Industry Retailers Honored with Political Advocacy Awards at NACDS Total Store Expo

PRESS RELEASE

Boston, Massachusetts (August 23, 2014) —Two industry retailers were honored for their political advocacy and grassroots support last evening at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Political Involvement Reception during the NACDS Total Store Expo.

NACDS chain member H-E-B received the NACDS RxIMPACT “Leader of the Year” award for its efforts to engage in practically every program of the NACDS RxIMPACT brand, including congressional meetings during the annual NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, conducting numerous NACDS RxIMPACT Pharmacy tours and hosting pharmacy advocacy training programs.

NACDS member Thrifty White Pharmacy received the NACDS Political Action Committee (PAC) “Politically Engaged Pharmacy”, or PEP, award. This award is presented to a company or individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing pharmacy through the NACDS-PAC. Distinguishing itself as a leader in political involvement, Thrifty White has generously supported and is consistent in its commitment to the NACDS-PAC.

“Political and grassroots involvement is so vital for pharmacy to succeed in public policy,” NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE stated. “We congratulate H-E-B and Thrifty White for their commitment to the NACDS RxIMPACT program and the NACDS-PAC. Everything we do on behalf of the chain pharmacy industry is done to reinforce our theme of pharmacy being the face of neighborhood healthcare, and these two companies do so much to convey that important message.”

The NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots program was launched in 2009 to further advance pro-patient, pro-pharmacy policies. The program’s many facets — including the NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill meetings with policymakers in Washington and NACDS RxIMPACT Pharmacy Tours bringing Members of Congress into pharmacies in their states and districts – are just some of the opportunities to help engage policymakers about the value of pharmacy in improving healthcare delivery. In fact, in the last six years, more than 300 pharmacy tours and nearly 2,000 Capitol Hill meetings have been conducted by pharmacy advocates.

The NACDS-PAC supports federal Congressional candidates who advance pro-patient and pro-pharmacy policies.

Headlining the advocacy event was David Wasserman, house editor for The Cook Political Report, which provides analyses of presidential, Senate, House, and gubernatorial races.

Deemed a “scrupulously nonpartisan” analyst by the Los Angeles Times, Wasserman examines the current political environment and trends at the national and local levels. He served as an analyst for NBC News during election nights in 2012, 2010 and 2008, and appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, CNN, and NPR. His commentary on House races has been cited in numerous print and online publications including POLITICO, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

In 2011, Wasserman authored “Better Know a District,” the Cook Political Report’s comprehensive 2012 redistricting outlook. He also serves as an associate editor of National Journal magazine and a contributor to the Almanac of American Politics 2014. Prior to joining the Cook Political Report in 2007, Wasserman served for three years as House editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a widely respected political analysis newsletter and website founded by renowned professor Larry Sabato, the director and founder of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.

“Similar to a GPS device, David has the remarkable ability to zoom in on the smallest of political geographic areas and navigate the landscape to arrive at political predictions with great accuracy,” said Anderson. “We very much appreciated his insights for the upcoming congressional elections this fall and a sneak peak of his predictions for the 2016 Presidential elections.”