4):470; July August 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to use the title "student pharmacist" to identify all students enrolled in their professional years of pharmacy education in an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited program.

2. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to permit a student pharmacist to perform the duties of a pharmacist within the applicable state's scope of practice under a pharmacist's supervision. Preceptors shall consider the experience and education of student pharmacists when providing pharmacy practice opportunities.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):554; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.

2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.

3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.

4. APhA affirms that the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.

5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.

6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)(Amended 2022)

APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy to provide financial literacy resources for student pharmacists and applicants to assess the potential financial burden associated with pursuing a PharmD and entry into the profession by: (a) Offering instruction on financial literacy (including but not limited to personal finance and loan repayment) as part of a required course or elective in their curriculum; and (b) Providing student pharmacists and potential applicants the comprehensive costs of pursuing a pharmacy education at their respective institutions along with financial aid costs and options; and (c) Providing student pharmacists and potential applicants with initial and periodic updates of the professional employment outlook.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA strongly believes that all pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be safe in their work and learning environments and be free from firearm-related violence.

2. APhA strongly recommends that technician training programs, schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training programs, and employers should develop programs to increase readiness in the event of an active shooter.

3. APhA strongly believes pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be trained to recognize and refer patients at high risk of violence to themselves or others.

4. APhA encourages pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians who are victims of firearm-related violence to seek the help of counselors and other trained mental health professionals.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019)

1. APhA encourages state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to revise laws and regulations to support the patient-centered care of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with injection drug use, APhA supports the expansion of interprofessional harm reduction education in the curriculum of schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists to initiate, sustain, and integrate evidence-based harm reduction principles and programs into their practice to optimize the health of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

4. APhA supports pharmacists' roles to provide and promote consistent, unrestricted, and immediate access to evidence-based, mortality- and morbidity-reducing interventions to enhance the health of people who inject nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances and their communities, including sterile syringes, needles, and other safe injection equipment, syringe disposal, fentanyl test strips, immunizations, condoms, wound care supplies, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), point-of-care testing for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), opioid overdose reversal medications, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and addiction treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to overdose prevention sites and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA encourages all stakeholders to develop and adopt evidence-based approaches to educate the public and all health care professionals to reduce the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses.

2. APhA supports the increased utilization of pharmacists and student pharmacists with appropriate training to actively participate in the care of patients with mental health diagnoses as members of interprofessional health care teams in all practice settings.

3. APhA supports the expansion of mental health education and training in the curriculum of all schools and colleges of pharmacy, post-graduate training, and within continuing professional development programs.

4. APhA supports the development of education and resources to address health care professional resiliency and burnout.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018)

1. APhA supports adopting and maintaining continuous quality improvement processes at the national school/college level to identify differences between contemporary pharmacy practice and curriculum offerings, and to provide information and resources to encourage up-to-date curricula.

2. APhA encourages pharmacists to cooperate with schools and colleges of pharmacy by participating as preceptors and permitting their practices to be used as experiential sites.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):45; June 1990) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2003) (JAPhA. NS45(5):560; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018)

1. APhA emphasizes genomics as an essential aspect of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA recognizes pharmacists as the health care professional best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genomic information. All pharmacists involved in the care of the patient should have access to relevant genomic information.

3. APhA supports processes to protect patient data confidentiality and opposes unethical utilization of genomic data.

4. APhA demands payers include pharmacists as eligible providers for covered genomic interpretation and related services to support sustainable models that optimize patient care and outcomes.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the exchange, storage, utilization, and documentation of clinically actionable genetic variations and actions taken by the pharmacist in the provision of patient care.

6. APhA recommends pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists lead the collaborative development of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmacogenomics and related services.

7. APhA recommends the inclusion of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the collaborative development of pharmacogenomics clinical support tools and resources.

8. APhA encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment and published guidelines and resources when providing access to testing or utilizing direct-to-consumer genomic test results in their patient care services.

9. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to include clinical application of genomics as a required element of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

10. APhA encourages the creation of continuing professional development and post-graduate education and training programs for pharmacists in genomics and its clinical application to meet varying practice needs.

11. APhA encourages the funding of pharmacist-led research examining the cost effectiveness of care models that utilize pharmacists providing genomic services.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018)

1. APhA believes that it is essential to integrate professionalism throughout a student pharmacist's educational experience.

2. APhA will assist schools and colleges of pharmacy to develop and utilize recruitment materials that emphasize the professional role and responsibilities associated with the provision of pharmaceutical care.

3. APhA supports schools and colleges of pharmacy interviewing candidates during the admissions process to assess their characteristics for the potential for development of professional attitudes and behaviors.

4. APhA recommends that schools and colleges of pharmacy administer the model pledge of professionalism, as developed by the APhA-ASP/American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Council of Deans Task Force on Professionalism, to all student pharmacists.

5. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy to develop and implement ongoing programs for faculty, staff, preceptors, and other mentors to enhance their ability to serve as role models and teach professionalism.

6. APhA supports the continuation of a forum for faculty, students, preceptors, and others to establish and foster mentor relationships.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):36; June 1995) (Reviewed 2003) (JAPhA. NS45(5):554; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4);379; July/August 2016)

1. APhA supports the establishment of secure, portable, and interoperable electronic patient health care records.

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other stakeholders in the development and implementation of multidirectional electronic communication systems to improve patient safety, enhance quality care, facilitate care transitions, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.

3. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists in the establishment and enhancement of electronic health care information technologies and systems that must be interoperable, HIPAA compliant, integrated with claims processing, updated in a timely fashion, allow for data analysis, and do not place disproportionate financial burden on any one health care provider or stakeholder.

4. APhA advocates for pharmacists and other health care providers to have access to view, download and transmit electronic health records. Information shared among providers using a health information exchange should utilize a standardized secure interface based on recognized international health record standards for the transmission of health information.

5. APhA supports the integration of federal, state, and territory health information exchanges into an accessible, standardized, nationwide system.

6. APhA opposes business practices and policies that obstruct the electronic access and exchange of patient health information because these practices compromise patient safety and the provision of optimal patient care.

7. APhA advocates for the development of systems that facilitate and support electronic communication between pharmacists and prescribers concerning patient adherence, medication discontinuation, and other clinical factors that support quality care transitions.

8. APhA supports the development of education and training programs for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and other health care professionals on the appropriate use of electronic health records to reduce errors and improve the quality and safety of patient care.

9. APhA supports the creation and non-punitive application of a standardized, interoperable system for voluntary reporting of errors associated with the use of electronic health care information technologies and systems to enable aggregation of protected data and develop recommendations for improved quality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364; July/August 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA urges pharmacies and facilities that include pharmacies to discontinue the sale of tobacco products.

2. APhA urges the federal government and state governments to limit participation in government-funded prescription programs to pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

3. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products.

4. APhA urges colleges of pharmacy to only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products as experience sites for their students.

5. APhA urges the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to adopt the position that college-administered pharmacy experience programs should only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

6. APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists who are seeking employment opportunities to first consider positions in pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports a collaborative effort amongst stakeholders (e.g., professional pharmacy organizations, deans, faculty, preceptors, and student pharmacists) to develop and implement a nationally defined set of competencies to assess the successful completion of introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs). APhA believes that these competencies should reflect the professional knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for entry into advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports the delivery of informatics education within pharmacy schools and continuing education programs to improve patient care, understand interoperability among systems, understand where to find information, increase productivity, and improve the ability to measure and report the value of pharmacists in the health care system.

2. APhA urges that pharmacists have read/write access to electronic health record data for the purposes of improving patient care and medication use outcomes.

3. APhA encourages inclusion of pharmacists in the definition, development, and implementation of health information technologies for the purpose of improving the quality of patient-centric health care.

4. APhA urges public and private entities to include pharmacist representatives in the creation of standards, the certification of systems, and the integration of medication use systems with health information technology.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2010)(Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. It is APhA's position that patient safety initiatives must include pharmacists in leadership roles.

2. APhA encourages dissemination of best practices derived from nationally aggregated reporting data systems to pharmacists for the purpose of improving the medication use process and making informed decisions that directly impact patient safety and quality.

3. APhA encourages the profession of pharmacy to continually review and evaluate ways to enhance training, curricula, continuing education and accountability of pharmacists to improve patient safety.

4. APhA encourages risk management and post-marketing surveillance programs to be standardized and include infrastructures and compensation necessary to allow pharmacists to support these patient safety programs.

5. APhA supports the creation of voluntary, standardized and interoperable reporting systems for patient safety events to minimize barriers to pharmacist participation and to enable aggregation of data and improve quality of medication use systems. The system should be free, voluntary, non-punitive, easily accessible, and user friendly for all providers within the healthcare system.

6. APhA supports the elimination of hand-written prescriptions or medication orders.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to use the title "student pharmacist" to identify all students enrolled in their professional years of pharmacy education in an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited program.

2. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to permit a student pharmacist to perform the duties of a pharmacist within the applicable state's scope of practice under a pharmacist's supervision. Preceptors shall consider the experience and education of student pharmacists when providing pharmacy practice opportunities.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):554; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA encourages the colleges and schools of pharmacy to incorporate the concept of payment system reform throughout the curricula for all professional programs, and should work with pharmacy organizations to ensure the integration of these concepts into practitioners' continuing development.

(Am Pharm. NS33(7):54; July 1993) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports the incorporation of professional ethics instruction in pharmacy curricula and post-graduate continuing education and training.

(Am Pharm. NS28(6):394; June 1988) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011)(Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports efforts to improve education at the primary and secondary school levels, particularly in the areas of science, mathematics, and English.

(Am Pharm. NS24(7):60; July 1984) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports efforts to increase immunization rates of health care professionals, for the purposes of protecting patients and urges all pharmacy personnel to receive all immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for healthcare workers.

2. APhA encourages employers to provide necessary immunizations to all pharmacy personnel.

3. APhA encourages federal, state, and local public health officials to recognize pharmacists as first responders (e.g., physicians, nurses, police) and to prioritize pharmacists to receive medications and immunizations.

3. APhA encourages federal, state, and local officials and agencies to recognize pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff as among the highest priority groups to receive medications, vaccinations, and other protective measures as essential healthcare workers.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019) (JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA denounces all forms of racism.

2. APhA affirms that racism is a social determinant of health that contributes to persistent health inequities.

3. APhA urges the entire pharmacy community to actively work to dismantle racism.

4. APhA urges the integration of anti-racism education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

5. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decision-makers, and employers to create sustainable opportunities, incentives, and initiatives in education, research, and practice to address racism.

6. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decision-makers, and employers to routinely and systematically evaluate organizational policies and programs for their impact on racial inequities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

APhA adamantly opposes the basic education requirement within the Office of Personnel Management's Classification and Qualifications -

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019)

APhA reaffirms its unequivocal support of equal opportunities for employment and advancement, compensation, and organizational leadership positions. APhA opposes discrimination based on sex, gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal or state law.

(Am Pharm. NS 29(7):464; July 1989) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):459; July/August 2012) (JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA recommends that health plans and payers contract with and appropriately compensate individual pharmacist providers for the level of care rendered without requiring the pharmacist to be associated with a pharmacy.

2. APhA supports adoption of state laws and rules pertaining to the independent practice of pharmacists when those laws and rules are consistent with APhA policy.

3. APhA, recognizing the positive impact that pharmacists can have in meeting unmet needs and managing medical conditions, supports the adoption of laws and regulations and the creation of payment mechanisms for appropriately trained pharmacists to autonomously provide patient care services, including prescribing, as part of the health care team.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2012) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA recognizes the need for an ongoing census of pharmacists to establish and track changes in workforce demographics and practice characteristics.

2. APhA urges the federal government or other stakeholders to establish funding mechanisms to conduct an ongoing census of pharmacists to establish and track changes in workforce demographics and practice characteristics.

(JAPhA. NS9:361; July 1969) (JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports an annual influenza vaccination as a condition of employment, training, or volunteering within an organization that provides pharmacy services or operates a pharmacy or pharmacy department (unless a valid medical or religious reason precludes vaccination).

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports ready access to Internet resources by pharmacists at their practice sites to facilitate delivery of patient care and to support professional development.

(JAPhA. NS48(4):471; July/August 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

2. APhA encourages employers to offer benefit packages that provide dependent-care benefits, including, but not limited to, flexible spending accounts, voucher systems, referral services, on-site dependent care, and negotiated discounts for use of day care facilities, to improve workforce conditions.

(JAPhA. NS(5)(suppl 1):S10; September/October 2001)(Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA supports efforts to ensure equal rights of all persons.

(AmPharm. NS19(7):60; June 1979) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports staffing models that promote safe provision of patient care services and access to medications.

2. APhA encourages the adoption of patient centered quality and performance measures that align with safe delivery of patient care services and opposes the setting and use of operational quotas or time-oriented metrics that negatively impact patient care and safety.

3. APhA denounces any policies or practices of third-party administrators, processors, and payers that contribute to a workplace environment that negatively impacts patient safety. APhA calls upon public and private policy makers to establish provider payment policies that support the safe provision of medications and delivery of effective patient care.

4. APhA urges pharmacy practice employers to establish collaborative mechanisms that engage the pharmacist in charge of each practice, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy staff in addressing workplace issues that may have an impact on patient safety.

5. APhA urges employers to collaborate with the pharmacy staff to regularly and systematically examine and resolve workplace issues that may have a negative impact on patient safety.

6. APhA opposes retaliation against pharmacy staff for reporting workplace issues that may negatively impact patient safety.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

The committee endorses the recommendations in the Provisional Policy Statement on Employment Standards submitted by the Board of Trustees at the special meeting of the House of Delegates in November 1969. The committee recommends that any change in this statement to provide that APhA function as a collective bargaining unit be rejected.

(JAPhA. NS10:353; June 1970) (JAPhA. 39(4):447; July/August 1999) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007)(Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA supports pharmacists' participation in organizations that promote the discretion or professional prerogatives exercised by pharmacists in their practice, including the provision of patient care.

2. APhA supports the rights of pharmacists to negotiate with their respective employers for working conditions that will foster compliance with the standards of patient care as established by the profession.

(JAPhA. 39(4) 447; July/August 1999) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. The committee recommends that no change be made in the present policy of APhA with regard to becoming a collective bargaining unit.

2. The committee recommends that APhA continue its educational efforts concerning the mutual responsibilities of the employer and employee pharmacist inherent in the employment relationship.

3. The committee recommends that APhA continue to urge state associations to develop employee/employer relations committees to (a) study all aspects of both the professional and employment relationships that exist between the employer and the employee; (b) develop and recommend guidelines to provide direction and guidance to both the employed pharmacist and the employer in developing a mutually acceptable relationship; (c) conduct necessary surveys designed to provide information on salaries, benefits, and specific problems with attention given to possible regional variations in the data obtained; and (d) consider the establishment of an employment standards committee where feasible in each appropriate area of the state to act in an advisory and/or arbitrating capacity on matters pertaining to employment standards and employment grievances.

4. The committee recommends that colleges of pharmacy include the subject of employer/ employee relations within an appropriate course of the curriculum.

(JAPhA. NS11:273; May 1971) (JAPhA. 39(4):447; July/August 1999) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007)(Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA calls on all national and state pharmacy organizations, colleges/schools of pharmacy, and other stakeholders to support the development of a profession-wide effort to address harassment, intimidation, and abuse of power or position.

2. APhA supports the development of a profession-wide guideline on reporting harassment, intimidation, or abuse of power or position in their pharmacy education and training, professional practice, or volunteer service to pharmacy organizations.

3. APhA recommends all pharmacy organizations incorporate harassment, intimidation, and abuse training in their member professional development and education activities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15-e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA strongly urges all employers of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel, and the settings in which they practice, to implement protection and control measures and procedures, per consensus recommendations when available, and access to protective gear and cleaning supplies that ensure the safety of pharmacy personnel and that of their family members and the public.

