2016-04 Georgia Pharmacy magazine

EDUCATION GUIDE 2016

Supervision skills. MTM. Specialty drugs. Coaching for adherence. Transition of care. Antibiotic stewardship. Immunization best practices. Pain management. Value-based

payment models. Preventing fraud and diversion. And much, much more. Look inside for more than 50 hours of certified CPE for Georgia pharmacists.

April/May 2016

• CPE WEEKENDS

• MTM AND DIABETES CERTIFICATION

• PRACTICAL SKILLS REFRESHER

• AND MORE

INSIDE: COMPLIMENTARY ISSUE OF GEORGIA PHARMACY MAGAZINE

Empower your independence.

CPA PROVIDES MEMBERS A :

We have your back. A dedicated support team of industry specialists proactively works on your behalf to resolve issues, save you time, and ultimately, make your business more successful. We work for you and we will always make your best interest "the" priority.

Dedicated Support Team

There has hardly been a quarter during the 10 years I have been a member of CPA® that my bottom line was not improved.

> George Launius - Thrifty Mac Discount Drug

“

compliantrx.com

CONTACT: JOEY FIEVET

706.318.0695 | [email protected]

Registration and more information: GPhA.org/education

All courses provide continuing pharmacy education credit accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. See detailed online descrip-tions for more information.

Empower your independence.

CPA PROVIDES MEMBERS A :

We have your back. A dedicated support team of industry specialists proactively works on your behalf to resolve issues, save you time, and ultimately, make your business more successful. We work for you and we will always make your best interest "the" priority.

Dedicated Support Team

There has hardly been a quarter during the 10 years I have been a member of CPA® that my bottom line was not improved.

> George Launius - Thrifty Mac Discount Drug

“

compliantrx.com

CONTACT: JOEY FIEVET

706.318.0695 | [email protected]

EDUCATION GUIDE 2016The Georgia Pharmacy Association is the best place to get your pharmacy CPE.

Employee pharmacists: Find courses and topics you won’t find anywhere else, including management and communication training — and more.

Clinical and health-system pharmacists:We’ve got CPE on metrics and medication therapies — and more.

Independent pharmacy owners: Learn the ins and outs of practice agreements and billing processes — and more.

Retail employee, independent, hospital, health system: No matter your setting, The Georgia Pharmacy Association offers the CPE geared for your interests, your practice, and your career.

In person or online: Many of our courses — including all our CPE Weekends — are available as live webinars. If you can’t make it in person, get your CPE from the comfort of your living room.

April 9 CPE Weekend — Disruptive Technologies (Atlanta)

April 16 MTM Certification (Rome)

April 17 Diabetes Certification (LaGrange)

May 21 CPE Weekend — Primary Care (Atlanta)

May 28 GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher Course (Athens)

June 16 – 19 2016 Georgia Pharmacy Convention (Hilton Head) More than 35 hours of CPE available on a wide range of topics.

July 23 CPE Weekend — Immunization (Atlanta)

July 30 GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher Course (Suwanee)

August 13 CPE Weekend — Specialty Pharmacy (Atlanta)

September 17 CPE Weekend — New Laws, Drugs, Opportunities (Atlanta)

October 22 Rising to the Top: A Leadership Symposium for Women in Pharmacy (Atlanta)

November 5 CPE Weekend — Fraud and Abuse (Atlanta)

December 10 CPE Weekend — Senior Care (Atlanta)

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE...

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Georgia PharmacyA S S O C I A T I O N


SATURDAY, APRIL 9Disruptive TechnologiesPharmacy tools and apps are proliferating, so if you’re looking for clear, practical ways to use new technologies to increase your value as a pharmacist, Ashish Advani will show you how tech innovations are transforming the practice.

Disrupting Healthcare with Pharmacy Technology8:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Test Driving Adherence Apps10:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Increasing the Pharmacist’s Value with Adherence Apps12:30 PM | 2 hours | $50

SATURDAY, MAY 21 New Collaborative Practice ModelsEmbedding pharmacists in primary care practices is an idea whose time has come. Bryan Zeigler and Greg Reybold walk you through the ins and outs.

Exploring New Primary Care Provider Partnerships8:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Implementing Community Pharmacy Services in Primary Care Settings10:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

An Overview of Collaborative Practice Agreements Under Current Georgia Law12:30 PM | 2 hours | $50

SATURDAY, JULY 23Best in Class: Taking Your Immunization Operation to the Next LevelHaving a thriving immunization practice means embracing best practices and innovations so that your immunization platform is a patient magnet. Let our team of experts help you create a pharmacy immunization platform that stands out and follows the rules.

Making GRITS Sing: Finding New Patients Using the Georgia Immunization Registry8:00 AM | 1 hour | $25

The Dreaded — But Required — OSHA Update 9 AM | 1 hour| $25

Best Practices in Immunizations 10:00 AM | 4 hours| $100

GPhA’s CPE Weekends provide three courses on a single topic in less than a day — concen-trated doses on issues in the forefront of pharmacy in Georgia. They’re a great way to not only get two, four, or six hours of continuing ed in one Saturday, they’re guaranteed to be more interesting and informative than your typical courses.

All 2016 CPE Weekends cours-es are held live at the GPhA headquarters building in Sandy Springs, just outside Atlanta.

Can’t make it to Atlanta? CPE Weekends are also offered as live webinars that enjoy the same ACPE accreditation — but from the comfort of your living room.

