The APhA staff creates an "Administrative Procedures Handbook," which consolidates into one source the various rules and procedures which this House has adopted.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):38;June 1995)

A Special Committee on House Rules Procedures of the APhA House of Delegates shall be appointed annually by the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):38; June 1995)

APhA supports the establishment and enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 opposes the use of brand names for nonprescription drug products of different companies.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):32; July 1982)

2. Advertisements about prescription drugs provided to patients, including prescription drug prices, should not encourage or induce the obtaining or use of drugs in excess of a patient's therapeutic requirements.

(JAPhA. NS17:448; July 1977)

1. The committee recommends that APhA urges the development of guidelines for pre-use clearance of nonprescription drug advertising by a government agency or joint government/industry committee to ensure that such advertising does not contain invalid or unsupported claims, and that such advertising will not contribute to the drug abuse problem.

2. The committee recommends that APhA not support a flat ban on nonprescription drug advertising at this time.

3. The committee recommends that APhA urges manufacturers to voluntarily comply with guidelines for advertising nonprescription drugs such as those issued by the National Association of Broadcasters.

(JAPhA. NS11:261; May 1971)

1. The committee recommends that APhA adopts a policy condemning misleading and fallacious advertising for nonprescription drugs or any promotional efforts that encourage indiscriminate use of medication.

2. The committee further recommends that APhA assists FTC, FDA, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Better Business Bureau, the Proprietary Association, and such other involved organizations and agencies in developing responsible advertising and promotional practices for nonprescription medication.

3. Each nonprescription drug product pharmacists carry or intend to carry in stock should be subjected to their critical review. Pharmacists should evaluate products with respect to label, advertised claims, and sound drug therapy.

(JAPhA. NS10:356; June 1970)

1. APhA supports laws, regulations, and policies permitting direct-to-consumer advertising concerning medical or health conditions treatable by prescription or nonprescription drug products. These advertisements must conform to existing laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 a legislative or regulatory requirement that advertising of nonprescription drugs directed to the health care professions identify all active and inactive ingredients, including disclosure of the quantitative amounts of all physiologically active ingredients.

2. APhA supports disclosure of all therapeutically active ingredients of nonprescription drugs in advertising directed to the public.

(Am Pharm. NS20(7):62; July 1980) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other relevant communities 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 relevant party.

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024) 2025

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 communities of interest 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) (Reviewed 2023) 2025

1. APhA opposes the replacement of a pharmacist's professional judgment or patient's access to their pharmacist with artificial intelligence.

2. APhA calls on the profession of pharmacy and all related organizations to proactively assess and respond to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice and workforce dynamics.

3. APhA encourages judicious use of artificial intelligence by pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as a tool to elevate pharmacy practice and enhance patient care.

4. APhA advocates for the integration of pharmacists into the development, design, validation, implementation, and maintenance of artificial intelligence solutions.

5. APhA calls on regulatory bodies, employers, and other relevant parties to develop laws, regulations, and policies as applicable for artificial intelligence to ensure patient safety, privacy, public awareness, and public protection.

6. APhA calls on those providing artificial intelligence solutions to implement processes that identify and mitigate bias and misinformation in artificial intelligence.

7. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on the lawful, ethical, and clinical use of artificial intelligence.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 legal, regulatory, and policy 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA advocates for implementation and maintenance of cybersecurity systems, safeguards, and response mechanisms to mitigate risk and minimize harm or disruption for all pharmacies and related parties who manage or access electronic health and business information.

2. APhA advocates for all pharmacies and related business entities responsible for electronic health and business information to have cyber liability insurance or an equivalent self-funded plan to protect all relevant parties in the event of a cyberattack and data breach.

3. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on cybersecurity laws, regulations, and best practices.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 to identify misuse of controlled substances 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10); September/October 2020) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 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 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)(Reviewed 2025)

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.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355-365 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) (Reviewed 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

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 endorses the development and application of computer and/or automation technology by pharmacists to enhance pharmacy services.

2. APhA recommends that pharmacists maintain authority and responsibility for drug-use control in the utilization of computerized and/or automated pharmacy systems.

(Am Pharm. NS28(6):395; June 1988) (Reviewed 2001)

1. APhA urges the development of laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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) (JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

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 the development of safe, effective, and affordable therapeutically equivalent generic/biosimilar versions of biologic drug products, including clinical trials that assess safety.

2. APhA encourages FDA to develop a scientifically based process to approve therapeutically equivalent generic/biosimilar versions of biologic drug products.

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.

(JAPhA. NS40(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2000) (Reviewed 2002) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2016) (Archived 2017)

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.

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

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. Recognizing the benefits and risks of pharmacogenomics and applications of this technology, supports further research and assessment of the clinical, economic, and humanistic impact of pharmacogenomics on the health care system. This includes collaboration with other health care and consumer organizations for information sharing and development of pharmaceutical care processes involving these therapies. Pharmacogenomics is defined as the application of genomic technology in drug development and therapy.

2. APhA supports ongoing vigilance by all individuals and organizations with access to genetic information in order to maintain the confidentiality of the information.

3. APhA supports the development of educational materials to train and educate pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and consumers regarding pharmacogenomics.

(JAPhA. NS40(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2000) (JAPhA. NS45(5):555; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2015)

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)(Reviewed 2025)

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 legal, regulatory, and policy 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

APhA encourages pharmacist involvement in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, and recovery related to natural, technological, or human-caused incidents.

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015) (Reviewed 2021)(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations and policies 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

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, regulations and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

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 legal regulatory, policy 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 and regulations 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA calls for commensurate compensation for the provision of compulsory or mandated pharmacy services that include all products, supplies, labor, expertise, and administrative fees based on transparent economic analyses of existing and future services.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

These Responsibilities include: 1. Pharmacists, by their education and training as medication experts, should be involved intimately in all elements of the procurement, storage, handling, compounding, and dispensing of drugs and supplies in planning for as well as during any national emergency.

2. Pharmacists, by their education in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology, are readily adaptable to assist in the emergency medical treatment of patients and for training the public in medical self-help.

3. Pharmacists, by their constant contact with the members of the health team, as well as a significant portion of their communities, provide the potential for coordinating preparedness measures, and establishing meaningful standby emergency operational plans.

(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)

APhA encourages pharmacist involvement in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, and recovery related to terrorism and infectious diseases.

(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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2025)

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.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014) (Reviewed 2019)(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) (Reviewed 2025)

APhA supports the continuing efforts of the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners working group on emergency preparedness and response to network with the Office of Homeland Security and with any other relevant governmental and/or military agency.

(JAPhA. NS42(5)(suppl 1):S61; September/October 2002) (JAPhA NS45(5):559; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2009) (Reviewed 2014)

APhA supports pharmacist involvement in bioterrorism preparedness planning.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2006)

1. Encourages development of a national drug stockpile program, similar to the Summit plan, to supplement existing programs and continue in its efforts to obtain a contract from the government to study a program of this type since it is the pharmacist's responsibility to provide high-quality pharmaceutical services under all types of circumstances.

(JAPhA. NS6:328; June 1966)

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 laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports vigorous enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports the repeal of state laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports legal, regulatory, and policy 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 independently prescribing 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 independently prescribe them.

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

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

APhA supports the pharmacists' authority to control the medication distribution process and maintain the responsibility for all completed medication orders regardless of practice setting

(JAPhA. NS36(6):396; June 1996) (Reviewed 2000) (JAPhA. NS41(5)(suppl 1):S9; September/October 2001) (JAPhA. NS45(5):560; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006)

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 principle that all patients receiving prescription medications are entitled to comprehensive patient care services. These services include, but are not limited to, medication therapy management (MTM), and patient counseling as well as maintaining patient profiles, and providing the check-and-balance system with other health professionals to help prevent prescriber errors and adverse drug interactions.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2006)

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)

2. APhA opposes non-pharmacist dispensing of prescription medications.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

1. APhA supports amendments to laws, where necessary, to require that all those who dispense prescription and nonprescription drugs be subjected to uniform requirements for dispensing.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):42; July 1978)

1. APhA advocates that phsarmacy personnel should not work while subject to physical or mental impairment due to substances that might adversely affect their abilities to function properly in their professional capacities.

2. APhA supports establishment of counseling, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation programs for pharmacy personnel who are subject to physical or mental impairment due to substances that might adversely affect their abilities to function in their professional capacities.

3. APhA encourages employers to provide support to pharmacy personnel in need of medical leave to address mental health and substance use disorders.

4. APhA encourages employers to provide pharmacy personnel time away from work that facilitates appropriate care for mental health or substance use disorders without retaliation.

5. APhA advocates for timely referrals to health professional recovery programs when available, even in instances where disciplinary actions may be considered.

6. APhA encourages employers to actively support pharmacy personnel in recovery for substance use disorder by offering employment opportunities and non-dispensing roles as they reintegrate into the workforce.

(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) 2025

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in opioid-associated emergencies, drug diversion, and substance use 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 and/or diversion.

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

4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies that permit pharmacists to independently prescribe opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emetgencies.

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 deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.