2. APhA urges federal and state government officials, manufacturers, distributors, and health system administrators to recognize pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as "front-line providers" who should receive appropriate personal protective equipment and other resources to protect their personal safety and support their ability to continue to provide patient care.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA calls for employers to develop policies and resources to support pharmacy personnel's ability to retreat or withdraw, without retaliation, from interactions that threaten their safety and well-being.

2. APhA encourages the development or utilization of educational programs and resources by the Association, employers, and other institutions to prepare pharmacy personnel to respond to situations that threaten their safety and well-being.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA encourages all health care personnel to receive training and provide services to identify, assist, and refer people at risk for, or currently experiencing, a mental health crisis.

2. APhA encourages employers and policy makers to provide the support, resources, culture, and authority necessary for all pharmacy personnel to engage and assist individuals regarding mental health and emotional well-being.

3. APhA supports integration of a mental health assessment as a vital component of pharmacist-provided patient care services.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019)

1. APhA supports staffing models that promote safe provision of patient care services and access to medications.

2. APhA encourages the adoption of patient centered quality and performance measures that align with safe delivery of patient care services and opposes the setting and use of operational quotas or time-oriented metrics that negatively impact patient care and safety.

3. APhA denounces any policies or practices of third-party administrators, processors, and payers that contribute to a workplace environment that negatively impacts patient safety. APhA calls upon public and private policy makers to establish provider payment policies that support the safe provision of medications and delivery of effective patient care.

4. APhA urges pharmacy practice employers to establish collaborative mechanisms that engage the pharmacist in charge of each practice, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy staff in addressing workplace issues that may have an impact on patient safety.

5. APhA urges employers to collaborate with the pharmacy staff to regularly and systematically examine and resolve workplace issues that may have a negative impact on patient safety.

6. APhA opposes retaliation against pharmacy staff for reporting workplace issues that may negatively impact patient safety.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

The employment relationship between pharmacists and their employers must start with the principle that pharmacists have a professional, inherent right to practice in a manner that will engender self-respect in pursuit of their professional and economic objectives.

It is the policy of APhA to further the following basic employment standards:

1. Employers are obligated to respect the professional status, privileges, and responsibilities of employed pharmacists.

2. Employers are obligated to provide working conditions that enhance the ability of employed pharmacists to utilize their full professional capacity in providing patient care service to the public.

3. Employers are obligated to provide employed pharmacists opportunities to increase their professional knowledge and experience.

4. Employers are obligated to fairly compensate employed pharmacists commensurate with their duties and performances. Such compensation should include benefits generally available to other professionals including, but not limited to, vacation, sick leave, insurance plans, and retirement programs.

5. Employed pharmacists are obligated to use their best efforts to further the services offered to the public by their employers.

6. Employed pharmacists are obligated to unhesitantly bring to the attention of their employers all matters that will assist the employers in maintaining professional standards and successful practices.

7. Employed pharmacists are obligated, when negotiating compensation, to consider not only prevailing economic conditions in their community, but also their economic position relative to other health care professionals.

8. Employed pharmacists are obligated to recognize that their responsibility includes not depriving the public of their patient care services by striking in support of their economic demands or those of others.

9. Both employers and employed pharmacists are obligated to reach and maintain definite understandings with regards to their respective economic rights and duties by resolving employment issues fairly, promptly, and in good faith.

It is the policy of APhA to support these basic employment standards by:

1. Encouraging and assisting state pharmacists associations and national specialty associations to establish broadly representative bodies to study the subject of professional and economic relations and to establish locally responsive guidelines to assist employers and employed pharmacists in developing satisfactory employment relationships.

2. Encouraging and assisting state pharmacists associations and national specialty associations to use their good offices, whenever invited, to resolve specific issues that may arise.

3. Assisting state pharmacists associations and national specialty associations to use their good offices, whenever invited, to resolve specific issues that may arise.

4. Assisting state pharmacists associations and national specialty associations to develop procedures for mediation or arbitration of disputes that may arise between employers and employed pharmacists so that pharmacists can call on their profession for such assistance when required.

5. Increasing its activities directed towards educating the profession about the mutual employment responsibilities of employers and employed pharmacists.

6. Developing benefits programs wherever possible to assist employers in providing employed pharmacists with economic security.

7. Continuously reminding pharmacists that the future development and status of pharmacy as a health profession rests in their willingness and ability to maintain control of their profession.

(JAPhA. NS10:363; June 1970) (Reviewed 2001) (JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September-October 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4): 458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA supports a pharmacist's right, regardless of place or style of practice, to exercise individual professional judgment and complete authority for those individual professional responsibilities assumed.

2. APhA supports decision-making processes that ensure the opportunity for input by all pharmacists affected by the decisions.

(JAPhA. NS17:463; July 1977) (JAPhA NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA supports the principle that all work environments and educational settings be free of sexual harassment.

2. APhA recommends all pharmacy practice environments and educational settings have a written policy on sexual harassment prevention and grievance procedures.

3. APhA recommends that every owner/employer in facilities where pharmacists work institute a sexual harassment awareness education and training program for all employees.

4. APhA supports the wide distribution of the model guidelines contained within "APhA Model Policy on Sexual Harassment Prevention and Grievance Procedures" - Appendix D, APhA Policy and Procedures Manual.

(AmPharm. NS34(6):55; June 1994) (Reviewed 2001) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA encourages employers to provide pharmacists with the tools required to manage stress and conflict within the workplace.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA urges pharmacists to expand patient access to secure, convenient, and ecologically responsible drug disposal options, in accordance with the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, by implementing disposal programs they deem appropriate for their individual practice sites, patient care settings, and business models in an effort to reduce the amount of dispensed but unused prescription drug product available for diversion and misuse.

(JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017)

1. APhA opposes the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in pharmacies until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.

2. APhA opposes the use of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in areas subject to current clean air regulations for combustible tobacco products until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.

3. APhA urges pharmacists to become more knowledgeable about e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products.

(JAPhA. 54(4): 358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA encourages pharmacist involvement in the planning and coordination of medication take-back programs for the purpose of disposal.

2. APhA supports increasing public awareness regarding medication take-back programs for the purpose of disposal.

3. APhA urges public and private stakeholders, including local, state, and federal agencies, to coordinate and create uniform, standardized regulations, including issues related to liability and sustainable funding sources, for the proper and safe disposal of unused medications.

4. APhA recommends ongoing medication take-back and disposal programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA encourages appropriate public and private partnerships to accept responsibility for the costs of implementing safe medication disposal programs for consumers. Furthermore, APhA urges DEA to permit the safe disposal of controlled substances by consumers or on their behalf.

2. APhA encourages provision of patient-appropriate quantities of medication supplies to minimize unused medications and unnecessary medication disposal.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):493; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA supports aggressive research and development by pharmacists, pharmaceutical manufacturers, waste product managers, and other appropriate parties of mechanisms to increase recycling of non-hazardous, pharmaceutical, packaging materials, to reduce unnecessary waste in pharmaceutical product packaging, and to minimize the opportunity for counterfeiters to use discarded packaging.

(Am Pharm. NS32(6):516; June 1992) (Reviewed 2004) (JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. As a matter of patient safety, APhA opposes the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it has been out of the control of a health care professional.

2. APhA supports a public awareness program to explain why the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it is out of the control of the healthcare professional is a public health safety concern.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports collaboration with other interested health care organizations, public and environmental health groups, waste management groups, syringe manufacturers, health insurers, and patient advocacy groups to develop and promote safer systems and procedures for the disposal of used needles and syringes by patients outside of health care facilities.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA supports the proper handling and disposal of hazardous, pharmaceutical products and associated supplies and materials by health professionals and by patients to whom such products, supplies, and materials are provided.

2. APhA supports involvement with representatives from other health professional organizations, industry, and government to develop recommendations for the proper handling and disposal of hazardous pharmaceuticals and associated supplies and materials.

3. APhA supports the development of educational programs for health professionals and patients on the proper handling and disposal of hazardous pharmaceuticals and associated supplies and materials.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):45; June 1990) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA urges pharmacists to use patient-specific data and social determinants of health to address health inequities and drive decision-making in practice and advocacy.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA opposes drug manufacturers' refusal to supply certain drugs to correctional health services units necessary to provide medical treatment of inmates.

2. APhA advocates for inmates to have an opportunity, equal to that of non-inmates, to access medications that correctional healthcare providers deem medically necessary for appropriate and humane health care treatment.

3. APhA advocates for correctional healthcare providers to have opportunity, equal to that of non-correctional healthcare providers, to access, prescribe, and procure pharmaceuticals deemed necessary for medical treatment of inmates.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports referrals of patients to pharmacists, among pharmacists, or between pharmacists and other health care providers to promote optimal patient outcomes.

2. APhA supports referrals to and by pharmacists that ensure timely patient access to quality services and promote patient freedom of choice.

3. APhA advocates for pharmacists' engagement in referral systems that are aligned with those of other health care providers and facilitate collaboration and information sharing to ensure continuity of care.

4. APhA supports attribution and equitable payment to pharmacists providing patient care services as a result of a referral.

5. APhA promotes the pharmacist's professional responsibility to uphold ethical and legal standards of care in referral practices.

6. APhA reaffirms its support of development, adoption, and use of policies and procedures by pharmacists to manage potential conflicts of interest in practice, including in referral systems.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2022)

The American Pharmacists Association discourages pharmacist participation in executions on the basis that such activities are fundamentally contrary to the role of pharmacists as providers of health care.

(JAPhA. 55(4):365; July/August 2015)

1. APhA reaffirms that as health care professionals, pharmacists are expected to act in the best interest of patients when making clinical recommendations.

2. APhA supports pharmacists using evidence-based practices to guide decisions that lead to the delivery of optimal patient care.

3. APhA supports pharmacist development, adoption, and use of policies and procedures to manage potential conflicts of interest in practice.

4. APhA should develop core principles that guide pharmacists in developing and using policies and procedures for identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest.

(JAPhA. NS51(4): 482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA recognizes the individual pharmacist's right to exercise conscientious refusal and supports the establishment of systems to ensure patient's access to legally prescribed therapy without compromising the pharmacist's right of conscientious refusal.

2. APhA shall appoint a council on an as needed basis to serve as a resource for the profession in addressing and understanding ethical issues.

(JAPhA. 38(4):417; July/August 1998) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA opposes the use of the term "drug" for chemicals when used in lethal injections.

2. APhA opposes laws and regulations that mandate or prohibit the participation of pharmacists in the process of execution by lethal injection.

(Am Pharm. NS25(5):51; May 1985) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports informed decision-making based upon the professional judgment of pharmacists, rather than endorsing a particular moral stance on the issue of physician-assisted suicide.

2. APhA opposes laws and regulations that mandate or prohibit the participation of pharmacists in physician-assisted suicide.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

The Code of Ethics for Pharmacists was adopted by the membership of the American Pharmacist Association (then the American Pharmaceutical Association) on October 27,1994.

Preamble Pharmacists are health professionals who assist individuals in making the best use of medications. This Code, prepared and supported by pharmacists, is intended to state publicly the principles that form the fundamental basis of the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. These principles, based on moral obligations and virtues, are established to guide pharmacists in relationships with patients, health professionals, and society.

I. A pharmacist respects the covenant relationship between the patient and pharmacist. Considering the patient-pharmacist relationship as a covenant means that a pharmacist has moral obligations in response to the gift of trust received from society. In return for this gift, a pharmacist promises to help individuals achieve optimum benefit from their medications, to be committed to their welfare, and to maintain their trust.

II. A pharmacist promotes the good of every patient in a caring, compassionate, and confidential manner. A pharmacist places concern for the well-being of the patient at the center of professional practice. In doing so, a pharmacist considers needs stated by the patient as well as those defined by health science. A pharmacist is dedicated to protecting the dignity of the patient. With a caring attitude and a compassionate spirit, a pharmacist focuses on serving the patient in a private and confidential manner.

III. A pharmacist respects the autonomy and dignity of each patient. A pharmacist promotes the right of self-determination and recognizes individual self-worth by encouraging patients to participate in decisions about their health. A pharmacist communicates with patients in terms that are understandable. In all cases, a pharmacist respects personal and cultural differences among patients.

IV. A pharmacist acts with honesty and integrity in professional relationships. A pharmacist has a duty to tell the truth and to act with conviction of conscience. A pharmacist avoids discriminatory practices, behavior or work conditions that impair professional judgment, and actions that compromise dedication to the best interests of patients.

V. A pharmacist maintains professional competence. A pharmacist has a duty to maintain knowledge and abilities as new medications, devices, and technologies become available and as health information advances.

VI. A pharmacist respects the values and abilities of colleagues and other health professionals. When appropriate, a pharmacist asks for the consultation of colleagues or other health professionals or refers the patient. A pharmacist acknowledges that colleagues and other health professionals may differ in the beliefs and values they apply to the care of the patient.

VII. A pharmacist serves individual, community, and societal needs. The primary obligation of a pharmacist is to individual patients. However, the obligations of a pharmacist may at times extend beyond the individual to the community and society. In these situations, the pharmacist recognizes the responsibilities that accompany these obligations and acts accordingly.

VIII. A pharmacist seeks justice in the distribution of health resources. When health resources are allocated, a pharmacist is fair and equitable, balancing the needs of patients and society.

APhA encourages the development of appropriate educational materials and guidelines to assist pharmacists in addressing the ethical issues associated with the appropriate use of biotechnology-based products.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):29; June 1991) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA, in recognition of pharmacists' professional and ethical responsibility to society, endorses the consideration of ethical principles in the design, conduct, and application of scientific research.

(Am Pharm. NS29(1):76; January 1989) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports the expansion of patient access to diabetes education, support, and prevention, including but not limited to the National Diabetes Prevention Program or DSMES.

2. APhA calls upon public and private payers to expand reimbursement for pharmacist-based services as providers of diabetes education, support, and prevention regardless of practice setting.

3. APhA advocates for campaigns focused on increased community wellness awareness and health benefits for diabetes education, support, and prevention.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA advocates for nationwide integration and uniformity of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) that incorporate federal, state, and territory databases for the purpose of providing health care professionals with accurate and real-time information to assist in clinical decision making when providing patient care services related to controlled substances.

2. APhA supports pharmacist involvement in the development of uniform standards for an integrated nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) that includes the definition of authorized registered users, documentation, reporting requirements, system response time, security of information, minimum reporting data sets, and standard transaction format.

3. APhA supports mandatory prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) enrollment by all health care providers, mandatory reporting by all those who dispense controlled substances, and appropriate system query by registrants during the patient care process related to controlled substances.

4. APhA advocates for the development of seamless workflow integration systems that would enable consistent use of a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) by registrants to facilitate prospective drug review as part of the patient care process related to controlled substances.

5. APhA advocates for continuous, sustainable federal funding sources for practitioners and system operators to utilize and maintain a standardized integrated and real-time nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).

6. APhA supports the use of interprofessional advisory boards that include pharmacists to coordinate collaborative efforts for (a) compiling, analyzing, and using prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data trends related to controlled substance misuse, abuse, and/or fraud; (b) providing focused provider education and patient referral to treatment programs; and (c) supporting research activities on the impact of PDMPs.

7. APhA supports education and training for registrants about a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to ensure proper data integrity, use, and confidentiality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364-365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA opposes drug manufacturers' refusal to supply certain drugs to correctional health services units necessary to provide medical treatment of inmates.

2. APhA advocates for inmates to have an opportunity, equal to that of non-inmates, to access medications that correctional healthcare providers deem medically necessary for appropriate and humane health care treatment.

3. APhA advocates for correctional healthcare providers to have opportunity, equal to that of non-correctional healthcare providers, to access, prescribe, and procure pharmaceuticals deemed necessary for medical treatment of inmates.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA asserts that the quality and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products and the global pharmaceutical and medical product supply chain are essential to the United States national security and public health.

2. APhA advocates for pharmacist engagement in the development and implementation of national and global strategies to ensure the availability, quality, and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products.

3. APhA calls for the development, implementation, and oversight of enhanced and transparent processes, standards, and information that ensure quality and safety of all pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing processes.

