Advocacy

 

The New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists (NYSCHP) is positioned to have immense influence on the laws, rules and regulations that govern the practice of pharmacy.  NYSCHP maintains a divison on public policy and an active public policy committee in addition to an active lobbying team in Albany.  The current legislative priority is passage of Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM) legislation.  NYSCHP also supports legislation that recognizes pharmacists as immunizers, the elimination of citizenship as a requirement to become a licensed pharmacist in NYS and certification of technicians.

Pharmacists in NYS want to be positioned in practice as leading members of the health care team in preventing Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR’s) which are among the top 5 leading causes of death in the US.  It has been estimated that 28% of ADR’s are preventable.  Given the growing number of drugs on the market (1969- 650 prescription drugs/1999- >9,000 prescription drugs), 44 states have enacted CDTM to recognize the clinical drug knowledge of pharmacists that is a critical component of optimal patient care.  CDTM means services provided by a pharmacist under protocol relating to review, evaluation, modification and implementation of drug therapy.  Under protocol pharmacists would be empowered to:  modify and manage a drug regimen; order and evaluate labs related to protocol; and perform routine patient monitoring:  patient medical history and vital signs. 

Do clinical pharmacists really make a difference?
-Adverse Drug Event Reduction Study
-ICU Team includes a clinical pharmacist
-Study demonstrated a 66% reduction in adverse drug events
-99% of pharmacist interventions were accepted by physicians
(JAMA 1999; 282(3): 267-270)

CDTM is voluntary for both Physicians and Pharmacists. There is no exclusive list of drugs or therapeutic categories however; the protocol must be within the limits of the scope of practice for the physician.

What can you do to make CDTM a reality?
-Talk among your peers about the need to pass CDTM (staff meeting, interdisciplinary meetings, etc.)
-Meet with a higher education committee member in your area
-Meet with staff from Majority leaders office
-Meet with local assembly member or senator
-Make a personal donation to the NYSCHP Political Action Committee (PAC) fund
-Organize a fundraiser for PAC
-Come to Albany for Pharmacy Day and NYSCHP Lobby Day
-Contact your local NYSCHP Public Policy representative for other ways to help.  Call NYSCHP at 518-456-8819.