(JAPhA. 54(4):358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA urges pharmacists to expand patient access to secure, convenient, and environmentally 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports the use of evidence-based medicine as first-line treatment for patients with opioid-use disorder, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA supports laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 to identify misuse of controlled substances 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports access to third-party (non-patient recipient) prescriptions for opioid reversal agents that are independently prescribed 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports laws, regulations, and policies, and private sector efforts that include pharmacists' input and that will balance patients'need for access to medications for legitimate medical purposes with the need to prevent the diversion and misuse 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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

(JAPhA. 60(5):e10); September/October 2020) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports expanding access to medications indicated for opioid use disorders (MOUDs) and other substance use disorders, 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) (JAPhA. 63(4):1268; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

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)

APhA supports comprehensive Substance Use Disorder education, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

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)

APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists to become educated in the recognition and treatment of drug addiction and chemical dependency.

(JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S57; September/October 2003) (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).

3. 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 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 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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports legal, regulatory, and policy 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 independently prescribing 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 independently prescribe them.

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

(JAPhA. N55(4):365; July/August 2015) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

The committee recommends that APhA support removal of marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act and related state and local laws and support the establishment of uniform controls for marijuana which more appropriately balance the potential public health hazards of marijuana with its current, social use.

(JAPhA. NS14:492; September 1974)

1. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit DEA-registered and trained opioid treatment program clinicians and other providers the ability to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder and refer patients for additional services as needed.

2. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit community pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder and appropriate compensation for these services.

3. APhA supports partnerships and collaborations to increase patient access to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and clinicians.

4. APhA advocates for interprofessional education on laws, regulations, and policies regarding office-based prescribing and community pharmacy dispensing of methadone in curricula, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs of all health professions.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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)

2. The committee recommends that APhA seek the withdrawal of FDA approval of methadone for its indications as an analgesic and antitussive.

3. The committee recommends that until FDA approval of methadone for its indications as an analgesic and antitussive is withdrawn, APhA should urge pharmacists to discourage the prescribing of methadone as an analgesic or antitussive.

4. The committee recommends that APhA urge pharmacists receiving prescription orders for methadone to ensure that the drug has been prescribed for a currently acceptable, medical use; and if such insurance can not be obtained, the prescription order should not be dispensed.

(JAPhA. NS12:308; June 1972)

1. The committee recommends that APhA alert the profession to the basis of using maintenance doses of methadone in the treatment of narcotic addiction.

2. The committee recommends that APhA endorses continued research in the supervised use of methadone in the treatment of narcotic addiction.

3. The committee recommends that APhA urge that methadone treatment programs be conducted only in centers that are capable of meeting federal and state requirements, and that methadone treatment not be considered, at this time, as suitable for use by the private medical practitioner in his office practice.

4. The committee recommends that APhA provide assistance in terms of advice on drug control procedures, whenever possible, to those centers and pharmacists engaging in approved methadone treatment programs.

(JAPhA. NS10:355; June 1970)

1. APhA is opposed to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes unless deemed therapeutically necessary by a health care professional following the policies and procedures set forth by the appropriate governing organizations.

2. APhA advacates for the public's education on the safety, potential consequences, and misinformation pertaining to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes.

3. APhA encourages enforcement of laws, regulations, policies, and rules related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes.

4. APhA affirms that pharmacists are the medication and supplement experts for the sports medicine community.

5. APhA encourages pharmacy personnel to participate in continuing professional education, training, and certifications relevant to sports pharmacy.

6. APhA supports research on sports pharmacy, athlete care, and the outcomes associated with the integration of pharmacists into sports medicine interprofessional care.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):420; June 1986) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2015) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) 2025

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

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with 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 use 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 reversal agents, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who use nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and substance use disorder treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to safe consumption facilities and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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

2. APhA supports decriminalization of the personal possession or personal use of illicit drug substances or paraphernalia.

3. APhA supports voluntary pathways for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who have been charged with the possession or use of illicit drug substances and who have substance use or other related medical disorders.

4 APhA supports criminal penalties for persons convicted of drug trafficking or illicit drug manufacturing, 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) (JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)

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.

(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)(Reviewed 2025)

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 supports legislative, regulatory, and private-sector efforts that include input from pharmacists to balance the need for patient/consumer access to medications for legitimate medical purposes with the need to prevent diversion and abuse.

2. APhA supports consumer sales limits of nonprescription drug products 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 concerning the potential for certain products to be illegally converted into drugs for illicit use.

4. APhA supports public and private initiatives that result in increased funding to address the escalating needs for drug abuse treatment and prevention.

(JAPhA. N46(5):561; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2011)

1. APhA supports legislation that balances the need for patient/consumer access to medications for legitimate medical purposes with the need to prevent diversion and abuse.

2. APhA supports stringent enforcement of criminal laws against individuals who engage in the illegal trafficking of methamphetamine or methamphetamine precursors.

3. APhA supports retail sales limits of nonprescription products that contain methamphetamine precursors to prevent diversion.

4. APhA supports education of employees involved in the distribution chain of methamphetamine precursors about diversion, methamphetamine abuse, and prevention of abuse. APhA supports patient/consumer education of consequences of methamphetamine abuse.

5. APhA supports public and private initiatives that result in increased funding to address the escalating needs for drug abuse treatment and prevention.

(JAPhA. NS45(5):555; September/October 2005)(Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011)

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)

The committee recommends that APhA actively supports enactment of the Uniform State Controlled Substances Act and, urge that a provision that would ban the mailing of controlled substances in each state be included at the state level.

(JAPhA. NS11:268; May 1971)

Requiring that exempt narcotics be sold by a pharmacist will eliminate some of the social and public health problems associated with their use and distribution. But this committee recognizes a need for additional controls. The committee recommends that APhA study the feasibility of legislation requiring that the purchaser properly identify himself/herself to the pharmacist in order to prevent the use of fictitious names and addresses in the exempt narcotic book, that preparations be labeled with the pharmacy name and address to assist narcotic enforcement officials in quickly ascertaining whether a preparation has been obtained through legitimate channels and that time and quantity limitations be placed on the sale of exempt preparations to reduce excessive use.

(JAPhA. NS6:314; June 1966)

APhA proposes that any state narcotic drug act contain within its exempt narcotic section a provision for consumer sales of exempt narcotics being made only in a pharmacy, by a pharmacist.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963)

1. APhA urges the development of laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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

2. APhA advocates for those who are incarcerated to have an opportunity, equal to that of nonmates, 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 those incarcerated.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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)

APhA, as an issue of public safety, encourages manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration FDA to transition nonsedating antihistamines from prescription to nonprescription status.

(JAPhA. NS41(5)S:8; September /October 2001) (JAPhA. NS45(5):557; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2009)

1. APhA supports enactment and enforcement of laws, regulations and policies intended to prevent Organized Retail Crime (ORC) from occurring in our communities.

2. APhA calls on all relevant authorities to enforce laws, regulations, and policies to hold online marketplaces accountable for verifying third-party sellers on their platforms.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

APhA advocates for laws, regulations, and policies that recognize access to quality and affordable essential medicines as a fundamental human right.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA urges the development of laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 legal, regulatory, and policy 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

APhA opposes distribution programs, laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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

2. APhA advocates for those who are incarcerated to have an opportunity, equal to that of nonmates, 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 those incarcerated.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports access to third-party (non-patient recipient) prescriptions for opioid reversal agents that are independently prescribed 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

APhA opposes any laws, regulations, and policies 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 legal regulatory, policy 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 and regulations 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.

1. 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, regulations, and policies.

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

(JAPhA. 60(5):e9; September/October 2020) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA recognizes geographic proximity and transportation to pharmacies as key determinants in equitable access to medications, vaccines, and patient care services.

2. APhA calls for laws, regulations, and policies that reduce pharmacy shortage areas and ensure equitable access to essential services.

3. APhA supports the development of financial incentives to establish physical pharmacy locations in pharmacy shortage areas and to prevent the closure of pharmacies in underserved areas.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

APhA calls for commensurate compensation for the provision of compulsory or mandated pharmacy services that include all products, supplies, labor, expertise, and administrative fees based on transparent economic analyses of existing and future services.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

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 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 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 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)

1. APhA encourages pharmacists to enhance their role in protecting the integrity of the medication supply, including careful consideration of the source and distribution pathways of the medications they dispense.

2. APhA recommends that all individuals and entities of the pharmaceutical supply system, including manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, pharmacists, and others, adopt appropriate technology, tracking mechanisms, business practices, and other initiatives to protect the integrity of the drug supply.

(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 reaffirms the principle of the 1966 policy that opposed circumvention of the pharmacist in drug distribution. The association strongly opposes programs and policies by manufactures, governmental agencies, and health groups which circumvent the pharmacist's authority and responsibility to counsel patients regarding biotechnology-based products, dispense those products, and monitor their therapeutic outcome.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):29; June 1991)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

APhA supports the continued development and use of educational resources for patients regarding the proper storage of drug products.

(Am Pharm. NS29(7):464; July 1989) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2010)

1. APhA shall actively seek enactment of legislation to eliminate manufacturer and distributor differential pricing of prescription drugs and devices.