4. APhA calls on the federal government to penalize entities who create barriers that threaten the availability, quality, and safety of United States pharmaceutical and other medical product supplies.

5. APhA calls for the development of redundancy and risk mitigation strategies in the manufacturing process to ensure reliable and consistent availability of safe and high-quality pharmaceutical and other medical products.

6. APhA advocates for regulatory and market incentives that bolster the availability, quality, and safety of pharmaceutical and other medical products.

7. APhA calls for greater transparency, accuracy, and timeliness of information and notification to health care professionals regarding drug shortages, product quality and manufacturing issues, supply disruption, and recalls.

8. APhA encourages pharmacy providers, health systems, and payers to develop coordinated response plans, including the use of therapeutic alternatives, to mitigate the impact of drug shortages and supply disruptions.

9. APhA supports federal legislation that engages pharmacists, other health professionals, and manufacturers in developing a United States-specific essential medicines list and provides funding mechanisms to ensure consistent availability of these products.

10. APhA recommends the use of pharmacists in the delivery of public messages, through media and other communication channels, regarding pharmaceutical supply and quality issues.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020)

1. APhA advocates that health care mergers and acquisitions must preserve the pharmacist-patient relationship.

2. APhA supports optimizing the role of pharmacists in the provision of team-based care following health care mergers and acquisitions in order to: (a) enhance patient experience and safety; (b) improve population health; (c) reduce health care costs; and (d) improve the work life of health care providers.

3. APhA asserts that the scope of review by federal agencies must have a focus on the impact of health care mergers and acquisitions on patient access and the provision of care to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Therefore, APhA calls for (a) reform of the pre-health care mergers and acquisitions process; (b) implementation of an ongoing post-health care mergers and acquisitions evaluation process to preserve patient choice and access to established patient-pharmacist relationships, and (c) continuous transparent dialogue among stakeholders throughout the process.

4. APhA calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop a task force to monitor health care mergers and acquisitions activity.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA adamantly opposes the basic education requirement within the Office of Personnel Management's Classification and Qualifications -

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019)

1. APhA supports the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to revise the drug and medical device classification paradigms for prescription and nonprescription medications and medical devices to allow greater access to certain medications and medical devices under conditions of safe use while maintaining patients' relationships with their pharmacists and other health care providers.

2. APhA supports the implementation or modification of state laws and regulations to facilitate pharmacists' implementation and provision of services related to a revised drug and medical device classification system.

3. APhA supports a patient care delivery model built on coordination and communication between pharmacists and other health care team members in the evaluation and management of care delivery.

4. APhA affirms that pharmacists are qualified to provide clinical interventions on medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

5. APhA urges manufacturers, FDA, and other stakeholders to include pharmacists' input in the development and adoption of technology and standardized processes for services related to medications and medical devices under FDA's defined conditions of safe use.

6. APhA supports the utilization of best practices, treatment algorithms, and clinical judgment of pharmacists and other health care providers to guide the evaluation and management of care delivery related to medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

7. APhA encourages the inclusion of medications, medical devices, and their associated services provided under FDA's defined conditions of safe use within health benefit coverage.

8. APhA supports compensation of pharmacists and other health care professionals for the provision of services related to FDA's defined conditions of safe use programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA urges the development of programs and policies that facilitate patient access to and affordability of biologic products.

2. APhA urges the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the development of standards and pathways that will evaluate the interchangeability of biologic products.

3. APhA recognizes the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Purple Book as an authoritative reference about biologic product interchangeability within the United States.

4. APhA opposes interchangeable biologic product substitution processes that require authorization, recordkeeping, or reporting beyond generic product substitution processes.

5. APhA encourages scientific justification for extrapolation of indications for biologic products to ensure patient safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

APhA supports changes to the Social Security Act to allow pharmacists to be recognized and paid as providers of patient care services.

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4): 379; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. Pharmacists are health care providers who must be recognized and compensated by payers for their professional services.

2. APhA actively supports the adoption of standardized processes for the provision, documentation, and claims submission of pharmacists' services.

3. APhA supports pharmacists' ability to bill payers and be compensated for their services consistent with the processes of other health care providers.

4. APhA supports recognition by payers that compensable pharmacist services range from generalized to focused activities intended to improve health outcomes based on individual patient needs.

5. APhA advocates for the development and implementation of a standardized process for verification of pharmacists' credentials as a means to foster compensation for pharmacist services and reduce administrative redundancy.

6. APhA advocates for pharmacists' access and contribution to clinical and claims data to support treatment, payment, and health care operations.

7. APhA actively supports the integration of pharmacists' service level and outcome data with other health care provider and claims data.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA advocates for the recognition and utilization of pharmacists as providers to address gaps in primary care.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewing 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA encourages the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other regulatory agencies to recognize pharmacists as partners that are committed to ensuring that patients in legitimate need of controlled substances are able to receive the medications.

2. APhA supports efforts to modernize and harmonize state and federal controlled substance laws.

3. APhA urges DEA and other regulatory agencies to balance patient care and regulatory issues when developing, interpreting, and enforcing laws and regulations.

4. APhA encourages DEA and other regulatory agencies to recognize the changes occurring in health care delivery and to establish a transparent and inclusive process for the timely updating of laws and regulations.

5. APhA encourages the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with professional organizations to identify and reduce (a) the burdens on health care providers, (b) the cost of health care delivery, and (c) the barriers to patient care in the establishment and enforcement of controlled substance laws.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports the immediate reporting by manufacturers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of disruptions that may impact the market supply of medically necessary drug products to prevent, mitigate, or resolve drug shortage issues and supports the authority for FDA to impose penalties for failing to report.

2. APhA supports revising current laws and regulations that restrict the FDA's ability to provide timely communication to pharmacists, other health care providers, health systems, and professional associations regarding potential or real drug shortages.

3. APhA encourages the FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other stakeholders to collaborate in order to minimize barriers (e.g., aggregate production quotas, annual assessment of needs, unapproved drug initiatives) that contribute to or exacerbate drug shortages.

4. APhA should actively support legislation to hasten the development of an efficient regulatory process to approve therapeutically equivalent generic versions of biologic drug products.

5. APhA encourages pharmacists and other health care providers to assist in maintaining continuity of care during drug shortage situations by (a) creating a practice site drug shortage plan as well as policies and procedures; (b) using reputable drug shortage management and information resources in decision making; (c) communicating with patients and coordinating with other health care providers; (d) avoiding excessive ordering and stockpiling of drugs; (e) acquiring drugs from reputable distributors; and (f) heightening their awareness of the potential for counterfeit or adulterated drugs entering the drug distribution system.

6. APhA encourages accrediting and regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical science and manufacturing communities to evaluate policies/procedures related to the establishment and use of drug expiration dates and any impact those policies/procedures may have on drug shortages.

7. APhA encourages the active investigation and appropriate prosecution of entities that engage in price gouging and profiteering of medically necessary drug products in response to drug shortages.

(JAPhA. NS52(4): 457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA urges pharmacies and facilities that include pharmacies to discontinue the sale of tobacco products.

2. APhA urges the federal government and state governments to limit participation in government-funded prescription programs to pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

3. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products.

4. APhA urges colleges of pharmacy to only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products as experience sites for their students.

5. APhA urges the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to adopt the position that college-administered pharmacy experience programs should only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

6. APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists who are seeking employment opportunities to first consider positions in pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports amendment of the federal and state personal income tax laws to permit all personal expenditures for medicines and drugs to be totally deductible and exempt from any exclusionary limits.

(Am Pharm. NS20(7):61; July 1980) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA encourages all federal agencies (such as the Office of Personnel Management) to eliminate inconsistencies in federal contracts that in any way affect community pharmacies operating as small businesses.

(Am Pharm. NS34(6):60; June 1994) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports the reduction and simplification of laws, regulations, and record-keeping requirements that affect pharmacy practice and are not beneficial in protecting the public welfare.

(Am Pharm. NS25(5):51; May 1985) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA opposes mandated procurement strategies that restrict patients' and providers' ability to choose treatment options and that compromise patient safety and quality of care.

2. APhA calls for procurement strategies and care models that lower total costs, do not restrict or delay care, and ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA opposes drug manufacturers' refusal to supply certain drugs to correctional health services units necessary to provide medical treatment of inmates.

2. APhA advocates for inmates to have an opportunity, equal to that of non-inmates, to access medications that correctional healthcare providers deem medically necessary for appropriate and humane health care treatment.

3. APhA advocates for correctional healthcare providers to have opportunity, equal to that of non-correctional healthcare providers, to access, prescribe, and procure pharmaceuticals deemed necessary for medical treatment of inmates.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the patient's freedom to choose a provider of health care services and a provider's right to be offered participation in governmental or other third-party programs under equal terms and conditions.

2. APhA opposes government or other third-party programs that impose financial disincentives or penalties that inhibit the patient's freedom to choose a provider or health care services.

3. APhA supports that patients who must rely upon governmentally financed or administered programs are entitled to the same high quality of pharmaceutical services as are provided to the population as a whole.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):45; June 1990) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

APhA supports coordination of patients' comprehensive pharmacy and medical benefits that allows for provision of and compensation for pharmacists' patient care services; aligns incentives to optimize patient outcomes; streamlines administrative processes; reduces overall health care costs and preserves patients' right to choose providers under their pharmacy and medical benefits.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the expansion and increased sources of funding for pharmacies and pharmacist-provided care services that serve the needs of underserved populations to provide better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

2. APhA supports charitable pharmacies and pharmacy services that ensure the quality, safety, drug storage, and integrity of the drug product and supply chain, in accordance with applicable law.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA supports reform of the U.S. health care system and believes that any reform at the state or national level must provide for the following

1. Universal coverage for pharmacy service benefits that include both medications and pharmacists' services;

2. Specific provisions for the access to and payment for pharmacists' patient care services;

3. A single set of pricing rules, eliminating class-of-trade distinctions, for medications, medication delivery systems, and other equipment so that no payer, patient, or provider is disadvantaged by cost shifting;

4. The right for every American to choose his/her own provider of medications and pharmacists' services and for all pharmacists to participate in the health plans of their choice under equally applied terms and conditions;

5. Quality assurance mechanisms to improve and substantiate the effectiveness of medications and health services;

6. Information and administrative systems designed to enhance patient care, eliminate needless bureaucracy, and provide patients and providers price and quality information needed to make informed patient-care decisions;

7. Relief from antitrust laws and regulations to enable pharmacists to establish systems that balance provider needs relative to corporate and governmental interests;

8. Reform in the professional liability system, including caps on non-economic damages, attorneys' fees, and other measures;

9. Representation on the controlling board of each plan by an active health care practitioner from each discipline within the scope of the plan; and

10. Recognition of the pharmacist's role in delivering primary health care services.

(Am Pharm. NS34(6):58; June 1994) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4):379; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists are the medication experts whose accessibility uniquely positions them to increase access to and improve quality of health care while decreasing overall costs.

2. APhA asserts that pharmacists must be recognized as the essential and accountable patient care provider on the health care team responsible for optimizing outcomes through medication therapy management (MTM).

3. APhA asserts the following: (a) Medication Therapy Management Services: Definition and Program Criteria is the standard definition of MTM that must be recognized by all stakeholders. (b) Medication Therapy Management in Pharmacy Practice: Core Elements of an MTM Service Model, as adopted by the profession of pharmacy, shall serve as the foundational MTM service model.

4. APhA asserts that pharmacists must be included as essential patient care provider and compensated as such in every health care model, including but not limited to, the medical home and accountable care organizations.

5. APhA actively promotes the outcomes-based studies, pilot programs, demonstration projects, and other activities that document and reconfirm pharmacists' impact on patient health and well-being, process of care delivery, and overall health care costs.

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA advocates that the public and private sectors maintain or increase their level of commitment to ensure adequate resources for both basic and applied research within a reformed health care system.

2. APhA encourages the public and private research communities to preferentially expend resources for the discovery and development of new drugs and technologies that provide substantive, innovative therapeutic advances.

3. APhA advocates an increased emphasis on outcomes research in all areas of health services, including drug and disease-specific research encompassing clinical, economic, and humanistic dimensions (e.g., quality of life, patient satisfaction, ethics) and advocates for action related to conclusions for such research.

4. APhA encourages interdisciplinary collaboration in research efforts within and between the public and private research communities.

(Am Pharm. NS34(6):55; June 1994) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports the pharmacist as the only appropriate provider of telepharmacy services, a component of telehealth, for which compensation should be provided. Telepharmacy is defined as the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients through the use of telecommunications and information technologies.

2. APhA shall assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in becoming knowledgeable about telepharmacy and telehealth.

3. APhA shall participate in the ongoing development of the telehealth infrastructure, including but not limited to regulations, standards development, security guidelines, information systems, and compensation.

4. APhA acknowledges that state boards of pharmacy are primarily responsible for the regulation of the practice of telepharmacy, encourages appropriate regulatory action that facilitates the practice of telepharmacy and maintains appropriate guidelines to protect the public health and patient confidentiality.

(JAPhA. 39(4):447; July/August 1999) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (JAPhA. NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA affirms pharmacists' professional accountability within their role in all practice settings.

2. APhA advocates that pharmacists be granted and accept authority, autonomy, and accountability for patient-centric actions to improve health and medication outcomes, in coordination with other health professionals, as appropriate.

3. APhA reaffirms 2017 Pharmacists' Role Within Value-based Payment Models and supports continued expansion of interprofessional patient care models that leverage pharmacists as accountable members of the health care team.

4. APhA advocates for sustainable payment and attribution models to support pharmacists as accountable patient care providers.

5. APhA supports continued expansion of resources and health information infrastructures that empower pharmacists as accountable health care providers.

6. APhA supports the enhancement of comprehensive and affordable professional liability insurance coverage that aligns with evolving pharmacist accountability and responsibility.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020)

1. APhA urges government authorities to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, and other pharmaceutical supply distributors and providers accountable to state and federal price gouging laws in selling those items to patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and other health care providers during times of local, state, or national emergency.

2. APhA urges government authorities to aggressively enforce laws and regulations against adulterated products and false and misleading claims by entities offering to sell pharmaceutical and medical products to health care providers and consumers.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

APhA, as well as state and local pharmacy organizations, shall continue to establish liaisons with the growing number of consumer groups, attend their meetings, and seek to be included on their programs.

(JAPhA. NS10:350; June 1970) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA opposes policies, practices, and statements by the American Medical Association (AMA) and other professional organizations that impede interprofessional care, patient access to pharmacist-provided care, and health equity.

2. APhA calls on the American Medical Association (AMA) to rescind its policies opposing expanded scopes of practice for pharmacists.

3. APhA adamantly supports the continuation and expansion of collaborative patient care models among pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to improve patient access to care, health equity, and health outcomes.

(JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

APhA supports continuing joint action with other health care and professional organizations.

(JAPhA. NS15:331-333; June 1975) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports increased interaction with The Joint Commission regarding accreditation standards and procedures pertaining to pharmacy and therapeutics.

2. APhA supports pharmacy representation on appropriate The Joint Commission professional and technical advisory committees.

(Am Pharm. NS29(7):464; July 1989) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA encourages all stakeholders to develop and adopt evidence-based approaches to educate the public and all health care professionals to reduce the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses.

2. APhA supports the increased utilization of pharmacists and student pharmacists with appropriate training to actively participate in the care of patients with mental health diagnoses as members of interprofessional health care teams in all practice settings.

3. APhA supports the expansion of mental health education and training in the curriculum of all schools and colleges of pharmacy, post-graduate training, and within continuing professional development programs.

4. APhA supports the development of education and resources to address health care professional resiliency and burnout.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018)

1. APhA supports the establishment of collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and other health care professionals designed to optimize patient care outcomes.

2. APhA supports the establishment of collaborative practice agreements between one or multiple pharmacists and one or multiple prescribers or entities.

