ASHP Urges Senators to Protect Patients’ Access to Healthcare, Affordable Medications

BETHESDA, Md., May 15 -- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists issued the following news release:

ASHP today reiterated its top priorities for healthcare reform and urged the Senate to consider legislative proposals that will safeguard public health through the provision of robust coverage including access to healthcare services, affordable medications, and pharmacist patient care services.

Based on statements by various senators, it appears that the Senate will take considerable time to craft legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act and may take a different approach than the House of Representatives.

ASHP believes the Senate should focus its reform efforts on legislation that:

* Protects patient access to healthcare services, including coverage of medications and related pharmacist patient care services.

* Explores options that will reduce patients' medication costs.

* Preserves the integrity of the 340B Drug Pricing Program to provide care for low-income patients.

* Incorporates pharmacists as full providers of care as it relates to medication use in team-based delivery models.

* Invests in programs, such as residency training, that maximize the participation of all members of the healthcare team.

* Preserves funding for opioid abuse prevention and treatment programs, antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, immunization efforts, and other public health initiatives.

"ASHP's mission statement notes that 'the mission of pharmacists is to help people achieve optimal health outcomes,'" said ASHP CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., Sc.D. (Hon.), FASHP. "Pharmacists can achieve this aim only if patients have access to affordable healthcare. We are eager to work with Congress to develop legislation that conforms to these ideals."

The full text of "ASHP Principles on Healthcare Reform" is available on .

About ASHP

ASHP represents pharmacists who serve as patient care providers in acute and ambulatory settings. The organization's more than 43,000 members include pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. For 75 years, ASHP has been at the forefront of efforts to improve medication use and enhance patient safety. For more information about the wide array of ASHP activities and the many ways in which pharmacists advance healthcare, visit ASHP's website, www.ashp.org, or its consumer website, www.SafeMedication.com.