2. APhA shall actively seek enactment of legislation to modify the Nonprofit Institutions Act to eliminate exemptions for all health care institutions that dispense, issue, or supply prescription drugs.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):420; June 1986)

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)

1. APhA supports the export from the U.S. of drug products that have not been approved for use in the U.S. by FDA, except

a. When a drug product to be exported has not been so approved (or approval has been rescinded) by reasons of an affirmative FDA determination that it is unsafe or ineffective when used under the conditions prescribed, recommended, or suggested in the labeling with which the drug product would be exported; or

b. When the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the manufacturing, processing, and packing of a drug product to be exported are inadequate to preserve its identity, strength, quality, and purity.

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

The current distribution system for drugs in our society relies heavily upon the wholesaling function. Pharmacists find it impossible and frequently uneconomical to purchase all drug supplies directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The committee recommends that APhA explore with members of the wholesale drug industry means by which pharmacists can assist them to strengthen and improve their position and services in the drug distribution network.

(JAPhA. NS8:363; July 1968)

The committee has recommended in the past-and recommends again-that APhA seeks the assistance of FDA in preventing the shipment of prescription, legend drugs to institutions that are not qualified by state law to possess drugs. The committee recommends that this also include the shipment of drugs to voluntary health agencies and others who most frequently possess and dispense prescription legend drugs under nominal professional supervision.

(JAPhA. NS7:305; June 1967)

The committee recommends that APhA supports the equality of opportunity concept and again urge the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry to eliminate policies and practices that establish de facto discrimination in cost prices, package sizes, and services available in the same or interacting markets. The committee believes that the problem is sufficiently acute to justify recourse to the public at large and the legislature, if necessary.

(JAPhA. NS6:314; June 1966)

1. APhA, having previously called upon manufacturers to review their distribution policies, recommends those manufacturers whose policies make drugs available to community pharmacies on the same terms and conditions made available to all hospitals and other institutions for medical care that similarly engages in dispensing prescription medication to the public.

2. APhA urges all manufacturers to again review their distribution policies to nonprofit, tax-exempt institutions to ensure that drug purchases and usage are consistent with the terms and conditions of their sale.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963)

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 laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA encourages the continued development, distribution, and use of unit-of-use packaging as the industry standard to enhance patient safety, patient adherence, and efficiencies in drug distribution, in addition to reducing potential for counterfeiting.

(JAPhA. NS52(4):458; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2013) (Reviewed 2017)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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)

APhA encourages the continued development, distribution, and use of unit-of-use packaging to enhance patient safety, patient compliance, and efficiencies in drug distribution.

(JAPhA. NS(5)(suppl 1):S10; September/October 2001)

APhA supports having a consistent process across the country for indicating on a prescription that the prescriber does not allow the pharmacist to choose a different drug.

(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) 2025

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 legislative, regulatory, policy 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

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)

2. APhA supports a uniform nationwide procedure for designating the source of the drug product selection decision on a prescription claim.

(Am Pharm. NS29(1):67; January 1989)

1. APhA encourages FDA and FTC to increase their efforts to eliminate "quack products."

2. APhA encourages pharmacists not to stock any "quack products."

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):420; June 1986)

The committee recommends that APhA undertake efforts, including support of legislation, to eliminate the use of brand names for prescription, legend drug products.

(JAPhA. NS14:492; September 1974)

The House of Delegates endorses the "White Paper on... The Pharmacist's Role in Drug Product election," with a critique on the paper by the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences to be appended.

(JAPhA. NS12:280; June 1972)

The House of Delegates, at a special meeting on November 23-24, 1969, adopted the following amended preamble of the Drug Product Quality Statement of the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences: "Prior to the initial distribution of a drug product or modification of an existing product, every manufacturer should be obligated to perform tests which are appropriate and sufficient to demonstrate the clinical safety and efficacy claimed for that manufacturer's product, and to make a summary of this information readily available to the medical and pharmaceutical professions. In particular, in the absence of such tests, it cannot be assumed that the product will exhibit clinical acceptability."

(JAPhA. NS10:90; February 1970)

1. The committee recommends that APhA adopt a policy favoring the general concept of a reference product for drug dosage forms.

2. The committee further recommends that a careful examination of specifics be made before a particular system to achieve this goal is endorsed.

(JAPhA. NS10:347; June 1970)

The committee recommends that APhA supports action by Congress to require public disclosure of all testing information on the various products purchased by the federal government and other data collected in the procurement process relating to the qualifications of the manufacturer.

(JAPhA. NS9:365; July 1969)

The committee reiterates its recommendation that state agencies utilizing a system of listing drugs by generic name, or by cost, or by a combination of these factors, include a printed statement on their prescription order blanks which, when signed by the prescriber, permits the pharmacist to dispense a comparable drug from the approved list. The committee further recommends that all state programs include some provision that would enable a physician to prescribe nonlisted drugs when required.

(JAPhA. NS6:313; June 1966)

APhA supports state substitution laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

The committee recommends that APhA seek the repeal of antisubstitution laws.

(JAPhA. NS10:348; June 1970)

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 based on mutual arrangements between pharmacists and authorized prescribers on behalf of the care of patients.

(JAPhA. NS27:424; June 1987) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2017) 2025

1. APhA urges the development of laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA opposes the enactment of laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 the development of safe, effective, and affordable therapeutically equivalent generic/biosimilar versions of biologic drug products, including clinical trials that assess safety.

2. APhA encourages FDA to develop a scientifically based process to approve therapeutically equivalent generic/biosimilar versions of biologic drug products.

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.

(JAPhA. NS40(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2000) (Reviewed 2002) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) (Reviewed 2016)

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)

The committee reaffirms its endorsement of the "clearinghouse" approach to drug recalls and makes the following recommendations:

1. That a standard recall form and envelope be used, which would provide necessary information for easy identification of recalled drugs and precise information on the disposition of the drugs.

2. That a system of recordkeeping at all levels be developed that would ensure the chain of product identification from the manufacturer to the ultimate consumer. This would include a simpler identification of the lot number on the product label.

3. That a well-defined communications system be implemented to ensure that all pharmacists and wholesalers receive drug recalls.

4. That the seriousness of any recall be established so that appropriate promptness of action can be taken based on the depth and severity of the recall.

5. That an educational program be developed and implemented so that all segments of the industry and health professions are encouraged to comply fully.

(JAPhA. NS8:380; July 1968)

1. The committee recommends that the House of Delegates endorse the drug recall procedure preferred by APhA staff.

2. The committee recommends that APhA adopt a position that when a home remedy is recalled pharmacists should be reimbursed for any cost and expense involved in retrieving these products for the manufacturer.

(JAPhA. NS7:307; June 1967)

1. The obvious implication of drug recalls in public health has prompted the committee to express its concern over the current practice of recalling drugs. Drug recall letters are often confusing and misleading, many times conveying little or no information regarding the recall. Weekly recall bulletins are also confusing. The committee recommends that

a. A standard recall form be instituted for all recalls.

b. The information contained on this form include the manufacturer and distributor of the drug, the full reason for recall, the control numbers of the lots being recalled, and a reproduction of the label of the product.

c. All pharmacists receive a copy of the recall.

d. Criteria be established for the depth of recall.

(JAPhA. NS7:323; June 1967)

1. APhA affirms pharmacy personnel's role in screening and referral for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence.

2. APhA supports the development of training programs and tools to aid pharmacy personnel in screening for intimate partner violence.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in opioid-associated emergencies, drug diversion, and substance use 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 and/or diversion.

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

4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies that permit pharmacists to independently prescribe opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emetgencies.

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 deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.

(JAPhA. 54(4):358; July/August 2014) (Reviewed 2015)(Reviewed 2018) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA shall support pharmacy educational programs on issues regarding generic medications, therapeutic equivalence substitution (generic substitution), and biosimilars and interchangeability.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012) 2025

1. APhA affirms pharmacy personnel must have knowledge and understanding of laws, regulations, and policies that affect their roles in the practice of pharmacy.

2. In the interest of protecting public health and safety, APhA supports the assessment of knowledge regarding pharmacy laws, regulations, and policies as a component of pharmacist licensure or registration.

3. To mitigate barriers to licensure, APhA advocates for state boards of pharmacy to work with relevant parties to design and implement optimal methods for assessing minimum pharmacy jurisprudence competency.

4. APhA encourages National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to collaborate with pharmacy educators to formulate measurable competency statements for use in developing pharmacy jurisprudence assessments.

5. APhA advocates for ongoing, timely, and transparent quality assurance and control for jurisprudence assessments.

6. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to publicly communicate when changes in laws, regulations, and policies will be reflected in jurisprudence assessments.

7. APhA encourages boards of pharmacy to provide free, timely, and readily accessible educational updates regarding changes in pharmacy laws, regulations, and policies.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

1. APhA opposes the replacement of a pharmacist's professional judgment or patient's access to their pharmacist with artificial intelligence.

2. APhA calls on the profession of pharmacy and all related organizations to proactively assess and respond to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice and workforce dynamics.

3. APhA encourages judicious use of artificial intelligence by pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as a tool to elevate pharmacy practice and enhance patient care.

4. APhA advocates for the integration of pharmacists into the development, design, validation, implementation, and maintenance of artificial intelligence solutions.