3. APhA supports state laws that do not require a referral or a prior provider-patient relationship as a prerequisite to access services provided under a collaborative practice agreement.

4. APhA opposes state laws that limit collaborative practice agreements to specific patients.

5. APhA supports state laws that allow for pharmacists' prescriptive authority.

6. APhA supports state collaborative practice laws that allow all licensed pharmacists, in all practice settings, to establish collaborative practice agreements with other health care professionals or entities.

7. APhA shall promote the establishment and dissemination of guidelines and information to pharmacists and other health care professionals to facilitate the development of collaborative practice agreements.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists should have the authority and support to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience in delivering patient care in all practice settings and activities.

2. APhA supports continuing efforts toward establishing a consistent and accurate perception of the contemporary role and practice of pharmacists by the general public, patients, and all persons and institutions engaged in health care policy, administration, payment, and delivery.

3. APhA supports continued collaboration with stakeholders to facilitate adoption of standardized practice acts, appropriate related laws, and regulations that reflect contemporary pharmacy practice.

4. APhA supports the establishment of multistate pharmacist licensure agreements to address the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession and pharmacist-provided patient care.

5. APhA urges the continued development of consensus documents, in collaboration with medical associations and other stakeholders, that recognize and support pharmacists' roles in patient care as health care providers.

6. APhA urges universal recognition of pharmacists as health care providers and compensation based on the level of patient care provided using standardized and future health care payment models.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2016) (JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports the role of pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship in all practice settings.

2. APhA supports pharmacists working in collaboration with others to lead the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs and initiatives.

3. APhA supports pharmacists advising prescribers and educating patients on the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015)

1. APhA supports pharmacists leading medication management activities during care transitions to ensure safe and effective medication use.

2. APhA supports the integral role of pharmacists during care transitions for improving quality of patient-centered care and reducing overall costs to the health care system.

3. APhA strongly encourages collaboration and shared accountability among patients, family members, caregivers, pharmacists, and other health care providers during care transitions.

4. APhA supports the development and utilization of standardized processes that facilitate real-time, bidirectional communication of protected health information during care transitions.

5. APhA supports that documentation of health outcomes is an essential component of any care transition program to demonstrate value and ensure continuous quality improvement.

6. APhA supports financially viable payment models that recognize the value of pharmacists' services, including, but not limited to, those provided during care transitions.

7. APhA strongly urges the development and implementation of multidisciplinary, interprofessional, and team-based training for health care professionals and students to improve the quality and consistency of care transition services.

8. APhA urges the collaboration and partnership of community pharmacies with health care systems, institutions, and other entities involved in care transitions.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA opposes any method that provides an inappropriate sharing of compensation between the prescriber and dispenser.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (JAPhA. NS51(4): 484; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports efforts to develop guidelines on physician ownership of pharmacies due to the inherent conflict of interest.

(JAPhA. NS5:276; May 1965) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

In concert with the American Public Health Association's (APHA) 2006 policy statement, "The Role of the Pharmacist in Public Health," APhA encourages collaboration with APHA and other public health organizations to increase pharmacists' participation in initiatives designed to meet global, national, regional, state, local, and community health goals.

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA encourages pharmacists' active participation in health care organizations within their communities to assist in the public health efforts of community health and foster better community understanding of the profession of pharmacy.

(JAPhA. NS4:428; August 1964) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

Because of the broad implications of the pharmacist's role in public health, the committee recommends that pharmacists and pharmacy associations seek to have the state laws amended to require that a pharmacist serve on the state and local boards of health. One part of this effort should be an increased interest on the part of the pharmacist in his local health boards and commissions.

(JAPhA. NS7:324; June 1967) (Reviewed 2002) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA encourages state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to revise laws and regulations to support the patient-centered care of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with injection drug use, APhA supports the expansion of interprofessional harm reduction education in the curriculum of schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists to initiate, sustain, and integrate evidence-based harm reduction principles and programs into their practice to optimize the health of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

4. APhA supports pharmacists' roles to provide and promote consistent, unrestricted, and immediate access to evidence-based, mortality- and morbidity-reducing interventions to enhance the health of people who inject nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances and their communities, including sterile syringes, needles, and other safe injection equipment, syringe disposal, fentanyl test strips, immunizations, condoms, wound care supplies, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), point-of-care testing for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), opioid overdose reversal medications, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and addiction treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to overdose prevention sites and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports referrals of patients to pharmacists, among pharmacists, or between pharmacists and other health care providers to promote optimal patient outcomes.

2. APhA supports referrals to and by pharmacists that ensure timely patient access to quality services and promote patient freedom of choice.

3. APhA advocates for pharmacists' engagement in referral systems that are aligned with those of other health care providers and facilitate collaboration and information sharing to ensure continuity of care.

4. APhA supports attribution and equitable payment to pharmacists providing patient care services as a result of a referral.

5. APhA promotes the pharmacist's professional responsibility to uphold ethical and legal standards of care in referral practices.

6. APhA reaffirms its support of development, adoption, and use of policies and procedures by pharmacists to manage potential conflicts of interest in practice, including in referral systems.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA encourages pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians to become more knowledgeable about veterinary drugs and their usage.

(Am Pharm. NS28(6):395; June 1988) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Amended 2022)

APhA calls for the adoption, by pharmacy organizations and regulatory and professional entities, of the expanded definition for patient to include human or non-human species.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

APhA supports pharmacists' authority to include a medication's purpose on prescription labels, on the basis of professional knowledge, judgment, and patient preference, using vocabulary that is appropriate for their unique practice sites and that addresses the needs of their specific patient populations.

(JAPhA. 57(4):442; July/August 2017)

1. APhA supports the use of the milliliter (mL) as the standard unit of measure for oral liquid medications.

2. APhA encourages the mandatory use of leading zeros before the decimal point for amounts of less than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.

3. APhA discourages the use of trailing zeros after the decimal point for amounts greater than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.

4. APhA supports access to and universal availability of dosing devices with numeric graduations that correspond to the unit of measure that is on the container's label for oral liquid medications.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

1. APhA supports the immediate reporting by manufacturers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of disruptions that may impact the market supply of medically necessary drug products to prevent, mitigate, or resolve drug shortage issues and supports the authority for FDA to impose penalties for failing to report.

2. APhA supports revising current laws and regulations that restrict the FDA's ability to provide timely communication to pharmacists, other health care providers, health systems, and professional associations regarding potential or real drug shortages.

3. APhA encourages the FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other stakeholders to collaborate in order to minimize barriers (e.g., aggregate production quotas, annual assessment of needs, unapproved drug initiatives) that contribute to or exacerbate drug shortages.

4. APhA should actively support legislation to hasten the development of an efficient regulatory process to approve therapeutically equivalent generic versions of biologic drug products.

5. APhA encourages pharmacists and other health care providers to assist in maintaining continuity of care during drug shortage situations by (a) creating a practice site drug shortage plan as well as policies and procedures; (b) using reputable drug shortage management and information resources in decision making; (c) communicating with patients and coordinating with other health care providers; (d) avoiding excessive ordering and stockpiling of drugs; (e) acquiring drugs from reputable distributors; and (f) heightening their awareness of the potential for counterfeit or adulterated drugs entering the drug distribution system.

6. APhA encourages accrediting and regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical science and manufacturing communities to evaluate policies/procedures related to the establishment and use of drug expiration dates and any impact those policies/procedures may have on drug shortages.

7. APhA encourages the active investigation and appropriate prosecution of entities that engage in price gouging and profiteering of medically necessary drug products in response to drug shortages.

(JAPhA. NS52(4): 457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA recommends that all pharmacists place a "beyond-use date" on the labeling of all medications dispensed to patients as recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia National Formulary or manufacturer.

(Am Pharm. NS29(7):465; July 1989) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports manufacturers of prescription and non-prescription drugs including on the package label adequate information regarding storage requirements and a date after which the product should not be used.

(JAPhA. NS11:271; May 1971) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA encourages including a description of a medication's appearance on the pharmacy label or receipt as a means of reducing medication errors and distribution of counterfeit medications.

(JAPhA. NS52(4): 458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA supports a federal legislative or regulatory requirement that a name, trademark, number, or code be included on the drug dosage form.

(Am Pharm. NS20(7):62; July 1980) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports legislation that would require the name of the actual manufacturer of the dosage forms on all drug products.

(JAPhA. NS9:361; July 1969) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports modification of the National Drug Code system to provide uniform identification numbers for the same drug entity, dosage form, strength, and quantity in addition to a manufacturer's identification number.

(JAPhA. NS15:332; June 1975) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA encourages manufacturers to adopt a standardized system of control numbers that meets the following guidelines: (a) The number should be legible. (b) The numbers should be placed in a standard position on the label. (c) The date of manufacture should be obvious from the control number. (d) The number should be on both the carton and the original container.

(JAPhA. NS8:380; July 1968) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports labeling of all prescription and nonprescription products, as well as dietary supplement products, to indicate the presence of gluten.

2. APhA encourages manufacturers to formulate drug products without use of wheat, barley, rye, or their derivatives whenever possible.

3. APhA supports additional research on the effects of gluten intolerance and celiac malabsorption, particularly as it relates to medication absorption.

4. APhA supports pharmacist education regarding celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

5. APhA encourages the development of analytical methods that can accurately detect lower levels of gluten than the current standard (20 ppm) and for the establishment of evidence-based gluten-free standards for the labeling of foods, excipients, dietary supplements, and prescription and nonprescription products.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

APhA supports legislation or regulation to require a full disclosure of therapeutically inactive, as well as active ingredients of all drug products.

(JAPhA. NS10:357; June 1970) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA shall work with Congress to modify the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act or enact other legislation to require that dietary supplement manufacturers provide evidence of efficacy and safety for all products, including products currently in the marketplace.

2. APhA supports the establishment and implementation of clear and effective enforcement policies to remove promptly unsafe or ineffective dietary supplement products from the marketplace.

3. APhA shall work with the FDA to improve dietary supplement product labeling to ensure full disclosure of all product components and their source with associated strengths and recommendations for use in specific patient populations.

4. APhA supports the development and enforcement of dietary supplement good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and compliance with USP/NF standards to ensure quality, safe, contaminant-free products.

5. APhA encourages health care professionals, manufacturers, and consumers to report adverse health events associated with dietary supplements. APhA encourages the FDA to create a database with this information and make it available to all interested parties.

(JAPhA. NS1(9):40; September/October 2000) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA supports protecting pharmacist, student pharmacist, and pharmacy technician personal information (e.g. home address, telephone, and personal email address).

2. APhA opposes legislative or regulatory requirements that mandate the publication of pharmacist, student pharmacist and pharmacy technician personal information (e.g., home address, telephone, and personal email address).

3. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to remove from their websites personal addresses, phone numbers, email, and other non-business contact information of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September-October 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA encourages state pharmaceutical associations to actively seek appointment of lay representation of the public to their respective boards of pharmacy and other health profession licensing and regulatory agencies.

(JAPhA. NS12:281; June 1972) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to develop regulations allowing expanded pharmacy technician roles that allow both technicians and pharmacists to practice at the top of their training and license or certification.

2. APhA supports state board of pharmacy regulations that standardize and set minimum didactic and experiential standards for technicians to allow for functioning in expanded roles.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019)

1. APhA supports the following minimum requirements for all new pharmacy technicians: (a) Successful completion of an accredited or state-approved education and training program. (b) Certification by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

2. APhA supports state board of pharmacy regulations that require pharmacy technicians to meet minimum standards of education, training, certification, and recertification. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to develop a phase-in process for current pharmacy technicians. APhA also encourages boards of pharmacy to delineate between pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists for the purposes of education, training, certification, and recertification.

3. APhA recognizes the important contribution and role of pharmacy technicians in assisting pharmacists and student pharmacists with the delivery of patient care.

4. APhA supports the development of resources and programs that promote the recruitment and retention of qualified pharmacy technicians.

5. APhA supports the development of continuing pharmacy education programs that enhance and support the continued professional development of pharmacy technicians.

6. APhA encourages the development of compensation models for pharmacy technicians that promote sustainable career opportunities.

(JAPhA. 57(4):442; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA recognizes the following definitions with regards to technician licensure and registration: (a) Licensure: The process by which an agency of government grants permission an individual to engage in a given occupation upon finding that the applicant has attained the minimal degree of competency necessary to ensure that the public health, safety, and welfare will be reasonably well protected. Within pharmacy, a pharmacist is licensed by a State Board of Pharmacy. (b) Registration: The process of making a list or being enrolled in an existing list.

(JAPhA. NS36(6):396; June 1996) (Reviewed 2001) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA should develop, in cooperation with other state and national associations, a voluntary process for self-assessing pharmaceutical care competence.

2. APhA opposes regulatory bodies utilizing continuing competence examinations as a requirement for renewal of a pharmacist's license.

3. APhA supports programs that measure and evaluate pharmacist competence based on established valid standards.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):460; July/August 1997) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports systems of reciprocity that recognize a current license issued by any state and eliminate the requirement for pharmacists to maintain active practice licenses in the states of initial licensure.

(Am Pharm. NS20(7):76; July 1980) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA encourages the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other regulatory agencies to recognize pharmacists as partners that are committed to ensuring that patients in legitimate need of controlled substances are able to receive the medications.

2. APhA supports efforts to modernize and harmonize state and federal controlled substance laws.

3. APhA urges DEA and other regulatory agencies to balance patient care and regulatory issues when developing, interpreting, and enforcing laws and regulations.

4. APhA encourages DEA and other regulatory agencies to recognize the changes occurring in health care delivery and to establish a transparent and inclusive process for the timely updating of laws and regulations.

5. APhA encourages the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with professional organizations to identify and reduce (a) the burdens on health care providers, (b) the cost of health care delivery, and (c) the barriers to patient care in the establishment and enforcement of controlled substance laws.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports state and federal laws and regulations that require registration with the state boards of pharmacy of all facilities involved in the storage, wholesale distribution, and issuance of legend drugs to patients, provided that such registration does not restrict the pharmacists from providing professional services independent of a facility.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA should lead the creation of consensus-based, pharmacy profession-developed accreditation standards and methods of evaluation to optimize the quality and safety of patient care and promote best practices.

2. APhA urges that accrediting bodies use profession-developed standards for pharmacy.

3. APhA supports only those pharmacy accreditation processes that are voluntary, transparent, consensus-based, reasonably executable, and affordable, while avoiding duplication and barriers to patient care.

4. APhA opposes mandatory pharmacy accreditation.

5. APhA shall assume the leadership role among stakeholders on the design and implementation of an appropriate process for any new pharmacy accrediting program.

6. APhA supports the appropriate use of data gathered from pharmacy practice monitoring processes to facilitate the advancement of pharmacy practice and quality of patient care.

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA urges pharmacies and facilities that include pharmacies to discontinue the sale of tobacco products.

2. APhA urges the federal government and state governments to limit participation in government-funded prescription programs to pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

3. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products.

4. APhA urges colleges of pharmacy to only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products as experience sites for their students.

5. APhA urges the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to adopt the position that college-administered pharmacy experience programs should only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

6. APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists who are seeking employment opportunities to first consider positions in pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA reaffirms the 1992 Compounding Activities of Pharmacists policy, which states that APhA affirms that compounding pursuant to or in anticipation of a prescription or diagnostic preparation order is an essential part of health care that is the prerogative of the pharmacist.

2. APhA supports compounding as defined by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) as a means to meet patient drug therapy needs.

3. APhA opposes compounding when identical medications are commercially and readily available in strength and dosage form to meet patient drug therapy needs.

4. APhA asserts that compounding is subject to regulations and oversight from state boards of pharmacy. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to identify and take appropriate action against entities who are illegally manufacturing medications under the guise of compounding.

5. APhA supports accreditation of compounding sites by PCAB to ensure patient safety. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to recommend accreditation for those sites that engage in more than basic non-sterile compounding as defined by PCAB.

