Yesterday, NCPA announced a new initiative, the NCPA State Panel of Experts, to provide complimentary assistance to state pharmacy associations by connecting them with experienced policy and legal experts to help advance pharmacy and patient-friendly legislation. The panel includes experts on matters including ERISA and health plan benefit design, enforcement of PBM regulations and other legal issues, Medicaid programs, drug pricing and supply chain issues, and communications and grassroots support.
Here are just a few of the panel members NCPA can connect state associations with, among others:
Robert T. Smith from the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman, on ERISA and understanding health plan benefit design
John Coster, PhD, RPh, former director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Division of Pharmacy, on matters related to Medicaid agencies
Scott Pace, PharmD, JD, Impact Management Group, on issues regarding drug supply chain, drug pricing, and pharmacy operations
"Whether they're fighting to change the pharmacy payment model and abusive PBM practices, pushing to advance pharmacists' ability to practice at the top of their license, or serving the interests of their members in any other way, state pharmacy associations across the country do remarkable work, especially considering the limited resources and bandwidth they may have," NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey, said in a statement. "In addition to our federal and regulatory efforts, NCPA has also historically invested in state efforts to support independent pharmacy. We're pleased to be adding this more formalized, free tool to support the work of our state colleagues."
Read our full statement here.
