CEO Message December 14, 2007
Author: Lynn Rolston
Breaking News...
While this is not an end to our nightmare with AMP, pharmacy today got a reprieve in federal court from the immediate implementation of AMP. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction preventing CMS from implementing the reimbursement cuts and from posting the flawed AMP data. NCPA and NACDS filed this lawsuit and we applaud their victory that came with the help from all of us out in the states as well. While this does delay AMP, it does not eliminate the threat and we still must make plans to fight it. But for now, we have more time to develop our strategy. Again, congratulations to everyone that made this possible. Visit www.ncpanet.org for more information on AMP.
Here in California, we have received additional good news in the last 24 hours. AB x1x, the healthcare reform bill by Nunez, has been significantly amended to include compromise language and features of Governor Schwarzenegger's plan. This compromise preserves most of what each of the factions was working toward. It is possible that this bill could be passed and signed in the next few weeks. All of the funding sources have been removed and will be covered in an upcoming proposition on next year's ballot. But for now, this is a great bipartisan victory on behalf of the people of California. We applaud the Governor, the Speaker and their teams as well as all of us healthcare stakeholders who have worked so hard to make it happen. Visit www.leginfo.ca.gov to read the entire bill.
Win a New Laptop Computer
Plans are continuing full steam ahead for a great Outlook 2008 in Sacramento on February 7-10. If you have not already registered online at www.cpha.com, do so immediately to be included in the drawing for the brand new Dell laptop computer. Register today!
Disaster Preparedness
Earlier this week, Cathi Lord, Director of Communications, and Carl Britto, Chair of the Disaster Preparedness Committee, attended a meeting of the State Board of Pharmacy's Legislative Committee in Los Angeles. The committee was presented with detailed disaster plans for Orange County and Los Angeles County and the lessons they have learned in executing their plans. Tom Ahrens, Chief of Emergency Pharmaceutical Services for the California Department of Public Health, presented his vision of how the two organizations can work together to recruit pharmacist volunteers into the California Medical Reserve, and also to improve pharmacist's involvement in mass dispensing efforts. For its part, CPhA shared the work that has been done by the Disaster Preparedness Committee and presented a working draft of the Emergency Preparedness for Pharmacists Brochure that will soon be distributed to all CPhA members at Outlook. The meeting was very informative and productive in forging new relationships that will help the CPhA Disaster Preparedness Committee meet its objectives.
OCPhA Holiday Dinner Celebration
On Tuesday, Veronica Van Orman, Vice President of Community Pharmacy Relations, and George King, Senior Sales Representative for Marsh Affinity Group Services, Inc., attended the Orange County Pharmacists Association (OCPhA) Holiday Dinner Celebration held at the beautiful California Grand Hotel. It was wonderful to see such a great group of leaders taking a break from their day-to-day pharmacy operations and celebrating with one another. CPhA Board of Trustee members, Dennis Witherwax and Rebecca Cupp were in attendance along with Jack Silberstein, a member of the CPhA Academy of Pharmacy Owners. Our thanks go out to Reza Mohammadkhani, OCPhA's 2007 Local President, for inviting us to attend this outstanding event.
More Dividend Checks Delivered
In addition, Veronica made her last set of face-to-face visits with independent pharmacies in Southern California for 2007. It has been rewarding to visit with owners and to hear about the appreciation they have gained for Marsh insurance programs. Remember, there is only one endorsed insurance program by CPhA and that is the Marsh program. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Veronica at (916) 779-1400, ext. 311.
NACDS Regional Conference
Kathy Lynch attended the 2007 NACDS Regional State Government Affairs Conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday. Attendees included representatives from NACDS, their individual chain members and State Pharmacy Executives from the West. Topics discussed included a federal DRA review, other federal and state legislation and issues facing pharmacy in 2008. Kathy said the meeting went very well and that the information provided was incredibly helpful. Thanks to NACDS for including us in the meeting and for all their efforts to work collaboratively with CPhA.
State Budget Meeting
On Wednesday afternoon, I attended a meeting with Governor Schwarzenegger, Kimberly Belshé, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, and other Administration officials to talk about the California budget crisis. I was there with about a dozen other healthcare provider association leaders. We were told by the Governor that while the California economy is not in crisis, the California state budget is and that the current expected budget deficit will be around $14 billion. The Governor's proposed solutions for this crisis are to reform the budget system in California and to submit his budget proposal in 2008 with ten percent cuts across the board for ALL state spending. Our group was assembled because all social service programs and all healthcare programs, including Medi-Cal, would be included in the ten percent cut. This portends a very contentious budget negotiation process in the first half of next year. I was dismayed to hear that this ten percent cut would be on top of anything else that is currently in the works, which would include the AMP reductions. CPhA will be on hand and working throughout the Capitol to make sure that pharmacy is treated fairly.