6. APhA supports the development of education, training and recognition programs that enhance pharmacist and student pharmacist knowledge and skills to engage in compounding beyond basic, non-sterile preparations as defined by PCAB.

7. APhA encourages the exploration of a specialty certification in compounding through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS).

(JAPhA. NS48(4):470; July/August 2008) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports measures that protect the patient, public, and employees from pharmacy conditions that pose a threat to health.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (JAPhA. NS48(4):470; July/August 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA supports that all non-criminal inspections of pharmacies shall be under the direct control of each state board of pharmacy.

2. APhA recommends that state boards of pharmacy require that all pharmacy inspectors be licensed pharmacists who regularly update their knowledge of pharmacy practice.

3. APhA encourages NABP to develop and maintain uniform guidelines and standards for non-criminal inspections of pharmacies.

(JAPhA. NS17:456; July 1977) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports the requirements that all drug manufacturers must obtain a federal license or registration, conditioned upon an inspection of the manufacturer's facilities before manufacturing is begun.

(JAPhA. NS10:347; June 1970) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports inspections of pharmacies and peer review of pharmacists that promote high-quality pharmaceutical service and thereby serve to improve public health.

2. APhA opposes the use of criminal investigative techniques during routine noncriminal pharmacy inspections.

3. APhA supports regulation and inspection by boards of pharmacy of all facilities within a state at which drugs are dispensed, stored, or offered for sale in the same manner as pharmacies.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):36; July 1978) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA supports enactment of state and federal laws and regulations that would require registration with the state boards of pharmacy of all facilities involved in the storage and issuing of legend drugs to patients, provided that such registration does not restrict the pharmacist from providing professional services independent of a facility.

(Am Pharm. NS25(5):51 May; 1985) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA supports enactment of state and federal laws and regulations which would govern the dispensing and issuing of legend drugs from mobile facilities.

(Am Pharm. NS25(5):51; May 1985) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA requests that state boards of pharmacy and legislative bodies regulate pharmacy practice using a standard of care regulatory model similar to other health professions' regulatory models, thereby allowing pharmacists to practice at the level consistent with their individual education, training, experience, and practice setting.

2. To support implementation of a standard of care regulatory model, APhA reaffirms 2002 policy that encourages states to provide pharmacy boards with the following: (a) adequate resources; (b) independent authority, including autonomy from other agencies; and (c) assistance in meeting their mission to protect the public health and safety of consumers.

3. APhA encourages NABP as well as state and national pharmacy associations to support and collaborate with state boards of pharmacy in adopting and implementing a standard of care regulatory model.

4. APhA and other pharmacy stakeholders should provide educational programs, information, and resources regarding the standard of care regulatory model and its impact on pharmacy practice.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff are essential members of the healthcare team and should be actively engaged and supported in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and countermeasure activities related to public health and other emergencies.

2. APhA reaffirms the 2016 policy on the Role of the Pharmacist in National Defense, and calls for the active and coordinated engagement of all pharmacists in public health and other emergency planning and response activities.

3. APhA advocates for the timely removal of regulatory restrictions, practice limitations, and financial barriers during public health and other emergencies to meet immediate patient care needs.

4. APhA urges regulatory bodies and government agencies to recognize pharmacists' training and ability to evaluate patient needs, provide care, and appropriately refer patients during public health and other emergencies.

5. APhA advocates for pharmacists' authority to ensure patient access to care through the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, as well as provision of other patient care services during times of public health and other emergencies.

6. APhA calls for processes to ensure that any willing and able pharmacy and pharmacy practitioner is not excluded from providing pharmacist patient care services during public health and other emergencies.

7. APhA calls on public and private payers to establish and implement payment policies that compensate pharmacists providing patient care services, including during public health and other emergencies, within their recognized authority.

8. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists as essential members in the planning, development, and implementation of alternate care sites or delivery models during public health and other emergencies.

9. APhA reaffirms the 2015 Interoperability of Communications Among Health Care Providers to Improve Quality of Care and encourages pharmacists, as members of the healthcare team, to communicate care decisions made during public health and other emergencies with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists are trained to provide patient care, and have the ability to address patient needs, regardless of geographic location.

2. APhA advocates for the continued development of uniform laws and regulations that facilitate pharmacists', student pharmacists', and pharmacy technicians' timely ability to practice in multiple states to meet practice and patient care needs.

3. APhA supports individual pharmacists' and student pharmacists' authority to provide patient care services across state lines whether in person or remotely.

4. APhA supports consistent and efficient centralized processes across all states for obtaining and maintaining pharmacist, pharmacy intern, and pharmacy technician licensure and/or registration.

5. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to reduce administratively and financially burdensome requirements for licensure while continuing to uphold patient safety.

6. APhA encourages the evaluation of current law exam requirements for obtaining and maintaining initial state licensure, as well as licensure in additional states, to enhance uniformity and reduce duplicative requirements.

7. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to involve a member of the board of pharmacy and a practicing pharmacist in the review and updating of state jurisprudence licensing exam questions.

8. APhA calls for development of profession-wide consensus on licensing requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel to support contemporary pharmacy practice.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e14-e15;July/August 2021)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists should have the authority and support to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience in delivering patient care in all practice settings and activities.

2. APhA supports continuing efforts toward establishing a consistent and accurate perception of the contemporary role and practice of pharmacists by the general public, patients, and all persons and institutions engaged in health care policy, administration, payment, and delivery.

3. APhA supports continued collaboration with stakeholders to facilitate adoption of standardized practice acts, appropriate related laws, and regulations that reflect contemporary pharmacy practice.

4. APhA supports the establishment of multistate pharmacist licensure agreements to address the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession and pharmacist-provided patient care.

5. APhA urges the continued development of consensus documents, in collaboration with medical associations and other stakeholders, that recognize and support pharmacists' roles in patient care as health care providers.

6. APhA urges universal recognition of pharmacists as health care providers and compensation based on the level of patient care provided using standardized and future health care payment models.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2016) (JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA encourages the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other regulatory agencies to recognize pharmacists as partners that are committed to ensuring that patients in legitimate need of controlled substances are able to receive the medications.

2. APhA supports efforts to modernize and harmonize state and federal controlled substance laws.

3. APhA urges DEA and other regulatory agencies to balance patient care and regulatory issues when developing, interpreting, and enforcing laws and regulations.

4. APhA encourages DEA and other regulatory agencies to recognize the changes occurring in health care delivery and to establish a transparent and inclusive process for the timely updating of laws and regulations.

5. APhA encourages the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with professional organizations to identify and reduce (a) the burdens on health care providers, (b) the cost of health care delivery, and (c) the barriers to patient care in the establishment and enforcement of controlled substance laws.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):457; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA recommends and supports enactment of state pharmacy practice act revisions enabling pharmacists to achieve the full scope of APhA's Mission Statement for the Pharmacy Profession.

2. APhA supports standards of pharmacy practice reflecting the APhA Mission Statement for the Pharmacy Profession.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):28; June 1991) (JAPhA. NS44(5):(551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports state-based systems to regulate pharmacy and pharmacist practice.

2. APhA encourages states to provide pharmacy boards with (a) adequate resources, (b) independent authority, including autonomy from other agencies, and (c) assistance in meeting their mission to protect the public health and safety of consumers.

3. APhA supports efforts of state boards of pharmacy to adopt uniform standards and definitions of pharmacy and pharmacist practice.

4. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to recognize and facilitate innovations in pharmacy and pharmacist practice.

(JAPhA. NS2(5)(suppl 1):563; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA encourages the revision of pharmacy laws to assign the responsibility and accountability to the pharmacy license holder for the operations of the pharmacy, including but not limited to quality improvement, staffing, inventory, and financial activities. Further, APhA supports the responsibility and accountability of the pharmacist for dispensing of the pharmaceutical product and for the provision of pharmaceutical care services.

2. APhA encourages the pharmacy license holder to provide adequate resources and support for pharmacists to meet their professional responsibilities, and for pharmacists to utilize the resources and support appropriately and efficiently. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to hold pharmacy license holders accountable for failure to provide such adequate resources and support.

(JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S60; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA encourages those responsible for practice environments without direct patient/pharmacist contact to use methods to enhance communication, face-to-face interaction, and patient care.

(Am Pharm. NS32(6):515; June 1992) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):459; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA supports education about digital health technologies and integration in pharmacy practice, in pharmacy school curricula, and for the pharmacy workforce.

2. APhA supports inclusion of pharmacists in the design and development of digital health technologies.

3. APhA supports that digital health technologies be interoperable with and integrated into pharmacy management systems and electronic health records.

4. APhA supports pharmacists applying digital health technologies to optimize patient care outcomes.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the use of manual and automated blood pressure measurement devices that are clinically validated initially and then undergo routine calibration to ensure accurate results.

2. APhA supports regulations and peer-reviewed clinical validation testing for automated blood pressure measurement devices.

3. APhA promotes public awareness of accuracy of automated blood pressure measurement devices.

(JAPhA. 57(4):442; July/August 2017)

1. APhA supports the use of the milliliter (mL) as the standard unit of measure for oral liquid medications.

2. APhA encourages the mandatory use of leading zeros before the decimal point for amounts of less than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.

3. APhA discourages the use of trailing zeros after the decimal point for amounts greater than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.

4. APhA supports access to and universal availability of dosing devices with numeric graduations that correspond to the unit of measure that is on the container's label for oral liquid medications.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

1. APhA recognizes the value of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services and promotes the provision of those tests and services in accordance with the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists' Patient Care Process.

2. APhA advocates for 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.

3. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies that create barriers to the tests that have been waived by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.

4. APhA encourages use of educational programming and resources to facilitate practice implementation of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services.

5. APhA 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.

6. APhA advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

APhA opposes the reuse of devices intended for "single use" in the screening and management of patients, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.

(JAPhA. NS48(4):471; July/August 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA supports the need to protect the health of the American people through proper instruction in the safe and effective use of the more complex home-use diagnostic and monitoring products.

2. APhA supports the promotion of the pharmacist as a widely available and qualified health care professional to advise patients in the use of home-use diagnostic and monitoring products.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987) (Reviewed 2003) (JAPhA. NS48(4):470; July/August 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA encourages patient and caregiver education by a pharmacist on the appropriate use of drug administration devices.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl.1):S9; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports collaboration with other interested health care organizations, public and environmental health groups, waste management groups, syringe manufacturers, health insurers, and patient advocacy groups to develop and promote safer systems and procedures for the disposal of used needles and syringes by patients outside of health care facilities.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2020)

APhA encourages state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to revise laws and regulations to permit the unrestricted sale or distribution of sterile syringes and needles by or with the knowledge of a pharmacist in an effort to decrease the transmission of blood-borne diseases.

(JAPhA. 39(4):447; July/August 1999) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA denounces all forms of racism.

2. APhA affirms that racism is a social determinant of health that contributes to persistent health inequities.

3. APhA urges the entire pharmacy community to actively work to dismantle racism.

4. APhA urges the integration of anti-racism education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

5. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decision-makers, and employers to create sustainable opportunities, incentives, and initiatives in education, research, and practice to address racism.

6. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decision-makers, and employers to routinely and systematically evaluate organizational policies and programs for their impact on racial inequities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

APhA reaffirms its unequivocal support of equal opportunities for employment and advancement, compensation, and organizational leadership positions. APhA opposes discrimination based on sex, gender identity or expression, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal or state law.

(Am Pharm. NS 29(7):464; July 1989) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):459; July/August 2012) (JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports a vigorous long-term program for the recruitment of a diverse population of student pharmacists into the pharmacy profession.

2. APhA encourages the development and regular updating of comprehensive recruitment materials, directed toward diversity and inclusion, that address such issues as pharmacy career opportunities, financial aid, and educational prerequisites, and that highlight professional diverse role models.

3. APhA encourages national, state, and local association; schools; students; and industry to create a network of pharmacists who would serve as role models for a diverse population of student pharmacists.

4. APhA supports the development of guidelines that assist schools of pharmacy in implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives into student pharmacist recruitment programs.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):28; June 1991) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4):459; July/August 2012)(Reviewed 2017) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA supports efforts to ensure equal rights of all persons.

(AmPharm. NS19(7):60; June 1979) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA calls on all national and state pharmacy organizations, colleges/schools of pharmacy, and other stakeholders to support the development of a profession-wide effort to address harassment, intimidation, and abuse of power or position.

2. APhA supports the development of a profession-wide guideline on reporting harassment, intimidation, or abuse of power or position in their pharmacy education and training, professional practice, or volunteer service to pharmacy organizations.

3. APhA recommends all pharmacy organizations incorporate harassment, intimidation, and abuse training in their member professional development and education activities.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15-e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports activities that would increase voluntary human organ donations.

2. APhA encourages all pharmacists to consider becoming organ donors themselves, and to inform and encourage their patients to participate in organ donor programs.

3. APhA strongly urges all pharmacists, especially those in emergency room and intensive/critical care settings, to sensitize the other health care team members to the basic need for asking if a patient is an organ donor as part of the admission.

(Am Pharm. NS24(7):61; July 1984) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports programs that will actively market the cost-effective benefits of comprehensive pharmacy services to patients and payers.

2. APhA supports the utilization of management tools to assist the pharmacist in maximizing available revenues in an environment of expensive and/or scarce health services and funding.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):420; June 1986) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA urges pharmacists to report all suspected cases of child abuse to proper authorities.

(Am Pharm. NS19(7):69 June; 1979) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA supports evidence-based personalized medicine defined as the use of a person's clinical, genetic, genomic, and environmental information to select a medication or its dose, to choose a therapy, or to recommend preventive measures,as a means to improve patient safety and optimize health outcomes.

2. APhA promotes pharmacists as health care providers in the collection, use, interpretation, and application of pharmacogenomic data to optimize health outcomes.

3. APhA supports the development and implementation of programs, tools, and clinical guidelines that facilitate the translation and application of pharmacogenomic data into clinical practice.

4. APhA supports the inclusion of pharmacogenomic analysis in the drug development/approval and postmarketing surveillance processes.

(JAPhA. NS50(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA supports the adoption of policies in the new drug application (NDA) process that, beyond the pre-market clinical testing, would result in post-marketing, clinical testing of the drug for important new clinical uses or population groups. Post-marketing studies may also be preferable for other indications where circumstances may require a lengthy gathering of data due to limitations in numbers of clinical cases, and for which initial marketing approval for the major indication(s) or population groups should not be delayed.

(Am Pharm. NS20(7):73; July 1980) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA recognizes that investigational new drugs (IND) play a significant role in the delivery of innovative drug therapy approaches and as adjunctive aids in various diagnostics testing modalities.

2. APhA supports coverage by government and other third-party payers for pharmacy services associated with the use of drugs undergoing assessment.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):46; June 1990) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA encourages investigators and sponsors who are conducting IND studies to utilize the professional services of pharmacists in carrying out such studies.

(Am Pharm. NS2(5):40; July 1981) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA advocates the collaboration of pharmacists, other health care professionals, industry, and the FDA in developing procedures to evaluate off-label use of FDA-approved products.

2. APhA encourages industry and government cooperation to streamline approval of beneficial off-label therapeutic or diagnostic use of FDA-approved products.

3. APhA advocates removal of restrictions on reimbursement of pharmaceutical services and FDA-approved products when, in the judgment of the pharmacist, those products are for medically acceptable, off-label uses.

(Am Pharm. NS34(6):56; June 1994) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA supports incentives to manufacturers, private foundations, academic and public institutions, and others for the development, manufacture, and distribution of needed drugs (including biological) and drug dosage forms of limited commercial value.

2. APhA supports the federal government bearing the responsibility to make orphan drugs and drug dosage forms available when incentives alone fail to achieve the availability of needed drugs (including biologicals) of limited commercial value.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):41; May 1981) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA urges pharmacists to use patient-specific data and social determinants of health to address health inequities and drive decision-making in practice and advocacy.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA supports organization and patient care provider rights to use patient data for improvement of patient and public health outcomes and enhancement of patient care delivery processes in accordance with ethical practices and industry standards regarding data privacy and transparency.

