White House Meeting on Pharmacist Involvement in ACA Marketplace Implementation

PRESS RELEASE

November 27, 2013 (WASHINGTON, DC) — The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and several other members of the pharmacy community met yesterday in a White House Meeting to discuss how pharmacists are helping with the implementation of the ACA and the marketplace exchanges. Each participating group discussed their actions to prepare their constituents to educate and aid consumers in choosing a plan and also expressed plan concerns that may affect the groups’ constituents.

APhA Associate Director of Health Policy Michael Ghobrial, PharmD, JD, commented, “Pharmacists are one of the consumer’s primary contacts for many health care related issues. In addition to medication expert, pharmacists are serving a valuable role as health navigators, health care providers, triage experts and care coordinators. With the implementation of the affordable care act, many pharmacists are now serving as experts in insurance plan discussions, answering questions about how long the enrollment period is, what January 1 will mean, and what the ACA will actually mean to their overall coverage.”

APhA Executive Vice President and CEO Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon), FAPhA, “APhA is dedicated to providing our members with the education and information they need to educate the public about these exchanges and how the ACA will affect them. APhA calls on all pharmacists to help patients access the health insurance marketplace. Continue to offer the patient care services you offer every day. Educate the public about these exchanges and the ACA and talk with us if there are specific tools, needs or educational materials that will help you in your work with the public.”