5. APhA calls on regulatory bodies, employers, and other relevant parties to develop laws, regulations, and policies as applicable for artificial intelligence to ensure patient safety, privacy, public awareness, and public protection.

6. APhA calls on those providing artificial intelligence solutions to implement processes that identify and mitigate bias and misinformation in artificial intelligence.

7. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on the lawful, ethical, and clinical use of artificial intelligence.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit DEA-registered and trained opioid treatment program clinicians and other providers the ability to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder and refer patients for additional services as needed.

2. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit community pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder and appropriate compensation for these services.

3. APhA supports partnerships and collaborations to increase patient access to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and clinicians.

4. APhA advocates for interprofessional education on laws, regulations, and policies regarding office-based prescribing and community pharmacy dispensing of methadone in curricula, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs of all health professions.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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.

2. APhA opposes burdensome legal and regulatory requirements beyond continuing professional development for the provision of patient care services.

3. 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.

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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 survivors of firearm-related violence to seek the help of counselors and other trained mental health professionals.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA advocates for implementation and maintenance of cybersecurity systems, safeguards, and response mechanisms to mitigate risk and minimize harm or disruption for all pharmacies and related parties who manage or access electronic health and business information.

2. APhA advocates for all pharmacies and related business entities responsible for electronic health and business information to have cyber liability insurance or an equivalent self-funded plan to protect all relevant parties in the event of a cyberattack and data breach.

3. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on cybersecurity laws, regulations, and best practices.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 conditions 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA calls for employers to adopt and implement just culture principles to improve patient safety and support pharmacy personnel.

2. APhA encourages transparency between employers and employees by sharing deidentified medication error and near-miss data and trends as well as actions taken to promote continuous quality improvement.

3. APhA urges the integration of non-disciplinary and non-punitive mechanisms for use by boards of pharmacy to promote just culture principles when addressing people, systems, and processes involved in medication errors.

4. APhA encourages national and state associations to advocate for laws, regulations, and policies to provide protections to individuals utilizing error reporting systems to promote just culture.

5. APhA encourages the creation of a mechanism for an industrywide effort to engage in confidential and transparent sharing of learnings and root cause findings helpful in reducing the risk of medication errors.

6. APhA supports the integration of just culture principles in PharmD and pharmacy technician education, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 legislative, regulatory, policy 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA calls for employers to develop policies and procedures 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) (Reviewed 2024) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists play a vital role in improving outcomes in patients with or at risk of sexually transmitted infections.

2. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in the development of education and resources for individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in order to increase awareness and access.

3. APhA advocates for revision of state practice acts to permit pharmacists to independently prescribe for individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) therapy.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports the enactment of laws, regulations, and policies to end discriminatory practices that limit access to care for persons who are transgender or gender-diverse.

2. APhA encourages equity in care for persons who are transgender or gender-diverse through: (a) Continuing education on the pharmacist's role in transgender care, gender-affirming therapy, and health disparities in patients who are transgender or gender-diverse. (b) Systematic integration and utilization of affirmed name and pronouns, gender identity, and anatomical inventory. (c) Availability and implementation of education and resources related to gender-diverse care for all persons employed in health care settings.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy technician training programs to facilitate educational opportunities for student pharmacists, and student pharmacy technicians in the principles of veterinary pharmacotherapy.

2. APhA encourages the availability of professional development opportunities in the principles of veterinary pharmacotherapy for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Review 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

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 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 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) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

APhA supports comprehensive Substance Use Disorder education, prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

(Am Pharm. NS27(6):424; June 1987) (JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S58; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (JAPhA. 56(4):369; July/August 2016)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

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 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)

APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists to become educated in the recognition and treatment of drug addiction and chemical dependency.

(JAPhA. NS43(5)(suppl 1):S57; September/October 2003) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2011) (Reviewed 2016)

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 supports projects that demonstrate and evaluate various pharmacy-based screening and monitoring services.

(Am Pharm. NS29(7):463; July 1989)

2. APhA should assist states in developing standards of practice, utilizing the 1979 Standards of Practice for the Profession of Pharmacy as the model.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):419; June 1986)

1. APhA encourages initiatives that enable pharmacists to maintain competency.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):419; June 1986)

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

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other relevant communities 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 relevant party.

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024) 2025

1. APhA opposes the replacement of a pharmacist's professional judgment or patient's access to their pharmacist with artificial intelligence.

2. APhA calls on the profession of pharmacy and all related organizations to proactively assess and respond to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice and workforce dynamics.

3. APhA encourages judicious use of artificial intelligence by pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as a tool to elevate pharmacy practice and enhance patient care.

4. APhA advocates for the integration of pharmacists into the development, design, validation, implementation, and maintenance of artificial intelligence solutions.

5. APhA calls on regulatory bodies, employers, and other relevant parties to develop laws, regulations, and policies as applicable for artificial intelligence to ensure patient safety, privacy, public awareness, and public protection.

6. APhA calls on those providing artificial intelligence solutions to implement processes that identify and mitigate bias and misinformation in artificial intelligence.

7. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on the lawful, ethical, and clinical use of artificial intelligence.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit DEA-registered and trained opioid treatment program clinicians and other providers the ability to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder and refer patients for additional services as needed.

2. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit community pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder and appropriate compensation for these services.

3. APhA supports partnerships and collaborations to increase patient access to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and clinicians.

4. APhA advocates for interprofessional education on laws, regulations, and policies regarding office-based prescribing and community pharmacy dispensing of methadone in curricula, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs of all health professions.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA advocates for implementation and maintenance of cybersecurity systems, safeguards, and response mechanisms to mitigate risk and minimize harm or disruption for all pharmacies and related parties who manage or access electronic health and business information.

2. APhA advocates for all pharmacies and related business entities responsible for electronic health and business information to have cyber liability insurance or an equivalent self-funded plan to protect all relevant parties in the event of a cyberattack and data breach.

3. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on cybersecurity laws, regulations, and best practices.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 to identify misuse of controlled substances 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 laws, regulations, and policies 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.

4. APhA urges FDA to require the full disclosure of all ingredients in e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in both the pre-use and vapor states.

(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) (Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2025)

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)

APhA encourages the development of structured post-graduate continuing education programs, conducted over an extended period of time, to prepare pharmacists to provide distinctive pharmacy services.

(Am Pharm. NS23(6):52; June 1983)

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 supports a voluntary system to measure the competence of pharmacy practitioners on a continuing basis.

(JAPhA. NS15:336; June 1975)

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)

APhA supports programs designed to established valid standards of competence for pharmacy practice and reliable means of measuring and evaluating such competence.

(JAPhA.NS15:336; June 1975)

The committee recommends that APhA works with practitioners, educators, and boards of pharmacy members to develop standards for continuing education in pharmacy.

(JAPhA. NS14:495; September 1974)

2. APhA feels the profession in each individual state should make its own decision whether to require continuing education consistent with nationally recognized standards, if and when such standards are available.

3. APhA should continue to seek better methods of evaluating the benefits of continuing education for pharmacists.

(JAPhA. NS14:494; September 1974)

1. The committee recommends that APhA function as a national clearinghouse for continuing education.

2. The committee recommends that APhA develop a continuing education accreditation program in cooperation with colleges of pharmacy, state boards of pharmacy, national affiliated organizations, and state pharmaceutical associations.

3. The committee recommends that APhA provide services to aid states in the administration of continuing education relicensure requirements and to facilitate the fulfillment of such requirements by pharmacists.

(JAPhA. NS12:298; June 1972)

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)

APhA supports the assessment of the feasibility of a Doctor of Pharmacy equivalency process for current baccalaureate pharmacists. The assessment shall be conducted in cooperation with other national pharmacy associations and pharmacy academia.

(Am Pharm. NS31(6):28; June 1991)

APhA policy calling for a professional doctoral entry-level degree for pharmacists takes no position on the time period that should be required for awarding such degree.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):40; May 1981)

The House of Delegates urges the Board of Trustees to immediately work toward the establishment of a task force charged to devise a plan of action for the most expeditious implementation for the granting, by pharmacy schools, of a uniform Doctor o Pharmacy degree that is to be the sole entry-level degree for the profession.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):41; May 1981)

1. Supports the development of mechanisms other than full-time study that will enable current baccalaureates in pharmacy to attain a professional doctoral degree.

2. The development of mechanisms that will enable current baccalaureates in pharmacy to attain a professional doctoral degree should involve input from various segments of the profession.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):42; July 1978) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2006)

1. APhA endorses a single professional degree in pharmacy.

2. The single degree in pharmacy should be a professional doctoral degree.

3. The educational program leading to a single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should be pharmacy practice-oriented.

4. The educational program leading to a single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should enable pharmacists to qualify for licensure examination upon graduation and to practice immediately upon successful completion of the licensure examination.

5. The development of standards for the curricula leading to the single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should involve input from various segments of the profession.

(JAPhA. NS17:461; July 1977)

APhA urges state legislatures and boards of pharmacy to eliminate unnecessary preceptor and practice site requirements, including separate preceptor licensure.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

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 urges state boards of pharmacy; the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE); the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP); and other professional associations, employers, and stakeholders to collaborate in the development of a blueprint that evaluates, streamlines, and consolidates all student pharmacists' experiential education requirements.