2. APhA urges ongoing transparent, accessible, and comprehensible disclosure to patients by all HIPAA-covered and noncovered entities as to how personally identifiable information may be utilized.

3. APhA calls for all entities with access to patient health data, including those with digital applications, to be required to adhere to established standards for patient data use.

4. APhA supports the right of patients to have full and timely access to their personal health data from all entities.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.

2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.

3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.

4. APhA affirms that the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.

5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.

6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)(Amended 2022)

APhA encourages the use of people first language in all written and oral forms of communication.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA emphasizes genomics as an essential aspect of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA recognizes pharmacists as the health care professional best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genomic information. All pharmacists involved in the care of the patient should have access to relevant genomic information.

3. APhA supports processes to protect patient data confidentiality and opposes unethical utilization of genomic data.

4. APhA demands payers include pharmacists as eligible providers for covered genomic interpretation and related services to support sustainable models that optimize patient care and outcomes.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the exchange, storage, utilization, and documentation of clinically actionable genetic variations and actions taken by the pharmacist in the provision of patient care.

6. APhA recommends pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists lead the collaborative development of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmacogenomics and related services.

7. APhA recommends the inclusion of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the collaborative development of pharmacogenomics clinical support tools and resources.

8. APhA encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment and published guidelines and resources when providing access to testing or utilizing direct-to-consumer genomic test results in their patient care services.

9. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to include clinical application of genomics as a required element of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

10. APhA encourages the creation of continuing professional development and post-graduate education and training programs for pharmacists in genomics and its clinical application to meet varying practice needs.

11. APhA encourages the funding of pharmacist-led research examining the cost effectiveness of care models that utilize pharmacists providing genomic services.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018)

1. APhA recognizes the value of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services and promotes the provision of those tests and services in accordance with the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists' Patient Care Process.

2. APhA advocates for 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.

3. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies that create barriers to the tests that have been waived by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.

4. APhA encourages use of educational programming and resources to facilitate practice implementation of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services.

5. APhA 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.

6. APhA advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports pharmacists leading medication management activities during care transitions to ensure safe and effective medication use.

2. APhA supports the integral role of pharmacists during care transitions for improving quality of patient-centered care and reducing overall costs to the health care system.

3. APhA strongly encourages collaboration and shared accountability among patients, family members, caregivers, pharmacists, and other health care providers during care transitions.

4. APhA supports the development and utilization of standardized processes that facilitate real-time, bidirectional communication of protected health information during care transitions.

5. APhA supports that documentation of health outcomes is an essential component of any care transition program to demonstrate value and ensure continuous quality improvement.

6. APhA supports financially viable payment models that recognize the value of pharmacists' services, including, but not limited to, those provided during care transitions.

7. APhA strongly urges the development and implementation of multidisciplinary, interprofessional, and team-based training for health care professionals and students to improve the quality and consistency of care transition services.

8. APhA urges the collaboration and partnership of community pharmacies with health care systems, institutions, and other entities involved in care transitions.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA advocates the elimination of coupons, rebates, discounts, and other incentives provided to patients that promote the transfer of prescriptions between competitors.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

APhA supports elimination of disparities in health care delivery.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):493; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA supports culturally sensitive outreach efforts to increase mutual understanding of the risks and other issues of using prescription medications without a prescription order or using unapproved products.

2. APhA supports expanding culturally competent health care services in all communities.

(JAPhA. NS46(5):561; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2022)

1. Recognizing the diverse patient population served by our profession and the impact of cultural diversity on patient safety and medication use outcomes, APhA encourages pharmacists to continually strive to achieve and develop cultural awareness, sensitivity, and cultural competence.

2. APhA shall facilitate access to resources that assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in achieving and maintaining cultural competence relevant to their practice.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):554; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to increase their awareness of health literacy. Health literacy is the degree to which people can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions.

2. APhA encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to assess patients' health literacy and then implement appropriate communications and education.

3. APhA encourages the review of all patient information for health literacy appropriateness.

(JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S60; September/October 2002) (JAPhA. NS45(5):556; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. Patient safety is influenced by patients, caregivers, health care providers, and health care systems. APhA recognizes that improving patient safety requires a comprehensive, continuous, and collaborative approach to health care.

2. APhA should promote public and provider awareness of and encourage participation in patient safety initiatives.

3. APhA supports research on a more effective, proactive, and integrated health care system focused on improving patient safety. APhA encourages implementation of appropriate recommendations from that research.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):554; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA opposes prior authorization programs that create barriers to patient care.

2. Patients, prescribers, and pharmacists should have ready access to the coverage conditions for medications or devices requiring prior authorization.

3. Prescription drug benefit plan sponsors and administrators should actively seek and integrate the input of network pharmacists in the design and operation of prior authorization programs.

4. APhA supports prior authorization programs that allow pharmacists to provide the necessary information to determine appropriate patient care.

5. APhA expects prescription drug benefit plan sponsors to compensate pharmacy providers who complete third-party payer authorization procedures. Compensation should be in addition to dispensing fee arrangements.

6. APhA should work with relevant groups to improve prior authorization design and decrease prescription processing inefficiencies.

(JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2015)

1. APhA acknowledges the following: (a) Patients have the right to be informed participants in decisions related to their personal health care. (b) Pharmacists have a professional obligation to contribute to the education of patients to help achieve optimal drug therapy. (c) Pharmacists should provide drug-related information to their patients (or patients' agent) by face-to-face oral consultation, supplemented by written or printed material, or any other means or combination of means that is best suited to an individual patient's needs for specific information.

2. APhA acknowledges that the pharmacist is responsible for initiating pharmacist/patient dialogue and assessing the patient's ability to comprehend and communicate so as to optimize the patient's understanding of and compliance with drug therapy.

3. APhA encourages the research and development of ancillary communication aids and techniques to maximize patient understanding of medication and its proper use.

(JAPhA. NS17:464; July 1977) (Am Pharm. NS3(16):28; June 1991) (JAPhA. NS2(5)(suppl 1):563; September/October 2002) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA encourages implementation of a standard prescription drug card to improve the dispensing process and encourages the use of technology in this implementation.

2. APhA supports the use of technology to facilitate record-keeping of patient prescription information for third-party audit purposes and regulatory compliance.

3. APhA supports education of the public regarding the responsibility to be informed consumers of their pharmacy benefits provided through third-party plans.

4. APhA encourages third-party plans to provide pharmacies all information necessary for benefits administration in a timely organized manner or to provide access to the information through the Internet or similar technologies at no cost to the pharmacy.

5. APhA supports the distinction of plan management messages (e.g., days' supply limitations or formulary management) from drug utilization review messages (e.g., drug-drug interactions). APhA supports the communication of all plan management options available (e.g.,) approved formulary alternatives) from the claims processor to the pharmacist.

6. APhA supports the development and use of systems to communicate in-pharmacy drug utilization review messages with online claims processing systems to eliminate redundant and/or repetitive messages.

7. APhA encourages the transmission of pre-adjudication drug utilization review messages (i.e., drug utilization review communication between the prescriber and claims processor) to the pharmacist.

8. APhA supports efforts to: (a) improve on-line drug utilization review messages by the establishment of evidence-based criteria to prevent drug-related conflicts that have the potential for causing serious harm; and (b) eliminate drug utilization review messages that have questionable or inconsequential impact on patient outcomes.

(JAPhA. NS4(5)(suppl 1):57; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA, as the national professional society of pharmacists, will work to ensure that pharmacy is the profession responsible for providing leadership in developing a safe, error-free medication use process.

2. APhA supports continuation and expansion of medication error reporting programs.

3. Medication error reporting programs should be non-punitive in nature and allow appropriate anonymity to facilitate error reporting and development of solutions to eliminate error.

4. APhA supports identifying the system-based causes of errors and building systems to support safe medication practice.

(JAPhA. NS(9):40; September/October 2000) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA advocates and will facilitate pharmacists' participation in the continuum of patient care. The continuum of patient care is characterized by the interdisciplinary care provided a patient through a series of organized, connected events or activities independent of time and practice site, in order to optimize desired therapeutic outcomes.

2. APhA will facilitate pharmacists' participation in the continuum of patient care by (a) achieving recognition for the pharmacist as a primary care provider; (b) securing access for pharmacists to patient information systems, including creation of the necessary software for the purpose of record maintenance of cognitive services provided by pharmacists; and (c) developing means and methods to establish and enable pharmacists' direct participation in the continuum of patient care.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):36 June; 1995) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2019)

APhA encourages the development of appropriate educational materials and guidelines to assist pharmacists in addressing the ethical issues associated with the appropriate use of biotechnology-based products.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):29; June 1991) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA supports the development of programs that educate pharmacy's several publics about the cost effectiveness of drug products and related comprehensive pharmacists services.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):422; June 1987) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports the Academy of General Practice of Pharmacy statement on drug delivery practice that reads as follows: "When requested by a patient or a prescriber to deliver medication to the home of a patient, the pharmacist will communicate directly with the patient, or his representative, instructions and warnings concerning the medication and ascertain that a responsible individual will receive the medication or determine that the medication will be left in a safe place."

(JAPhA. NS11:272; May 1971) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA encourages the development and use of a system for billing of medication therapy management (MTM) services that: (a) includes a standardized data set for transmission of billing claims, (b) utilizes a standardized process that is consistent with claim billing by other health care providers, and (c) utilizes a billing platform that is accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

2. APhA supports the pharmacist's or pharmacy's choice of a documentation system that allows for transmission of any MTM billing claim and interfaces with the billing platform used by the insurer or payer.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists to use the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for billing of MTM services.

4. APhA supports efforts to further develop CPT codes for billing of pharmacists' services, through the work of the Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC) and Pharmacy e-HIT Collaborative.

(JAPhA. NS48(4):471; July/August 2008) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2016) (Amended 2022)

1. APhA supports pharmacists, as licensed health care professionals, in their use of professional judgment throughout the course of their practice to act in the best interest of patients.

2. APhA asserts that a pharmacist's independent medication review and use of professional judgment in the medication distribution process is essential to patient safety.

3. APhA opposes state and federal laws that limit a pharmacist's responsibility to exercise professional judgment in the best interest of patients.

4. APhA calls for civil, criminal, and professional liability protections for pharmacists and pharmacies if the pharmacist's responsibility to use professional judgment is limited by state or federal laws.

(JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA affirms pharmacists' professional accountability within their role in all practice settings.

2. APhA advocates that pharmacists be granted and accept authority, autonomy, and accountability for patient-centric actions to improve health and medication outcomes, in coordination with other health professionals, as appropriate.

3. APhA reaffirms 2017 Pharmacists' Role Within Value-based Payment Models and supports continued expansion of interprofessional patient care models that leverage pharmacists as accountable members of the health care team.

4. APhA advocates for sustainable payment and attribution models to support pharmacists as accountable patient care providers.

5. APhA supports continued expansion of resources and health information infrastructures that empower pharmacists as accountable health care providers.

6. APhA supports the enhancement of comprehensive and affordable professional liability insurance coverage that aligns with evolving pharmacist accountability and responsibility.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020)

1. APhA recognizes the value of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services and promotes the provision of those tests and services in accordance with the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists' Patient Care Process.

2. APhA advocates for 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.

3. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies that create barriers to the tests that have been waived by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.

4. APhA encourages use of educational programming and resources to facilitate practice implementation of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services.

5. APhA 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.

6. APhA advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

1. Pharmacists are health care providers who must be recognized and compensated by payers for their professional services.

2. APhA actively supports the adoption of standardized processes for the provision, documentation, and claims submission of pharmacists' services.

3. APhA supports pharmacists' ability to bill payers and be compensated for their services consistent with the processes of other health care providers.

4. APhA supports recognition by payers that compensable pharmacist services range from generalized to focused activities intended to improve health outcomes based on individual patient needs.

5. APhA advocates for the development and implementation of a standardized process for verification of pharmacists' credentials as a means to foster compensation for pharmacist services and reduce administrative redundancy.

6. APhA advocates for pharmacists' access and contribution to clinical and claims data to support treatment, payment, and health care operations.

7. APhA actively supports the integration of pharmacists' service level and outcome data with other health care provider and claims data.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports establishment of pharmacy practice-based research networks (PBRNs) to strengthen the evidence base in support of pharmacists' patient care services.

2. APhA encourages collaborations among stakeholders to determine the minimal infrastructure and resources needed to develop and implement local, regional, and nationwide networks for performing pharmacy practice-based research.

3. APhA encourages pharmacy residency programs to actively participate in pharmacy practice-based research network (PBRNs).

(JAPhA. NS48(4):471; July/August 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4): 366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA supports pharmacist involvement in appropriate laboratory testing and health screening, including pharmacists directly conducting the activity, supervising such activity, ordering and interpreting such tests, and communicating such tests results.

2. APhA supports revision of relevant laws and regulations to facilitate pharmacist involvement in appropriate laboratory testing and health screening as essential components of patient care

3. APhA encourages research to further demonstrate the value of pharmacist involvement in laboratory testing and health screening services.

4. APhA supports public and private sector compensation for pharmacist involvement in laboratory testing and health screening services.

5. APhA supports training and education of pharmacists and student pharmacists to direct, perform, and interpret appropriate laboratory testing and health screening services. Such education and training should include proficiency testing, quality control, and quality assurance.

6. APhA encourages collaboration and research with other health care providers to ensure appropriate interpretation and use of laboratory monitoring and health screening results.

(JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (JAPhA. NS52(4):460; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewing 2016) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists are the medication experts whose accessibility uniquely positions them to increase access to and improve quality of health care while decreasing overall costs.

2. APhA asserts that pharmacists must be recognized as the essential and accountable patient care provider on the health care team responsible for optimizing outcomes through medication therapy management (MTM).

3. APhA asserts the following: (a) Medication Therapy Management Services: Definition and Program Criteria is the standard definition of MTM that must be recognized by all stakeholders. (b) Medication Therapy Management in Pharmacy Practice: Core Elements of an MTM Service Model, as adopted by the profession of pharmacy, shall serve as the foundational MTM service model.

4. APhA asserts that pharmacists must be included as essential patient care provider and compensated as such in every health care model, including but not limited to, the medical home and accountable care organizations.

5. APhA actively promotes the outcomes-based studies, pilot programs, demonstration projects, and other activities that document and reconfirm pharmacists' impact on patient health and well-being, process of care delivery, and overall health care costs.

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports evidence-based personalized medicine defined as the use of a person's clinical, genetic, genomic, and environmental information to select a medication or its dose, to choose a therapy, or to recommend preventive measures,as a means to improve patient safety and optimize health outcomes.

2. APhA promotes pharmacists as health care providers in the collection, use, interpretation, and application of pharmacogenomic data to optimize health outcomes.

3. APhA supports the development and implementation of programs, tools, and clinical guidelines that facilitate the translation and application of pharmacogenomic data into clinical practice.

4. APhA supports the inclusion of pharmacogenomic analysis in the drug development/approval and postmarketing surveillance processes.

(JAPhA. NS50(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA affirms that achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes for each patient is a shared responsibility of the health care team.

2. APhA recognizes that a primary responsibility of the pharmacist in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes is to take an active role in the development and implementation of a therapeutic plan and in the appropriate monitoring of each patient.

(Am Pharm. NS32(6):515; June 1992) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S57; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011)(Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA supports projects that demonstrate and evaluate various pharmacy-based screening and monitoring services.

(Am Pharm. NS29(7):463; July 1989) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2017)

1. APhA advocates that all organizations and healthcare providers adopt best practices in data security to ensure ongoing protection of patient data from loss, alteration, and all forms of cybercrime.

2. APhA recommends that organizations understand the flow of information, both internally and externally, to apply and maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the privacy and identity of their patients.

3. APhA calls on organizations to provide ongoing employee education and training regarding patient data protection, best practices, and cybersecurity standards.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA strongly believes that all pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be safe in their work and learning environments and be free from firearm-related violence.

