Policy Week 2024 promises to be engaging and consequential, with members deliberating on a range of policy topics, such as the safety and efficacy of IV push medications, interstate pharmacy practice, sustainable access to payer networks, and career fulfillment and advancement in the pharmacy workforce. Their work will go to the ASHP Board of Directors for review and, if approved by the House of Delegates, becomes official policy that you can use to help make decisions at your institution.

Perhaps the most visible part of the week happens on Wednesday, our Legislative Day, when ASHP members visit Capitol Hill and share with congressional representatives the real-world impact of laws and policy on pharmacy practice and patient care.

This year, our members will highlight their concerns about site-neutral legislation, cuts to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and financial threats to pharmacy residency programs. We are also excited to spotlight ASHP’s We’re Your Pharmacist national public awareness campaign with members of Congress and their staff and for ASHP members to directly share their personal stories about the essential roles they provide to patients every day.

During Legislative Day, we will also have the honor of hearing remarks from Rep. Adrian Smith and Rep. Debbie Dingell, two champions of ASHP-priority legislation, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act.

On Thursday, council and commission members will gather for a joint session featuring a timely presentation on cellular and gene therapies — a topic that dominates P&T committees nationwide.

We also have the prestigious William A. Zellmer Lecture, delivered this year by retired U.S. Army Col. W. Mike Heath, the namesake of ASHP’s forum for federal pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Policy Week is so profoundly embedded in ASHP’s culture that we sometimes lose sight of just how distinctive a process it is. ASHP devotes substantial resources and time to policy development that starts with you, the members and experts who know best how healthcare’s most pressing issues impact safe and optimal medication use.

That’s why it is so important that our members are engaged in this critical work, and it is never too early to start. We encourage you to explore two new ASHP News Center stories – one featuring students attending their first Policy Week and another with practitioner members reflecting on how early involvement in ASHP policymaking has shaped their careers and perspectives.

For those not attending this year’s Policy Week, there are many opportunities to get involved and make an impact. Support our advocacy efforts by emailing your congressional representatives and highlighting your essential roles and contributions to the healthcare team. Consider applying to serve on a council or committee – nominations for the 2025-2026 term are open now through Nov. 15. And watch our video, How an Idea Becomes ASHP Policy, to learn more about ways you can participate in our member-driven policymaking process.

We are proud of the significant work our Policy Week participants have accomplished over the years and are excited about what the future holds for the pharmacy profession. Together, let’s continue to advance policies and legislation that enhance patient care and the pharmacy profession and ensure that medication use is safe, effective, and optimal for all.

Thank you for all you do for your patients and our profession.

Sincerely,

Paul

Posted on September 16, 2024