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

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

(JAPhA. NS45(5):562; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2008)

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

(JAPhA. NS45(5):562; September/October 2006) (Reviewed 2008)

1. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy to establish and maintain experiential education programs in nontraditional areas of practice.

2. APhA encourages state boards of pharmacy to accept, on at least an hour-for-hour basis, hours of experiential education obtained in nontraditional areas of pharmacy practice as fulfilling internship hour requirements.

(Am Pharm. NS30(6):45; June 1990) (Reviewed 2003)(JAPhA. NS45(5):560; September/October 2005) (Reviewed 2006) (Reviewed 2008) (Reviewed 2013)

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 supports the development and implementation of residency programs in community pharmacy,which would enable pharmacists to acquire or enhance their practice skills that are necessary to meet the changing needs of their patients.

(Am Pharm. NS24(7):60; July 1984) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2008)

APhA supports the awarding of credit hours for structured, professionally related experiences gained outside the traditional dispensing pharmacy environment to partially fulfill the experiential requirements of state boards of pharmacy.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):33; July1982)

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

2. APhA supports the engagement of pharmacists with other relevant communities 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 relevant party.

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024) 2025

1. APhA opposes the replacement of a pharmacist's professional judgment or patient's access to their pharmacist with artificial intelligence.

2. APhA calls on the profession of pharmacy and all related organizations to proactively assess and respond to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice and workforce dynamics.

3. APhA encourages judicious use of artificial intelligence by pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as a tool to elevate pharmacy practice and enhance patient care.

4. APhA advocates for the integration of pharmacists into the development, design, validation, implementation, and maintenance of artificial intelligence solutions.

5. APhA calls on regulatory bodies, employers, and other relevant parties to develop laws, regulations, and policies as applicable for artificial intelligence to ensure patient safety, privacy, public awareness, and public protection.

6. APhA calls on those providing artificial intelligence solutions to implement processes that identify and mitigate bias and misinformation in artificial intelligence.

7. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on the lawful, ethical, and clinical use of artificial intelligence.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit DEA-registered and trained opioid treatment program clinicians and other providers the ability to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder and refer patients for additional services as needed.

2. APhA supports changes in laws, regulations, and policies to permit community pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder and appropriate compensation for these services.

3. APhA supports partnerships and collaborations to increase patient access to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and clinicians.

4. APhA advocates for interprofessional education on laws, regulations, and policies regarding office-based prescribing and community pharmacy dispensing of methadone in curricula, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs of all health professions.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 survivors of firearm-related violence to seek the help of counselors and other trained mental health professionals.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA advocates for implementation and maintenance of cybersecurity systems, safeguards, and response mechanisms to mitigate risk and minimize harm or disruption for all pharmacies and related parties who manage or access electronic health and business information.

2. APhA advocates for all pharmacies and related business entities responsible for electronic health and business information to have cyber liability insurance or an equivalent self-funded plan to protect all relevant parties in the event of a cyberattack and data breach.

3. APhA advocates for education providers to facilitate, and pharmacy personnel to seek out, education and training on cybersecurity laws, regulations, and best practices.

(JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 conditions 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with 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 use 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 reversal agents, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who use nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and substance use disorder treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to safe consumption facilities and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy technician training programs to facilitate educational opportunities for student pharmacists, and student pharmacy technicians in the principles of veterinary pharmacotherapy.

2. APhA encourages the availability of professional development opportunities in the principles of veterinary pharmacotherapy for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2025)

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 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) (Reviewed 2023)

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 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)

1. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy to continue to develop educational requirements to ensure the provision of a balanced general education in order to graduate educated citizens and competent health care professionals.

2. APhA supports development of admission processes by schools and colleges of pharmacy that ensure that students possess qualities necessary to become educated citizens and competent health care professionals.

(Am Pharm. NS32(6):515; June 1992) (Reviewed 2001) (Reviewed 2003) (Reviewed 2005) (Reviewed 2006)Reviewed 2011)

APhA encourages schools of pharmacy to include information regarding emerging technologies in their curricula.

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

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)

4. APhA will convene a task force comprised of employers, pharmacists, technicians, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and other appropriate groups to develop guidelines for working environments conducive to providing effective pharmaceutical care.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):36; June 1995)

The committee is concerned about the increasing number of complaints from the more recent graduates about the lack of interest by their employers in providing time and financial assistance to attend continuing education meetings. In some instances, the newer practitioners are being penalized, and, in other instances, the opportunity is being denied. The committee recognizes that there are many enlightened employers who contribute to the development of the profession and their practices by encouraging and assisting the pharmacists they employ in participating in educational and professional meetings. The committee recommends that APhA encourage consideration of this subject in articles and conferences on the subject of employer/employee relations.

(JAPhA. NS9:336; July 1969)

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 laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the independent practice of pharmacists when those laws, regulations, and policies 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, regulations, and policies 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA calls for employers to adopt and implement just culture principles to improve patient safety and support pharmacy personnel.

2. APhA encourages transparency between employers and employees by sharing deidentified medication error and near-miss data and trends as well as actions taken to promote continuous quality improvement.

3. APhA urges the integration of non-disciplinary and non-punitive mechanisms for use by boards of pharmacy to promote just culture principles when addressing people, systems, and processes involved in medication errors.

4. APhA encourages national and state associations to advocate for laws, regulations, and policies to provide protections to individuals utilizing error reporting systems to promote just culture.

5. APhA encourages the creation of a mechanism for an industrywide effort to engage in confidential and transparent sharing of learnings and root cause findings helpful in reducing the risk of medication errors.

6. APhA supports the integration of just culture principles in PharmD and pharmacy technician education, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development programs.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports vaccinations, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA advocates for pharmacists to be included as members of medical staffs and eligible to vote on the bylaws, standards, rules, regulations, and policies that govern those institutions' medical staffs.

2. APhA supports pharmacists, as part of the medical staff, have parity in their opportunity to be credentialed and privileged as independent medical providers.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Review 2024)

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

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

1. APhA supports a work environment in which innovative work schedules are available to pharmacists and which encourages employers to allow meal breaks and rest periods.

(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) (Reviewed 2024)

1. Polygraph tests should not be used as a means of preemployment screening in pharmacies.

2. Polygraph tests should not be used in pharmacies for routine "security" checking of employees.

3. Polygraph tests should not be used in pharmacies in the course of investigations for cause.

(JAPhA. NS17:450; July 1977) (Reviewed 2004) (Reviewed 2007) (Reviewed 2012)

The committee recommends that APhA encourage members to utilize APhA in facilitating meaningful communication between employers and employee pharmacists regarding the application of the APhA Policy Statement on Employment Standards in specific employment situations.

(JAPhA. NS13:505; September 1973)

The committee commends state associations for their foresight in establishing committees on employer-employee relations. These committees are urged to provide an additional service to their members: that of establishing guidelines for providing fringe benefits, profit-sharing plans, and other related benefits to employee pharmacists. The committee further recommends that all state associations become active in this area and appoint such committees. State associations are urged to place this important subject in their annual meeting programs or seminars.

(JAPhA. NS7:321; June 1967)

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 laws, regulations, and policies that support the safe provision of medications and delivery of effective patient care.

4. APhA urges pharmacy personnel 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 personnel for reporting workplace issues that may negatively impact patient safety.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA opposes workload requirements that stifle professional motivation and prerogatives.

(JAPhA. NS9:361; July 1969) (JAPhA. NS4(5)(suppl 1):S8; September/October 2001)

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)

APhA supports the elimination of age-based mandatory retirement.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):36; July 1978)

The committee recommends that APhA encourages employers to incorporate early vesting rights in pension plans provided as a part of their remuneration of employed pharmacists. Such provisions include a schedule assuring the pharmacist at least 50 percent vesting no later than 5 years and 100 percent not more than 10 years from the date of employment.

(JAPhA. NS14:489; September 1974)

The committee recommends that employers and employees investigate the possibility of using a payroll deduction system for paying employees' professional association dues.

(JAPhA. NS9:361; July 1969)

The committee recommends that APhA staff develop suitable guidance and informational materials on the application of the minimum wage law to pharmacies for the information and use of the membership.

(JAPhA. NS7:308; June 1967)

1. APhA shall not function as or become a collective bargaining unit.

2. APhA recommends continuation of its educational efforts concerning the mutual responsibilities of the employer and employee pharmacist inherent in the employment relationship.

3. APhA recommends continued efforts 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. APhA 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) 2025

1. APhA affirms the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights that collective bargaining is a fundamental human right.

2. 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.

3. 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. The tempo of unionization efforts and interests has noticeably increased in the past year. The committee treated this problem in some detail in its last report and again urges state professional societies to create forums for effective communication between employer and employee pharmacists. We note and commend those few states that have or are now implementing the committee's recommendation that employer-employee relations committees be established to deal with personnel issues facing the practitioners in our profession.

2. The committee further recommends that APhA provides state professional societies and colleges of pharmacy with informational materials on developments in personnel relations and unionization. We further recommend that employer-employee relations be considered as a discussion topic in continuing education or management seminars for pharmacists so that employers and employees alike are encouraged to give more serious consideration to the respective expectations of each other.

