Why Is "Any Willing Provider" Such a Hard Sell?

In a recent blog posting on RxObserver.com, Professor Edward Lawrence takes issue with NCPA’s push to resurrect the “any willing provider” legislation of primary interest to independent pharmacy. He suggests that this whole effort is more to placate a membership base than a really important public/professional policy issue.

Often we take a position on something like “any willing provider” without truly analyzing the other side and refuting what they say with studies or the opinions of those outside our interest group. I have often wondered why “any willing provider” is such a hard sell because it seems so intuitive to me. Reading the opinions of observers not in either interest group can help me gain a new perspective. I am not trying to change your mind, but I do challenge you to check out this blog posting and draw your own conclusion.

Is pushing “any willing provider” really the best use of pharmacy resources in a changing health care environment? Remember, don’t shoot the messenger because you don’t like the message. Instead, give factual reasons to support your perspective. Independent community pharmacy has been the backbone of pharmacy. Must it continue to be for pharmacy to be successful in a changing system? I guess I am willing to at least entertain another possibility. What do you think?