As a side note, the Governor stated that certain critical programs such as rebuilding the levees, bridges and other infrastructure issues would continue. He also said that healthcare reform efforts will move forward as it is anticipated they will bring in billions of new dollars in federal funds and will contribute to a budget solution. He also indicated that a healthcare reform compromise would be reached soon. We'll keep you posted on any new developments.
CPhA Planning Meeting
Yesterday the CPhA staff held a 2008 planning meeting. We spent time examining all current activities for value and relevance and redistributed amongst staff certain critical tasks. We also worked to incorporate many of the great ideas and useful feedback that was generated at Synergy. As we develop a final written operating plan for 2008, we will post it on our website for members to view.
CPhA Annual Holiday Party
Today, CPhA staff held our annual holiday party. We included our vendor partners and consultants who add so much to our ability to provide valuable services for members. We all shared a great lunch and a fun holiday game. Thanks were given all around for a job well done in 2007.
It's Not Too Late to Be a Big Screen Star!
The Pharmacy Foundation of California is accepting submissions through January 13 for the first ever Pharmacy Film Festival to be held at the Esquire IMAX Theater in Sacramento on February 9th during Outlook 2008. If you have an idea for a short film that can help the public gain a better appreciation for safer medication practices, this is your chance to become a star. Submissions may be 30 or 60 second "public service announcements"; longer 3-5 minute mini-documentaries; or a parody of a pop-culture commercial, music video, movie trailer, etc. For more information, please visit www.pharmacyfoundation.org/filmfest. And don't forget to send in your Intent to Submit form by December 21, 2007 to help us plan accordingly.
Act Now To Reserve Your Spot...
...For the Pharmacy Foundation Bowl-A-Thon to Strike Out Against Medication Errors. The bowling lanes are going fast and we only have room for eight more teams! Don't let you local association, academy, or university go unrepresented. For information on registering your team, please click here. If you are interested in supporting the event but aren't able to put a team together, click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities. To make sure you don't miss out on this exciting opportunity, contact Kathy Price (kprice@pharmacyfoundation.org) before December 21.
Sponsor a Student Pharmacist
Don't forget when registering for Outlook 2008 to sponsor a student. This is the time to give back to your alma mater or to just help a student attend Outlook. Students are the future of the Association and the Profession. For only $100.00 you can let them know you would like them to be a part of what you have worked so hard for in this profession.
2008 CPhA House of Delegates
Now is the time to start thinking about representing your Local Association, Academy, or School of Pharmacy in the 2008 CPhA House of Delegates. Contact your Academy, Local Association, or School of Pharmacy to reserve your spot as a delegate. Deadline to reserve your spot as a Delegate & turn in your "Call for Candidates" form is January 14, 2008. Not sure who to contact? Call Theresa at (916) 337-8877 or e-mail to tandrews@cpha.com.
In the News
NCPA and Kathleen Johnson, CPhA member and associate professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, were included in an Atlantic Information Service, Inc article regarding the newly proposed third category of "behind the counter" drugs. Here's an excerpt from the article: The long-familiar Rx and OTC (over-the-counter) classifications could someday have company. The FDA held a public meeting Nov. 14 to discuss the feasibility of establishing a third "behind-the-counter" (BTC) category of drugs, a concept that health plans and PBMs say could eventually lower Rx payers' overall spending, but for which savings would be modest at first and coverage decisions would depend on individual products.
Question of the Week
Dear Lynn,
Can you please pass along the information that was in Monday's Legislative Update regarding the proposed compounding regulations from the Board of Pharmacy?
Thank you,
John A. Cronin, Pharm.D., J.D.
Fredrickson, Mazeika & Grant, LLP
Answer
Dear John,
I would be very happy to do that as it is extremely important that any compounding pharmacist who wishes to submit comments on these regulations must do so in writing at least a week in advance of the meeting. Here is the information from Monday's Legislative Update:
Board of Pharmacy Compounding Regulations
Over the past year, the Board of Pharmacy has spent considerable time and effort soliciting comments from interested parties with regard to the proposed changes to the Pharmacy Law affecting pharmacy compounding. CPhA is represented at all of the Board of Pharmacy Licensing Committee Meetings and has provided both written and verbal comments on the proposed compounding regulations presented by the Board. Nevertheless, due to the affect the proposed regulations will have on pharmacies, CPhA has sent a written request to the Board to hold a hearing on the recently noticed proposed regulations addressing the Requirements for Pharmacies that Compound Medications. It is our understanding that such hearing will be held during the next Board of Pharmacy meeting in San Diego on January 23rd and 24th. If you have any further comments on the proposed regulations it is very important that you attend the hearing in San Diego and provide both written and verbal testimony on your comments. If you would like to view the letter from CPhA please click here.
For more information on the exact date in January, the location and the text of regulations, visit www.pharmacy.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Lynn Rolston
Chief Executive Officer
California Pharmacists Association