(JAPhA. NS39(4):447; July/August 1999) (JAPhA. NS5:280; May 1965)

6. The committee recommends that employed pharmacists take active roles in state and local association activities and, when appointed, serve on policy-making committees.

(JAPhA. NS39(4):447; July/August 1999) (JAPhA. NS11:273; May 1971)

5. The committee recommends that APhA reiterate its condemnation of local and state association membership requirements and privileges based on employer or employee status.

(JAPhA. NS39(4):447; July/August 1999) (JAPhA. NS11:273; May 1971)

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 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 and national 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 and national pharmacy 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 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.

4. Increasing its activities directed towards educating the profession about the mutual employment responsibilities of employers and employed pharmacists.

5. Developing benefits programs wherever possible to assist employers in providing employed pharmacists with economic security.

6. 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA calls for employers to develop policies and procedures 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) (Reviewed 2024) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 laws, regulations, and policies that support the safe provision of medications and delivery of effective patient care.

4. APhA urges pharmacy personnel 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 personnel for reporting workplace issues that may negatively impact patient safety.

(JAPhA. 58(4):355; July/August 2018) (Reviewed 2020) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA advocates for employers to provide coverage and access to comprehensive reproductive health care services.

2. APhA demands that pharmacists and pharmacy personnel receive accommodations before, during and after pregnancy, including but not limited to sufficient time and space for breaks, opportunities to sit while working, and access to food and water between breaks.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)

1. APhA calls for employers to provide fair, realistic, and equitable workplace conditions for pharmacy personnel that promote a safe, healthy, and sustainable working environment.

2. APhA urges all entities that impact pharmacy personnel workplace conditions to adopt the Pharmacists Fundamental Responsibilities and Rights.

3. APhA urges employers to develop and empower pharmacy personnel to use flexible practice management models based on available staffing, expertise, and resources that balance workloads to minimize distractions.

4. APhA advocates for employers to provide workplace onboarding and training for pharmacy personnel to optimize employee performance and satisfaction.

5. APhA encourages pharmacy personnel, starting with leaders, to model and facilitate individualized healthy working behaviors that improve well-being and to encourage and empower colleagues to do the same.

6. APhA opposes the sole use of productivity and fiscal measures for employee performance evaluations.

7. APhA calls for employers and employees to collaborate in the development and use of behavioral performance competencies in performance evaluations.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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 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) (Reviewed 2024)

1. APhA recognizes that the quality of a pharmacist's work-life affects public safety and that a working environment conducive to providing effective patient care is essential.

2. APhA opposes the practice of imposing a minimum numbers of prescriptions that pharmacists are to dispense in a given period of time. Further, APhA opposes employment practices that evaluate a pharmacist's performance based on set quotas of work performed.

3. APhA opposes employment practices that limit a pharmacist's ability to provide effective patient care.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):36; June 1995) (JAPhA. NS4(5)(suppl 1):58; September/October 2001) (Reviewed 2001) (JAPhA. NS45(5):580; September/October 2007) (JAPhA. NS52(4): 459; July/August 2012) (Reviewed 2017)

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 calls for action that addresses and mitigates the significant and negative impacts of climate change on global health.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

APhA urges pharmacists to expand patient access to secure, convenient, and environmentally 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 laws, regulations and policies, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports research and development of pharmaceutical packaging disposal by pharmacists, pharmaceutical manufacturers, waste product managers, and other stakeholders to increase recycling, reduce unnecessary waste, and 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August)

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 laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA urges implementation of strategies throughout the pharmaceutical product lifecycle (e.g., research, development, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, dispensing, use, and disposal) to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)

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 laws, regulations, and policies 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.

4. APhA urges FDA to require the full disclosure of all ingredients in e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in both the pre-use and vapor states.

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

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)

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 legislative or regulatory actions banning the nonessential use of fluorinated hydrocarbons; however, APhA recognizes the essential role played by fluorinated hydrocarbons; in some medicinal aerosols and supports the selective exemption of medicinal aerosols.

(JAPhA. NS17:446; July 1977) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010)

1. APhA encourages the Environmental Protection Agency and other appropriate entities to continue research exploring any connection between the disposal of discarded prescription or OTC medications and contamination of the water supply.

2. APhA encourages the development of programs for safe medication disposal.

3. APhA encourages appropriate government entities to accept responsibility for implementation and associated costs of safe medication disposal programs for consumers.

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

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

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)

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

2. APhA advocates for those who are incarcerated to have an opportunity, equal to that of nonmates, 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 those incarcerated.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

1. APhA opposes the use of the term "drug" for chemicals when used in lethal injections.

2. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

1. APhA reaffirms its 1977 policy that states: a. Each pharmacist, regardless of place or style of practice, must be free to exercise individual professional judgment and must have complete authority for those individual professional responsibilities assumed.

2. APhA reaffirms its 1977 policy that states: In cases where group decisions by pharmacists regarding professional matters are indicated, the decision-making process should ensure the opportunity for input by all pharmacists affected by the decisions.

(JAPhA. NS37(4):459; July/August 1997)

The American Pharmaceutical Association shall appoint a special committee for the purpose of identifying and outlining the questions and concerns facing the profession of pharmacy within the issue of assisted suicide.

(Am Pharm. NS35(6):38; June 1995)

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)(Reviewed 2025)

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)

APhA should establish a clear and proper procedure for the handling of any charges of misconduct among pharmacists, and that such procedure should be recommended as a guideline to the various states for the implementation of similar procedures where they may not now be in existence.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963) (Reviewed 2004)

APhA urges adoption of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (USOPM) Tentative Standards for the Pharmacist Series, GS-660 revising the classification and qualification standards for federal civilian pharmacists.

(Am Pharm. NS26(6):419; June 1986)

APhA supports VA reclassification of pharmacists from Title 5, United States Code, to Title 38, United States Code, personnel standards, and procedures.

(Am Pharm. NS22(7):32; July 1982)

APhA demands of the Department of Defense that pharmacists in the military service serving as pharmacists be elevated to officer status.

(JAPhA. NS13:489; September 1973)

1. APhA should place greater emphasis on its programs that seek to ensure that military and other governmental installations maintain the same legal and ethical standards in providing pharmaceutical services to governmental personnel and their dependents as those that are imposed to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the civilian population.

2. APhA should establish a permanent staff position to provide concentrated and continuous attention to this objective.

3. APhA should seek to meet with the secretary of the Department of Defense to discuss procedures and policies for providing pharmaceutical services and assigning professional personnel.

(JAPhA. NS5:249; May 1965)

1. APhA encourages the creation by Congress of a Critical Access Pharmacy designation for the Medicare program to ensure financial viability and high-quality care to beneficiaries in low access areas.

2. APhA supports the implementation of a Critical Access Pharmacy designation by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that incorporates both financial incentives and quality measures that improve business sustainability while maintaining quality of care.

3. APhA supports the expansion of state and federal scholarships and student loan repayment programs to include pharmacists and technicians employed by Critical Access Pharmacies.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

1. APhA urges the development of laws, regulations, 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 to identify misuse of controlled substances 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports amendment of personal income tax laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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

2. APhA advocates for those who are incarcerated to have an opportunity, equal to that of nonmates, 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 those incarcerated.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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 legal regulatory, policy 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 and regulations 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports the reduction and simplification of laws, regulations, and policies for 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA calls for commensurate compensation for the provision of compulsory or mandated pharmacy services that include all products, supplies, labor, expertise, and administrative fees based on transparent economic analyses of existing and future services.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

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 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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

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

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

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)(Reviewed 2025)

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 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)

1. APhA shall work with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Congress to guarantee that all contracts involving the expenditure of federal funds for prescription drugs and services comply in full with SBA guidelines as set out by Congress.

(Am Pharm. NS34(6):60; June 1994)

FDA should fully implement its current inspecting authority over manufacturing of drugs in intrastate commerce.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):30; July 1978)

The committee recommends that APhA supports revision of the Delaney Clause in a manner that would provide for suitable review of scientific data, evaluation by qualified experts, and exercise of judgment by a responsible governmental agency before a decision is made regarding the safety of a food additive.

(JAPhA. NS10:345; June 1970)

2. APhA recommends to its own members and to all U.S. pharmacists a renewed appreciation of the official compendia themselves, as well as the unique standards-setting mechanism which the compendia constitute.

3. APhA urges all American pharmacists to do everything in their power to support and defend the compendia as symbolic of the privilege which Congress, on behalf of the American public, has entrusted to them personally through the profession of pharmacy.

(JAPhA. NS10:363; June 1970)

1. APhA exhorts all state pharmacy board officials to actively support requirements pertaining to the maintaining of the current official NF and USP in each pharmacy in the United States as a condition of licensure.

(JAPhA. NS10:363; June 1970)

There is a wide spectrum of arrangements for pharmaceutical service that ranges from an "in-house" pharmacy to an exclusive "vendor" system. The possibility of establishing pharmaceutical services within the guidelines of OEO, Model Cities, or other governmental agencies is not excluded. The committee recommends that APhA develop guidelines for pharmacists and their associations for exploring, and perhaps utilizing, any or all varied possibilities.