2. APhA strongly recommends that technician training programs, schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training programs, and employers should develop programs to increase readiness in the event of an active shooter.

3. APhA strongly believes pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be trained to recognize and refer patients at high risk of violence to themselves or others.

4. APhA encourages pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians who are victims of firearm-related violence to seek the help of counselors and other trained mental health professionals.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019)

1. APhA calls for employers to develop policies and resources to support pharmacy personnel's ability to retreat or withdraw, without retaliation, from interactions that threaten their safety and well-being.

2. APhA encourages the development or utilization of educational programs and resources by the Association, employers, and other institutions to prepare pharmacy personnel to respond to situations that threaten their safety and well-being.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports protecting pharmacist, student pharmacist, and pharmacy technician personal information (e.g. home address, telephone, and personal email address).

2. APhA opposes legislative or regulatory requirements that mandate the publication of pharmacist, student pharmacist and pharmacy technician personal information (e.g., home address, telephone, and personal email address).

3. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to remove from their websites personal addresses, phone numbers, email, and other non-business contact information of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September-October 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

APhA encourages pharmacists to voluntarily remove all proprietary drug products with potential for abuse or adverse drug interactions from general sales areas and to make their dispensing the personal responsibility of the pharmacist.

(JAPhA. NS11:267; May 1971) (JAPhA NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

APhA encourages pharmaceutical associations to work with state legislators in an effort to provide mandatory imprisonment for the theft of controlled substances and the restriction of bail for such crimes.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):32 July; 1982) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2010)

The committee recommends that APhA support state legislation to require that a prescription department must be secured whenever the pharmacist or persons authorized by the pharmacist are not present.

(JAPhA. NS11:267; May 1971) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

1. APhA encourages the development and use of a system for billing of medication therapy management (MTM) services that: (a) includes a standardized data set for transmission of billing claims, (b) utilizes a standardized process that is consistent with claim billing by other health care providers, and (c) utilizes a billing platform that is accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

2. APhA supports the pharmacist's or pharmacy's choice of a documentation system that allows for transmission of any MTM billing claim and interfaces with the billing platform used by the insurer or payer.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists to use the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for billing of MTM services.

4. APhA supports efforts to further develop CPT codes for billing of pharmacists' services, through the work of the Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC) and Pharmacy e-HIT Collaborative.

(JAPhA. NS48(4):471; July/August 2008) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015) (Reviewed 2016) (Amended 2022)

APhA urges pharmacists to use patient-specific data and social determinants of health to address health inequities and drive decision-making in practice and advocacy.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA supports pharmacists, as licensed health care professionals, in their use of professional judgment throughout the course of their practice to act in the best interest of patients.

2. APhA asserts that a pharmacist's independent medication review and use of professional judgment in the medication distribution process is essential to patient safety.

3. APhA opposes state and federal laws that limit a pharmacist's responsibility to exercise professional judgment in the best interest of patients.

4. APhA calls for civil, criminal, and professional liability protections for pharmacists and pharmacies if the pharmacist's responsibility to use professional judgment is limited by state or federal laws.

(JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.

3. APhA supports nationwide integration of Immunization Information Systems (IIS) that incorporate federal, state, and local databases for the purpose of providing health care professionals with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision making related to immunization services.

3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.

4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

(JAPhA. 58(4):355-365 July/August 2018) (JAPhA. 62 (4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA opposes mandated procurement strategies that restrict patients' and providers' ability to choose treatment options and that compromise patient safety and quality of care.

2. APhA calls for procurement strategies and care models that lower total costs, do not restrict or delay care, and ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 62(4):942; July 2022)

1. APhA requests that state boards of pharmacy and legislative bodies regulate pharmacy practice using a standard of care regulatory model similar to other health professions' regulatory models, thereby allowing pharmacists to practice at the level consistent with their individual education, training, experience, and practice setting.

2. To support implementation of a standard of care regulatory model, APhA reaffirms 2002 policy that encourages states to provide pharmacy boards with the following: (a) adequate resources; (b) independent authority, including autonomy from other agencies; and (c) assistance in meeting their mission to protect the public health and safety of consumers.

3. APhA encourages NABP as well as state and national pharmacy associations to support and collaborate with state boards of pharmacy in adopting and implementing a standard of care regulatory model.

4. APhA and other pharmacy stakeholders should provide educational programs, information, and resources regarding the standard of care regulatory model and its impact on pharmacy practice.

(JAPhA. 62(4):941; July 2022)

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.

2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.

3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.

4. APhA affirms that the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.

5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.

6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)(Amended 2022)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff are essential members of the healthcare team and should be actively engaged and supported in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and countermeasure activities related to public health and other emergencies.

2. APhA reaffirms the 2016 policy on the Role of the Pharmacist in National Defense, and calls for the active and coordinated engagement of all pharmacists in public health and other emergency planning and response activities.

3. APhA advocates for the timely removal of regulatory restrictions, practice limitations, and financial barriers during public health and other emergencies to meet immediate patient care needs.

4. APhA urges regulatory bodies and government agencies to recognize pharmacists' training and ability to evaluate patient needs, provide care, and appropriately refer patients during public health and other emergencies.

5. APhA advocates for pharmacists' authority to ensure patient access to care through the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, as well as provision of other patient care services during times of public health and other emergencies.

6. APhA calls for processes to ensure that any willing and able pharmacy and pharmacy practitioner is not excluded from providing pharmacist patient care services during public health and other emergencies.

7. APhA calls on public and private payers to establish and implement payment policies that compensate pharmacists providing patient care services, including during public health and other emergencies, within their recognized authority.

8. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists as essential members in the planning, development, and implementation of alternate care sites or delivery models during public health and other emergencies.

9. APhA reaffirms the 2015 Interoperability of Communications Among Health Care Providers to Improve Quality of Care and encourages pharmacists, as members of the healthcare team, to communicate care decisions made during public health and other emergencies with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

APhA calls for the adoption, by pharmacy organizations and regulatory and professional entities, of the expanded definition for patient to include human or non-human species.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists are trained to provide patient care, and have the ability to address patient needs, regardless of geographic location.

2. APhA advocates for the continued development of uniform laws and regulations that facilitate pharmacists', student pharmacists', and pharmacy technicians' timely ability to practice in multiple states to meet practice and patient care needs.

3. APhA supports individual pharmacists' and student pharmacists' authority to provide patient care services across state lines whether in person or remotely.

4. APhA supports consistent and efficient centralized processes across all states for obtaining and maintaining pharmacist, pharmacy intern, and pharmacy technician licensure and/or registration.

5. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to reduce administratively and financially burdensome requirements for licensure while continuing to uphold patient safety.

6. APhA encourages the evaluation of current law exam requirements for obtaining and maintaining initial state licensure, as well as licensure in additional states, to enhance uniformity and reduce duplicative requirements.

7. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to involve a member of the board of pharmacy and a practicing pharmacist in the review and updating of state jurisprudence licensing exam questions.

8. APhA calls for development of profession-wide consensus on licensing requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel to support contemporary pharmacy practice.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e14-e15;July/August 2021)

APhA encourages the use of people first language in all written and oral forms of communication.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e15; July/August 2021)

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.

2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, post-graduate training, and continuing education requirements.

3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decision-making with community members.

4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.

5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

(JAPhA. 61(4):e16; July/August 2021)

1. APhA affirms pharmacists' professional accountability within their role in all practice settings.

2. APhA advocates that pharmacists be granted and accept authority, autonomy, and accountability for patient-centric actions to improve health and medication outcomes, in coordination with other health professionals, as appropriate.

3. APhA reaffirms 2017 Pharmacists' Role Within Value-based Payment Models and supports continued expansion of interprofessional patient care models that leverage pharmacists as accountable members of the health care team.

4. APhA advocates for sustainable payment and attribution models to support pharmacists as accountable patient care providers.

5. APhA supports continued expansion of resources and health information infrastructures that empower pharmacists as accountable health care providers.

6. APhA supports the enhancement of comprehensive and affordable professional liability insurance coverage that aligns with evolving pharmacist accountability and responsibility.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020)

1. APhA advocates for the identification of medical conditions that may be safely and effectively treated by community-based pharmacists.

2. APhA encourages the training and education of pharmacists and student pharmacists regarding identification, treatment, monitoring, documentation, follow-up, and referral for medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists

3. APhA advocates for laws and regulations that allow pharmacists to identify and manage medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists.

4. APhA advocates for appropriate remuneration for the assessment and treatment of medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists from government and private payers to ensure sustainability and access for patients.

5. APhA supports research to examine the outcomes of services that focus on medical conditions treated by community-based pharmacists.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the standardization of user interfaces to improve quality and reduce errors unique to e-prescribing.

2. APhA supports reporting mechanisms and research efforts to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and quality of e-prescribing systems, computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) systems, and the e-prescriptions that they produce, in order to improve health information technology systems and, ultimately, patient care.

3. APhA supports the development of financial incentives for pharmacists and prescribers to provide high quality e-prescribing activities.

4. APhA supports the inclusion of pharmacists in quality improvement and meaningful use activities related to the use of e-prescribing and other health information technology that would positively impact patient health outcomes.

5. APhA supports laws and regulations that require e-prescribing of controlled substances to reduce fraudulent prescriptions.

(JAPhA. NS40(4):471; July/August 2010) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2015) (JAPhA. 60:(5):e10); September/October 2020)

1. APhA advocates for nationwide integration and uniformity of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) that incorporate federal, state, and territory databases for the purpose of providing health care professionals with accurate and real-time information to assist in clinical decision making when providing patient care services related to controlled substances.

2. APhA supports pharmacist involvement in the development of uniform standards for an integrated nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) that includes the definition of authorized registered users, documentation, reporting requirements, system response time, security of information, minimum reporting data sets, and standard transaction format.

3. APhA supports mandatory prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) enrollment by all health care providers, mandatory reporting by all those who dispense controlled substances, and appropriate system query by registrants during the patient care process related to controlled substances.

4. APhA advocates for the development of seamless workflow integration systems that would enable consistent use of a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) by registrants to facilitate prospective drug review as part of the patient care process related to controlled substances.

5. APhA advocates for continuous, sustainable federal funding sources for practitioners and system operators to utilize and maintain a standardized integrated and real-time nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).

6. APhA supports the use of interprofessional advisory boards that include pharmacists to coordinate collaborative efforts for (a) compiling, analyzing, and using prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data trends related to controlled substance misuse, abuse, and/or fraud; (b) providing focused provider education and patient referral to treatment programs; and (c) supporting research activities on the impact of PDMPs.

7. APhA supports education and training for registrants about a nationwide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to ensure proper data integrity, use, and confidentiality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364-365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

1. APhA opposes drug manufacturers' refusal to supply certain drugs to correctional health services units necessary to provide medical treatment of inmates.

2. APhA advocates for inmates to have an opportunity, equal to that of non-inmates, to access medications that correctional healthcare providers deem medically necessary for appropriate and humane health care treatment.

3. APhA advocates for correctional healthcare providers to have opportunity, equal to that of non-correctional healthcare providers, to access, prescribe, and procure pharmaceuticals deemed necessary for medical treatment of inmates.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA strongly urges all employers of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel, and the settings in which they practice, to implement protection and control measures and procedures, per consensus recommendations when available, and access to protective gear and cleaning supplies that ensure the safety of pharmacy personnel and that of their family members and the public.

2. APhA urges federal and state government officials, manufacturers, distributors, and health system administrators to recognize pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as "front-line providers" who should receive appropriate personal protective equipment and other resources to protect their personal safety and support their ability to continue to provide patient care.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the expansion and increased sources of funding for pharmacies and pharmacist-provided care services that serve the needs of underserved populations to provide better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

2. APhA supports charitable pharmacies and pharmacy services that ensure the quality, safety, drug storage, and integrity of the drug product and supply chain, in accordance with applicable law.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA recognizes that certain complex medications require more specialized care and resources. Further, APhA asserts that delineation of medications as specialty versus non-specialty, and associated payer and manufacturer practices, may introduce continuity of care disruption, patient access issues, and financial inequities.

2. APhA supports pharmacists and pharmacies choosing to specialize or incorporate specialty pharmacy services into their practice to optimize patient outcomes.

3. APhA opposes payer policies and practices that limit patient choice of pharmacy providers, disrupt continuity of care, or compromise patient safety through the creation of specialty drug lists, and restrictive specialty pharmacy networks

4. APhA opposes manufacturer distribution and related business practices that restrict patient or pharmacy access to medications, medical products, and patient care services.

5. APhA advocates for the adoption of pharmacy profession-developed, harmonized practice standards for specialized pharmacy practices, and specialty pharmacy services and products.

6. APhA encourages increased availability and use of data integration, patient financial assistance, and other resources to inform clinical practice and support the provision of specialized pharmacy practices and specialty pharmacy services.

7. APhA supports the availability of education and training for pharmacists and student pharmacists related to specialized pharmacy practices and specialty pharmacy services.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10; September/October 2020)

APhA supports regulations that would allow pharmacies to transfer prescriptions for controlled substances for the purposes of an initial fill.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10); September/October 2020)

1. APhA supports the establishment of collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and other health care professionals designed to optimize patient care outcomes.

2. APhA supports the establishment of collaborative practice agreements between one or multiple pharmacists and one or multiple prescribers or entities.

3. APhA supports state laws that do not require a referral or a prior provider-patient relationship as a prerequisite to access services provided under a collaborative practice agreement.

4. APhA opposes state laws that limit collaborative practice agreements to specific patients.

5. APhA supports state laws that allow for pharmacists' prescriptive authority.

6. APhA supports state collaborative practice laws that allow all licensed pharmacists, in all practice settings, to establish collaborative practice agreements with other health care professionals or entities.

7. APhA shall promote the establishment and dissemination of guidelines and information to pharmacists and other health care professionals to facilitate the development of collaborative practice agreements.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) (JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA advocates that health care mergers and acquisitions must preserve the pharmacist-patient relationship.

2. APhA supports optimizing the role of pharmacists in the provision of team-based care following health care mergers and acquisitions in order to: (a) enhance patient experience and safety; (b) improve population health; (c) reduce health care costs; and (d) improve the work life of health care providers.

3. APhA asserts that the scope of review by federal agencies must have a focus on the impact of health care mergers and acquisitions on patient access and the provision of care to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Therefore, APhA calls for (a) reform of the pre-health care mergers and acquisitions process; (b) implementation of an ongoing post-health care mergers and acquisitions evaluation process to preserve patient choice and access to established patient-pharmacist relationships, and (c) continuous transparent dialogue among stakeholders throughout the process.

4. APhA calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop a task force to monitor health care mergers and acquisitions activity.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA encourages state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to revise laws and regulations to support the patient-centered care of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with injection drug use, APhA supports the expansion of interprofessional harm reduction education in the curriculum of schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs.

3. APhA encourages pharmacists to initiate, sustain, and integrate evidence-based harm reduction principles and programs into their practice to optimize the health of people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances.

4. APhA supports pharmacists' roles to provide and promote consistent, unrestricted, and immediate access to evidence-based, mortality- and morbidity-reducing interventions to enhance the health of people who inject nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances and their communities, including sterile syringes, needles, and other safe injection equipment, syringe disposal, fentanyl test strips, immunizations, condoms, wound care supplies, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), point-of-care testing for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), opioid overdose reversal medications, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who inject non-medically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and addiction treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to overdose prevention sites and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA encourages all health care personnel to receive training and provide services to identify, assist, and refer people at risk for, or currently experiencing, a mental health crisis.

2. APhA encourages employers and policy makers to provide the support, resources, culture, and authority necessary for all pharmacy personnel to engage and assist individuals regarding mental health and emotional well-being.

3. APhA supports integration of a mental health assessment as a vital component of pharmacist-provided patient care services.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019)

1. APhA supports referrals of patients to pharmacists, among pharmacists, or between pharmacists and other health care providers to promote optimal patient outcomes.