(JAPhA. NS9:350; July 1969)

1. The committee does not think it reasonable to deny those receiving Social Security benefits the essential item of pharmaceutical services so necessary to complete therapy and health care benefits in this modern-day society. In this regard, the committee reaffirms its support of the criteria set forth in the 1967 report of the committee on legislation and recommends that APhA continue its support of S.2936.

2. When a formulary is established, we recommend that APhA insists that the selection of drugs in the formulary be governed by appropriate and qualified health care practitioners guided by the medical needs of the recipients. We further urge that any such formulary provide appropriate procedures to accommodate the need for a nonformulary drug when medical necessity so requires.

(JAPhA. NS8:361; July 1968)

1. S.2936 authorizes the formulary committee to publish and disseminate (at least annually) an alphabetical list of qualified drugs by established names and other representative names by which the drugs are commonly known, along with the benefits allowable, pharmacists, physicians, and other interested persons, including Social Security beneficiaries. The committee recommends that APhA seek revision of this provision to delete "beneficiaries" from the distribution.

2. In its 1967 report, the committee recommended guidelines for use by the APhA Board of Trustees in considering and acting upon proposals concerning drug costs. The committee believes that S.2936 meets these established criteria. We recommend that the House of Delegates continues its support of these guidelines and endorse S.2936 with the change recommended.

(JAPhA. NS8:369; July 1968)

1. The committee reaffirms its admonition that the profession must insist that high standards of pharmaceutical service be available under any government-funded, pharmaceutical service program.

2. The committee reiterates the standards established in 1967 as the proper guide for APhA in future legislative activity for Title XIX.

(JAPhA. NS8:361; July 1968)

A number of states have enacted enabling legislation for Title XIX programs during this past year. APhA has been working with state pharmaceutical societies to

1. Establish freedom of choice provisions in state laws;

2. Have the law incorporate a pharmaceutical advisory committee (or a committee of the medical advisory committee) to review programs and policies dealing with pharmaceutical services in the public assistance program;

3. Attempt to have prescribed drugs included within the authorized services; and

4. Limit payment for prescribed drugs to licensed pharmacist in accordance with HEW guidelines.

(JAPhA. NS7:313; June 1967)

S.17 would authorize the Formulary Committee to publish and disseminate (at least annually) an alphabetical list of the qualified drugs along with the allowable expenses established, therefore, to pharmacists, physicians, and other interested persons, including Social Security beneficiaries. We recommend that APhA seek to have this provision changed to delete "beneficiaries" from the distribution.

(JAPhA. NS7:313; June 1967)

We recommend that the House of Delegates endorses S.17 in principle and instruct APhA staff to seek to have some of the details changed to conform to the objectives of the profession. Under S.17, the pharmacist would look to the patient for remuneration in the traditional manner. The allowable cost would be the amount the government would reimburse the patient for prescribed drugs, the cost of which the patient had paid the pharmacist. This will provide some pressure for lower cost drugs, of course, but the committee also recognizes that this mechanism will provide some pressure upon the government from patients to establish realistic reimbursement amounts as well. In this context, S.17 does not differ from the financial arrangement provided in major medical insurance contracts under which pharmacists have participated for some years now.

(JAPhA. NS7:313; June 1967)

The committee recommends that APhA continue to help state associations improve their working relationships with their respective welfare or health departments so that adequate pharmaceutical service will be provided to eligible recipients and so that pharmacists will receive a reasonable reimbursement for their services.

(JAPhA. NS7:311; June 1967)

1. The committee recommends that APhA assist state associations in establishing, preferably in the authorizing state legislation, pharmaceutical consultant and pharmaceutical advisory committee provision in state plans under Title XIX to assist the state in complying with the federal law in the area of pharmaceutical services.

2. The committee repeats its recommendations made in 1964 and again in 1965 that state pharmaceutical societies encourage their state agencies to adopt the professional fee system. The committee further recommends that APhA prepares a detailed explanation of the professional fee system for distribution to state public assistance agencies.

(JAPhA. NS6:312; June 1966)

APhA should protest the unnecessary expenditure of federal funds by the OEO for facilities and personnel that duplicate existing community pharmacy resources.

(JAPhA. NS7:311; June 1967)

The committee recommends that continued emphasis be placed on the average professional fee as the method of choice for reimbursing pharmacists for professional services in state welfare programs and simplifying administration aspects of the programs.

(JAPhA. NS5:278; May 1965)

1. APhA supports pharmacists being recognized as independent health care providers with regard to recommending and administering vaccines based on shared clinical decision making (SCDM).

2. APhA advocates for compensation for shared clinical decision making (SCDM) consultations in addition to vaccine administration fees to increase patient access to SCDM vaccines.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

1. APhA supports equitable patient access to evidence-based comprehensive reproductive health care, including, but not limited to, the management of pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, pregnancy termination, contraception, and permanent contraception.

2. APhA recognizes patient autonomy in choosing reproductive health care services and the essential role of all health care professionals in facilitating access and advancing informed decision making.

3. APhA supports evidence-based laws, regulations, and policies that ensures patient access to comprehensive reproductive health care services.

4. APhA opposes legal actions against pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy personnel that provide patient access to, or information regarding, reproductive health care services that are within pharmacist scope of practice.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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

2. APhA advocates for those who are incarcerated to have an opportunity, equal to that of nonmates, 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 those incarcerated.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA affirms that discrimination and stigma should not impact a patient's ability to obtain medications.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)(Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA calls for the elimination of payer-driven medication administration policies and provisions that restrict access points, interfere with shared provider-patient decision-making, cause delays in care, or otherwise adversely impact the patient.

2. APhA asserts that care coordination services associated with provider-administered medications are essential to safe and effective medication use and calls for the development of broadly applicable compensation mechanisms for these essential services.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

The committee recommends that APhA supports a free-choice provision in the drug program for veterans comparable to that which now exists under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHAMPUS. The continued expansion of the scope of coverage of the VA programs as result of military conflicts involving the United States ensures that the action of the VA will continue to have a substantial drug program.

(JAPhA. NS8:366; July 1968)

The committee recommends that APhA continue its strong opposition to the Veterans Administration mail-order provisions so that veterans may exercise their freedom of choice and elect to have their prescriptions dispensed by their personal pharmacist.

(JAPhA. NS7:311; July 1967)

The committee recommends that APhA seeks to assure that legislative proposals provide the elderly and medically indigent the same freedom and safeguards as are afforded to all the self-paying members of our society. Patients who must rely upon governmentally financed or administered programs are entitled to the same high quality of pharmaceutical services as provided to the population as a whole.

(JAPhA. NS6:312; June 1966)

APhA should seek legislation to require the Veterans Administration to utilize existing community pharmacy facilities in furnishing pharmaceutical service to veterans and guarantee veteran beneficiaries' freedom to choose their own pharmacist.

(JAPhA. NS6:293; June 1966)

1. The committee recommends that APhA advise state pharmaceutical associations of the importance of including a free choice of practitioner provision in such legislation and further recommends that APhA provide the states with supporting data and material for use in the legislative efforts.

2. The committee further recommends that APhA urge state pharmaceutical societies to obtain representation on the advisory and policy-making committees that advise state agencies responsible for administering government health and welfare programs. This can sometimes be accomplished in the legislative considerations and should be one objective sought in state legislation implementing the federal law.

(JAPhA. NS6:300; June 1966)

APhA shall lend its full assistance to the various states to ensure that programs of public welfare are so developed and administered that they preserve the rights and dignity of the individual and fully recognize the need for the principle of freedom of choice of health services based on a sound and equitable appreciation for the costs involved in making such services available.

(JAPhA. NS4:428; August 1964)

APhA continues to support the principle of free choice of all professional health practitioners.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963)

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 patient to choose their 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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) 2025

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 laws, regulations, and policies.

(JAPhA. 60(5):e11; September/October 2020) (Reviewed 2022) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

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 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) (Reviewed 2023)

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 recognizes the pharmacist as the only appropriate provider of pharmacy telehealth services and insists that payment parity be provided.

2. APhA shall assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in becoming knowledgeable about telehealth.

3. APhA shall participate in the ongoing development of the telehealth infrastructure, including but not limited to laws, regulations, policies, standards development, security guidelines, information systems, and compensation.

4. APhA encourages appropriate laws, regulations, and policies that facilitate the practice of telephealth and maintain 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) 2025

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) (Reviewed 2023)

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, regulations and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024) (Reviewed 2025)

1. APhA advocates for pharmacists to be included as members of medical staffs and eligible to vote on the bylaws, standards, rules, regulations, and policies that govern those institutions' medical staffs.

2. APhA supports pharmacists, as part of the medical staff, have parity in their opportunity to be credentialed and privileged as independent medical providers.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1266; July/August 2023)

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)

The committee recommends that APhA encourages the voluntary participation of pharmacists in individual or organized activities relating to family planning.

(JAPhA. NS13:510; September 1973)

APhA supports continuing collaboration 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) 2025

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)

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)

2. The committee recommends that active participation of pharmacists in the meetings of related health organizations can best be achieved by involving pharmacists in the programs of existing bodies rather than by establishing special sections on pharmacy.

3. The committee recommends that state pharmaceutical associations develop liaison commissions with their state counterparts of the health-related organizations.

(JAPhA. NS15:331-333; June 1975)

1. APhA supports amendment of the Social Security Act to make pharmacists eligible for membership in Professional Standards Review Organizations (PSROs).

2. APhA advocates active involvement of pharmacists in the development of professional standards review procedures and the review process itself, since the success of such review in maintaining the quality and appropriateness of health care is dependent upon informed participation.

3. Pharmacists should work through their state and/or local pharmaceutical associations to participate in the activities of Professional Standards Review Organizations.

4. APhA should develop programs to assist state and local pharmaceutical associations in their participation with Professional Standards Review Organizations.

(JAPhA. NS15:331-333; June 1975)

The committee recommends that APhA initiates discussions with the professional societies of other health professions such as nursing, optometry, osteopathy, and podiatry.

(JAPhA. NS8:379 July 1968)

A number of smaller hospitals will require pharmaceutical consultants to serve on pharmacy and therapeutics committees and to provide and supervise their pharmaceutical service programs. The committee recommends that APhA continue to provide guidance materials to assist practitioners.

(JAPhA. NS6:312; June 1966)

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 conditions 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

APhA supports pharmacists' participation in the development and implementation of all aspects of mental health programs so that the special needs and problems of the mentally ill can be effectively met.

(JAPhA. NS5:274; May 1965) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004) (Reviewed 2010) (Reviewed 2011)

2. APhA should investigate the feasibility of establishing a definite function within its staff to disseminate information and provide guidance to the various state associations with respect to the development of mental health programs.

(JAPhA. NS5:274; May 1965)

1. APhA urges pharmacists to familiarize themselves with the guidebook; Pharmaceutical Services in the Nursing Home, which was developed with the assistance of APhA, the American Nursing Home Association, the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and the U.S. Public Health Service so that pharmacists can more effectively work with nursing home personnel to institute the proper professional safeguards that are vital to good patient care.

2. APhA urges local and state pharmaceutical associations to consider joint seminars and conferences with nursing home associations.

(JAPhA. NS3:299; June 1963)

1. The committee recommends that APhA support the repeal of state and local laws that act to prevent pharmacists from participating with maximum effectiveness in efforts to combat venereal disease by restricting the availability of the prophylactic devices and dissemination of information regarding their use within pharmacies.

2. The committee recommends that APhA support the principle that state and local laws controlling the distribution of prophylactic devices should require that open display and advertising of prophylactic devices be accompanied by the distribution of educational materials relating to venereal disease prevention and control.

(JAPhA. NS12:304; June 1972)

APhA should continue its policy of meeting with any and all specialty organizations in pharmacy to seek mutual understanding and to develop programs in order to achieve the objectives and policies of APhA.

(JAPhA. NS:428; August 1964)

1. The committee recommends not only that APhA continue to urge passage of the Hart Bill in its present form, but that APhA support any version of the Hart Bill that would effectively ban physician ownership even without a ban on physician dispensing, if the apparent choice is between such a bill or no bill at all.

2. The committee recommends that affirmative efforts be made both by pharmacy organizations and individual pharmacists to establish contact with consumer representative organizations at national, state, and local levels to assure that consumers are aware of their stake in this legislation and are persuaded to work actively in its support.

(JAPhA. NS10:340; June 1970)

State pharmaceutical associations are urged to foster the use of the Physician-Pharmacist Code of Understanding, developed by APhA, as a means of better serving the public through improved and closer relationships between physicians and pharmacists.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963)

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, regulations, and policies 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, regulations, and policies that limit collaborative practice agreements to specific patients.

5. APhA supports state laws, regulations, and policies that allow for pharmacists' prescriptive authority.

6. APhA supports state collaborative practice laws, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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.

2. APhA opposes burdensome legal and regulatory requirements beyond continuing professional development for the provision of patient care services.

3. 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.

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023)

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)

The committee recommends increased liaison with podiatrists on a national and state level.

(JAPhA. NS7:320; June 1967)

1. APhA affirms health equity as a core value of the profession of pharmacy and supports policies and practices that advance equitable access to care.

2 APhA calls on pharmacists to uphold the Oath of the Pharmacist to promote inclusion, embrace diversity, and advocate for justice to advance health equity.

3. APhA commits to prioritizing the elimination of systemic barriers that prevent pharmacy personnel from performing their critical role in ensuring health equity.

4. APhA supports efforts to develop and empower pharmacy personnel as advocates for groups who are or have been marginalized and are facing health inequities.

5. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacy professionals' expertise in all efforts to ensure individuals and communities have equitable opportunities to attain their full potential for health and well-being.

(JAPhA 65(4);102456; July-August 2025)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)

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)

The committee reviewed the pharmacy public health meeting which was sponsored jointly by APhA and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. The committee recommends that APhA continue to support such meetings and urges that pharmacists, when possible, make an effort to participate in these meetings.

(JAPhA. NS8:382; July 1968)

The committee recommends that state and local pharmacy organizations make an effort to establish communications with state and local counterparts of the national voluntary health agencies.

(JAPhA. NS8:382; July 1968)

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

2. To reduce the consequences of stigma associated with 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 use 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 reversal agents, and medications for opioid use disorder.

5. APhA urges pharmacists to refer people who use nonmedically sanctioned psychotropic or psychoactive substances to specialists in mental health, infectious diseases, and substance use disorder treatment; to housing, vocational, harm reduction, and recovery support services; and to safe consumption facilities and syringe service programs.

(JAPhA. 59(4):e17; July/August 2019) (Reviewed 2021) (Reviewed 2022) (Reviewed 2023) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

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) (Reviewed 2023) (Reviewed 2024)(Reviewed 2025)

APhA should encourage state pharmaceutical associations to participate in the formation of state organizations of the profession.

(JAPhA. NS3:298; June 1963)

1. APhA encourages schools and colleges of pharmacy and pharmacy technician training programs to facilitate educational opportunities for student pharmacists, and student pharmacy technicians in the principles of veterinary pharmacotherapy.

2. APhA encourages the availability of professional development opportunities in the principles of veterinary pharmacotherapy for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

(JAPhA. 63(4):1265; July/August 2023)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

1. APhA should reestablish a liaison with the American Veterinary Medical Association and other appropriate groups to explore mutual goals and interests.

(Am Pharm. NS28(6):395; June 1988)

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, regulations, and policies 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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)

1. The committee recommends that manufacturers of prescription and nonprescription drugs include on the package label adequate directions as to storage conditions and the date after which the products should not be used.

2. The foregoing applies only to products distributed by manufacturers in their container and does not consider prescription medication dispensed by pharmacists.

(JAPhA. NS10:360; June 1970)

The committee recommends that pharmacists place the expiration date of all time-dated drugs on the prescription labels of those drugs.

(JAPhA. NS8:380 July; 1968)

APhA supports a federal 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

APhA supports requirements for 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)

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) (Reviewed 2024)

APhA supports the practice of placing the name and strength of the drug on the prescription label; however, APhA opposes any requirement that the name and strength of the drug be included on the prescription label in any case in which the prescriber objects to or waives the inclusion of such information on the prescription label.

(JAPhA. NS11:260; May 1971) (JAPhA. NS44(5):551; September/October 2004)

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)

APhA supports legislation to require that the labels of prescription drug products distributed to pharmacists include evidence that FDA has approved the marketing of the product or that FDA has exempted the drug from approval requirements.

(Am Pharm. NS21(5):40; May 1981)

APhA urges the manufacturers of nonprescription drug products to help increase patient awareness of the role of the pharmacist as a health care professional and a readily available information source on drug actions and interactions by including an appropriate statement in the labeling and advertising of nonprescription drug products.

(Am Pharm. NS18(8):3-36; July 1978)

The committee recommends that the following guidelines be adopted for use by APhA on pending drug code legislation:

1. Legislation should provide that the name of the manufacturer of the final dosage form be made part of the approved labeling of all prescription drug products.

2. The code authorized by the legislation should be relevant to professional practice in identifying individual commercial packages and administered doses.

3. Drugs, when dispensed by prescription, generally should be exempt from the requirement that the prescription label bear the code.

4. Pharmacists, when performing professional duties in providing medication on prescription orders, should be exempt from the packager and labeler provisions.

(JAPhA. NS10:343; June 1970)

APhA no longer opposes the practice of placing the name and strength of the drug on the prescription label as a routine matter, unless otherwise indicated by the prescriber.

(JAPhA. NS10:343; June 1970)

Recognizing the benefit to the health of the public that would accrue if all tablets and capsules of prescription medications were so coded, the committee encourages all manufacturers to code their capsules and tablets in this fashion.

(JAPhA. NS9:361; July 1969)

The committee urges pharmacists to exercise the same professional judgment and care in selecting their prescription drug inventory as they do in dispensing that inventory. Because of the importance of the identity of the actual manufacturer of the drug product in the purchasing process, the committee recommends that APhA seek appropriate legislation to require such information as part of the drug product label.

(JAPhA. NS9:363; July 1969)

APhA supports requirements for 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) (JAPhA 64(4);102117, July/August 2024)