2. APhA supports referrals to and by pharmacists that ensure timely patient access to quality services and promote patient freedom of choice.

3. APhA advocates for pharmacists' engagement in referral systems that are aligned with those of other health care providers and facilitate collaboration and information sharing to ensure continuity of care.

4. APhA supports attribution and equitable payment to pharmacists providing patient care services as a result of a referral.

5. APhA promotes the pharmacist's professional responsibility to uphold ethical and legal standards of care in referral practices.

6. APhA reaffirms its support of development, adoption, and use of policies and procedures by pharmacists to manage potential conflicts of interest in practice, including in referral systems.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e16; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA encourages all stakeholders to develop and adopt evidence-based approaches to educate the public and all health care professionals to reduce the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses.

2. APhA supports the increased utilization of pharmacists and student pharmacists with appropriate training to actively participate in the care of patients with mental health diagnoses as members of interprofessional health care teams in all practice settings.

3. APhA supports the expansion of mental health education and training in the curriculum of all schools and colleges of pharmacy, post-graduate training, and within continuing professional development programs.

4. APhA supports the development of education and resources to address health care professional resiliency and burnout.

(JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018)

1. APhA supports the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to revise the drug and medical device classification paradigms for prescription and nonprescription medications and medical devices to allow greater access to certain medications and medical devices under conditions of safe use while maintaining patients' relationships with their pharmacists and other health care providers.

2. APhA supports the implementation or modification of state laws and regulations to facilitate pharmacists' implementation and provision of services related to a revised drug and medical device classification system.

3. APhA supports a patient care delivery model built on coordination and communication between pharmacists and other health care team members in the evaluation and management of care delivery.

4. APhA affirms that pharmacists are qualified to provide clinical interventions on medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

5. APhA urges manufacturers, FDA, and other stakeholders to include pharmacists' input in the development and adoption of technology and standardized processes for services related to medications and medical devices under FDA's defined conditions of safe use.

6. APhA supports the utilization of best practices, treatment algorithms, and clinical judgment of pharmacists and other health care providers to guide the evaluation and management of care delivery related to medications and medical devices under FDA's approved conditions of safe use.

7. APhA encourages the inclusion of medications, medical devices, and their associated services provided under FDA's defined conditions of safe use within health benefit coverage.

8. APhA supports compensation of pharmacists and other health care professionals for the provision of services related to FDA's defined conditions of safe use programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (JAPhA. 58(4):356; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA emphasizes genomics as an essential aspect of pharmacy practice.

2. APhA recognizes pharmacists as the health care professional best suited to provide medication-related consults and services based on a patient's genomic information. All pharmacists involved in the care of the patient should have access to relevant genomic information.

3. APhA supports processes to protect patient data confidentiality and opposes unethical utilization of genomic data.

4. APhA demands payers include pharmacists as eligible providers for covered genomic interpretation and related services to support sustainable models that optimize patient care and outcomes.

5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the exchange, storage, utilization, and documentation of clinically actionable genetic variations and actions taken by the pharmacist in the provision of patient care.

6. APhA recommends pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists lead the collaborative development of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmacogenomics and related services.

7. APhA recommends the inclusion of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the collaborative development of pharmacogenomics clinical support tools and resources.

8. APhA encourages pharmacists to use their professional judgment and published guidelines and resources when providing access to testing or utilizing direct-to-consumer genomic test results in their patient care services.

9. APhA urges schools and colleges of pharmacy to include clinical application of genomics as a required element of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

10. APhA encourages the creation of continuing professional development and post-graduate education and training programs for pharmacists in genomics and its clinical application to meet varying practice needs.

11. APhA encourages the funding of pharmacist-led research examining the cost effectiveness of care models that utilize pharmacists providing genomic services.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018)

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists' patient care services and related prescribing by pharmacists help improve patient access to care, patient outcomes, and community health, and they align with coordinated, team-based care.

2. APhA supports increased patient access to care through pharmacist prescriptive authority models.

3. APhA opposes requirements and restrictions that impede patient access to pharmacist-prescribed medications and related services.

4. APhA urges prescribing pharmacists to coordinate care with patients' other health care providers through appropriate documentation, communication, and referral.

5. APhA advocates that medications and services associated with prescribing by pharmacists must be covered and compensated in the same manner as for other prescribers.

6. APhA supports the right of patients to receive pharmacist-prescribed medications at the pharmacy of their choice.

(JAPhA. 57(4):442; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports value-based payment models that include pharmacists as essential health care team members and that promote coordinated care, improved health outcomes, and lower total costs of health care.

2. APhA encourages the development and implementation of meaningful, consistent, process-based and outcomes-based quality measures that allow attribution of pharmacist impact within value-based payment models.

3. APhA advocates for mechanisms that recognize and compensate pharmacists for their contributions toward meeting goals of quality and total costs of care in value-based payment models, separate and distinct from the full product and dispensing cost reimbursement.

4. APhA advocates that pharmacists must have real-time access to and exchange of electronic health record data within value-based payment models in order to achieve optimal health and medication-related outcomes.

5. APhA supports education, training, and resources that help pharmacists transform and integrate their practices with value-based payment models and programs.

(JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports performance networks that improve patient care and health outcomes, reduce costs, use pharmacists as an integral part of the health care team, and include evidence-based quality measures.

2. APhA urges collaboration between pharmacists and payers to develop distinct, transparent, fair, and equitable payment strategies for achieving performance measures associated with providing pharmacists' patient care services that are separate from the reimbursement methods used for product fulfillment.

3. APhA advocates for prospective notification of evidence-based quality measures that will be used by a performance network to assess provider and practice performance. Furthermore, updates on provider and practice performance against these measures should be provided in a timely and regular manner.

4. APhA supports pharmacists' professional autonomy to determine processes that improve performance on evidence-based quality measures.

(JAPhA. 57(4):441; July/August 2017) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports the use of the milliliter (mL) as the standard unit of measure for oral liquid medications.

2. APhA encourages the mandatory use of leading zeros before the decimal point for amounts of less than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.

3. APhA discourages the use of trailing zeros after the decimal point for amounts greater than one on prescription-container labels for oral liquid medications.

4. APhA supports access to and universal availability of dosing devices with numeric graduations that correspond to the unit of measure that is on the container's label for oral liquid medications.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

APhA supports expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including but not limited to pharmacist-administered injection services for treatment and maintenance of substance use disorders that are based on a valid prescription.

(JAPhA. 56(4):370; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA supports changes to the Social Security Act to allow pharmacists to be recognized and paid as providers of patient care services.

(JAPhA. NS51(4):482; July/August 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4): 379; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA recognizes the value of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services and promotes the provision of those tests and services in accordance with the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists' Patient Care Process.

2. APhA advocates for 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.

3. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies that create barriers to the tests that have been waived by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.

4. APhA encourages use of educational programming and resources to facilitate practice implementation of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services.

5. APhA 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.

6. APhA advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

(JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA supports the role of pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship in all practice settings.

2. APhA supports pharmacists working in collaboration with others to lead the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs and initiatives.

3. APhA supports pharmacists advising prescribers and educating patients on the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015)

1. APhA supports the establishment of secure, portable, and interoperable electronic patient health care records.

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other stakeholders in the development and implementation of multidirectional electronic communication systems to improve patient safety, enhance quality care, facilitate care transitions, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.

3. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists in the establishment and enhancement of electronic health care information technologies and systems that must be interoperable, HIPAA compliant, integrated with claims processing, updated in a timely fashion, allow for data analysis, and do not place disproportionate financial burden on any one health care provider or stakeholder.

4. APhA advocates for pharmacists and other health care providers to have access to view, download and transmit electronic health records. Information shared among providers using a health information exchange should utilize a standardized secure interface based on recognized international health record standards for the transmission of health information.

5. APhA supports the integration of federal, state, and territory health information exchanges into an accessible, standardized, nationwide system.

6. APhA opposes business practices and policies that obstruct the electronic access and exchange of patient health information because these practices compromise patient safety and the provision of optimal patient care.

7. APhA advocates for the development of systems that facilitate and support electronic communication between pharmacists and prescribers concerning patient adherence, medication discontinuation, and other clinical factors that support quality care transitions.

8. APhA supports the development of education and training programs for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and other health care professionals on the appropriate use of electronic health records to reduce errors and improve the quality and safety of patient care.

9. APhA supports the creation and non-punitive application of a standardized, interoperable system for voluntary reporting of errors associated with the use of electronic health care information technologies and systems to enable aggregation of protected data and develop recommendations for improved quality.

(JAPhA. N55(4):364; July/August 2015) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports pharmacists leading the process of assessing and improving patient medication adherence in collaboration with the health care team.

2. APhA advocates for pharmacists taking leadership roles in working with administrators, health care professionals, payers, patients and other stakeholders to design processes, systems, and technology that promote interoperability and care coordination across settings to improve medication adherence.

3. APhA advocates for the profession of pharmacy to continually study, evaluate, and disseminate evidence-based methods to improve medication adherence.

4. APhA advocates for raising awareness about the issue of medication non-adherence and the importance of engaging patients in their treatment.

5. APhA supports education of the public, employee benefit managers, third-party payers, and other health care decision makers regarding the value and cost-effectiveness of the role of the pharmacist in improving medication adherence.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015)

1. APhA supports regulatory changes to further facilitate clinical research related to the clinical efficacy and safety associated with the use of cannabis and its various components.

2. APhA encourages health care provider education related to the clinical efficacy, safety, and management of patients using cannabis and its various components.

3. APhA advocates that the pharmacist collect and document information in the pharmacy patient profile about patient use of cannabis and its various components and provide appropriate patient counseling.

4. APhA supports pharmacist participation in furnishing cannabis and its various components when scientific data support the legitimate medical use of the products and delivery mechanisms, and federal, state, or territory laws or regulations permit pharmacists to furnish them.

5. APhA opposes pharmacist involvement in furnishing cannabis and its various components for recreational use.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015)

1. APhA recognizes that audits of health care practices, when used appropriately, may improve patient care and deter fraud, waste, and abuse.

2. APhA advocates for the use of standardized and efficient audit procedures with transparent criteria clearly communicated by the payor and readily accessible to providers in advance.

3. APhA advocates that audit processes should result in minimal disruption to practice workflow, minimal financial burden, and no impact on patient care.

4. APhA urges timely notification and scheduling of claims audits to minimize disruption of patient care delivery.

5. APhA supports the inclusion of education as a component of the audit process to improve documentation of services, meet payor requirements, and enhance the quality-of-care delivery.

6. APhA opposes incentive-based auditor compensation and the use of statistical methodologies, such as sample extrapolation, for determining the recoupment of funds from health care providers or health care organizations.

7. APhA advocates that audit reports include complete information listing audit discrepancies and appropriate guidelines for documenting and appealing these findings.

8. APhA advocates that pharmacy audits be performed in a professional manner by a pharmacist or certified pharmacy technician.

(JAPhA. 54(4): 357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports pharmacists leading medication management activities during care transitions to ensure safe and effective medication use.

2. APhA supports the integral role of pharmacists during care transitions for improving quality of patient-centered care and reducing overall costs to the health care system.

3. APhA strongly encourages collaboration and shared accountability among patients, family members, caregivers, pharmacists, and other health care providers during care transitions.

4. APhA supports the development and utilization of standardized processes that facilitate real-time, bidirectional communication of protected health information during care transitions.

5. APhA supports that documentation of health outcomes is an essential component of any care transition program to demonstrate value and ensure continuous quality improvement.

6. APhA supports financially viable payment models that recognize the value of pharmacists' services, including, but not limited to, those provided during care transitions.

7. APhA strongly urges the development and implementation of multidisciplinary, interprofessional, and team-based training for health care professionals and students to improve the quality and consistency of care transition services.

8. APhA urges the collaboration and partnership of community pharmacies with health care systems, institutions, and other entities involved in care transitions.

(JAPhA. 54(4):357; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in overdose, drug diversion, and substance-related and addictive disorders.

2. APhA supports recognition of pharmacists as the health care providers who must exercise professional judgment in the assessment of a patient's conditions to fulfill corresponding responsibility for the use of controlled substances and other medications with the potential for misuse, abuse, and/or diversion.

3. APhA supports pharmacists' access to and use of prescription monitoring programs to identify and prevent drug misuse, abuse, and/or diversion.

4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws and regulations that permit pharmacists to furnish opioid reversal agents to prevent opioid-related deaths due to overdose.

5. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in selecting appropriate therapy and dosing and initiating and providing education about the proper use of opioid reversal agents to prevent opioid-related deaths due to overdose.

(JAPhA. 54(4):358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022)

1. APhA opposes the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in pharmacies until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.

2. APhA opposes the use of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in areas subject to current clean air regulations for combustible tobacco products until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.

3. APhA urges pharmacists to become more knowledgeable about e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products.

(JAPhA. 54(4): 358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2019)

1. Pharmacists are health care providers who must be recognized and compensated by payers for their professional services.

2. APhA actively supports the adoption of standardized processes for the provision, documentation, and claims submission of pharmacists' services.

3. APhA supports pharmacists' ability to bill payers and be compensated for their services consistent with the processes of other health care providers.

4. APhA supports recognition by payers that compensable pharmacist services range from generalized to focused activities intended to improve health outcomes based on individual patient needs.

5. APhA advocates for the development and implementation of a standardized process for verification of pharmacists' credentials as a means to foster compensation for pharmacist services and reduce administrative redundancy.

6. APhA advocates for pharmacists' access and contribution to clinical and claims data to support treatment, payment, and health care operations.

7. APhA actively supports the integration of pharmacists' service level and outcome data with other health care provider and claims data.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2021)

1. APhA recommends that health plans and payers contract with and appropriately compensate individual pharmacist providers for the level of care rendered without requiring the pharmacist to be associated with a pharmacy.

2. APhA supports adoption of state laws and rules pertaining to the independent practice of pharmacists when those laws and rules are consistent with APhA policy.

3. APhA, recognizing the positive impact that pharmacists can have in meeting unmet needs and managing medical conditions, supports the adoption of laws and regulations and the creation of payment mechanisms for appropriately trained pharmacists to autonomously provide patient care services, including prescribing, as part of the health care team.

(JAPhA. NS49(4):492; July/August 2009) (Reviewed 2012) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

1. APhA encourages pharmacist involvement in the planning and coordination of medication take-back programs for the purpose of disposal.

2. APhA supports increasing public awareness regarding medication take-back programs for the purpose of disposal.

3. APhA urges public and private stakeholders, including local, state, and federal agencies, to coordinate and create uniform, standardized regulations, including issues related to liability and sustainable funding sources, for the proper and safe disposal of unused medications.

4. APhA recommends ongoing medication take-back and disposal programs.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)

APhA supports the study and development of new methods and procedures whereby pharmacists can increase their ability and expand their opportunities to provide health care services to patients.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):47; July 1978) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2016) (Reviewed 2022)

APhA advocates for the recognition and utilization of pharmacists as providers to address gaps in primary care.

(JAPhA. 53(4):365; July/August 2013) (Reviewing 2018) (Reviewed 2019) (Reviewed 2020)

1. APhA advocates direct involvement of pharmacists in the development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines. Well-designed guidelines promote an interdisciplinary team approach to patient care that utilizes pharmacists' expertise in optimizing patient outcomes.

2. APhA believes that evidence-based clinical guidelines should promote optimal patient care built on the best available scientific data. These guidelines should be developed using an interdisciplinary approach and should be evaluated regularly to ensure that they reflect current practice standards.

3. APhA should promote educational programs, products, and services that facilitate the participation of pharmacists in the development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines in all practice settings.

4. APhA advocates the use by pharmacists, in all practice settings, of evidence-based practice guidelines for pharmaceutical care built on the best scientific data to optimize patient outcomes. These guidelines should be developed using an interdisciplinary approach and should be evaluated regularly to ensure that they reflect current practice standards.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):37; June 1995) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2008) (JAPhA. 53(4):366; July/August 2013) (Reviewed 2018)