We’ve got a great deal, too. When you sign up for three courses in one day, we’ll knock off $50 from the total cost. For details on this special offer, or to register go to GPhA.org/weekends.

Not a member? Not a problem. To get access to all this great CPE, sign up for a special reduced-cost GPhA member-ship and be eligible for every minute of CPE you see here.

INTRODUCING: CPE WEEKENDS

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There’s plenty more education from GPhA! Turn to page E5, in the back of your Georgia Pharmacy magazine

April/May 2016

INSIDE: MIXED MESSAGES ON OFFICE-USE COMPOUNDING

GEORGIA PHARMACY CONVENTION PREVIEWCONFIDENTIAL RECORDS REQUESTS

GPhA IS THE VOICE FOR PHARMACY IN GEORGIA

YOUR COLLEGEMEMORIESOUTLIVE YOUR PHARMACY SCHOOLLOANS.

Refinance your student loans. Pharmacists save around $20K.

So Smart. SoFi.com/GPhA

0.125% rate discount* when you refinance through SoFi.com/GPhA

SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp (dba SoFi) California Finance Lender #6054612 *If you apply and are approved, the interest rate shown in the Final Disclosure Statement will include an additional .125% rate

discount because of your membership in the California Pharmacists Association at the time of loan origination.

Georgia Pharmacy 3April/May 2016

5 prescriptAre you part of the solution? You can be part of the rising tide ... or just an anchor for everyone else.

6 newsWhat’s happening in the Georgia pharmacy worldMixed messages on office-use compounding, simpler MAC pricing appeals, and more

8legal injectionOur counsel answers an important question about Georgia pharmacy law

9 GPhA academiesWhich one do you belong in?

Achieving provider status on the federal and state level is a major goal not just of GPhA, but of pharmacists and associations across the country. But what does “provider status” mean, and why is it so important to pharmacists — whether they realize it or not?

We got the answers from someone who knows more about the issue than just about anyone: Krystalyn Weaver, PharmD, vice president of policy and operations for the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.

16 COVER STORY: PROVIDER STATUS: PENDING?

contents

10Legislative recapThe 2016 bills affecting Georgia pharmacy: what they are and where they stand

23PharmPACInvestors in the future of the pharmacy profession in Georgia

25contact usWho does what at GPhA, and how to reach us

24postscript A note from President Tommy WhitworthCrossing lines to become part of a bigger picture

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Join your association—the Georgia Pharmacy Association: GPhA.org/join

Georgia Pharmacy magazine is the official publication of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.

Unless otherwise noted, the entire contents of this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Direct any questions to the editor at [email protected].

President and Chair of the Board Tommy Whitworth

President-Elect Lance Boles

First Vice President Liza Chapman

Second Vice President Tim Short

Chief Executive Officer Scott Brunner, CAE [email protected]

Vice President of Communication and Engagement Phillip Ratliff [email protected]

Director of Communication & Editor Andrew Kantor [email protected]

Art Director Carole Erger-Fass

ADVERTISING All advertising inquiries should be directed to Denis Mucha at [email protected] or (770) 252-1284. Media kit and rates available upon request.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Georgia Pharmacy is distributed as a regular membership service, paid for with membership dues. Non-members can subscribe for $50 per year domestic or $65 per year international. Single issues are $10 per issue domestic and $20 international. Practicing Georgia pharmacists who are not members of GPhA are not eligible for subscriptions.

POSTALGeorgia Pharmacy (ISSN 1075-6965) is published bi-monthly by the GPhA, 6065 Barfield Road NE, Suite 100 Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Georgia Pharmacy magazine, 6065 Barfield Road NE, Suite 100 Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

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A few years ago, I participated in a team-building workshop. In one exercise, our six team members were each given a set of three mismatched puzzle pieces. The object was for each of the six of us, by trading puzzle pieces with one other, to acquire the proper three pieces to construct a six-

inch square. We’d succeed as a team, our facilitator said, when each of us had assembled our own six-inch, three-piece puzzle on the table in front of us.

But she added a stipulation: “No communicating with one another. No verbalizing, no gestures, no pleading facial expressions. You can only have another team member’s puzzle piece if he or she offers it to you.”

“Go,” she said.Each of us shuffled around our pieces

in the dim hope we’d been accidentally given the right three. Alas, no. Tentative-ly, the woman next to me handed me a piece. I accepted it and gave her one of mine. Her piece improved my lot. Two of my pieces now fit together. One did not. I handed that one to a fellow across from me. He snatched it like a parrot who’d been offered a peanut, proffering nothing in return. Sensing this inequity, the guy next to him passed me one of his. Voila. My missing piece. There in front of me was a completed six-inch puzzle.

My part was done, easy peasy. All I had to do was wait for the rest of those bozos to get a clue. I sat back, self-satisfied.

In a moment, I sensed someone behind me: the facilitator, peering over my shoulder, her lips pursed. She turned and announced to the room: “For those of you who have already assembled your puzzle, but

others on your team have not, please look carefully and ask yourself this question: Are you a part of the solution, or are you part of the problem?

Huh? Was that aimed at me? I’d taken care of my assignment. What about these other goofs who couldn’t seem to figure it out? They were the prob-lem … weren’t they?

I looked back around to find some teammates glaring at me. Reluctantly, I grabbed a piece of my perfect little puzzle and tossed it to one of the underachievers. This initiated a series of trades — of collaboration — that in no time resulted in us all succeeding together.

The take-aways? It looked like I had the right pieces when I didn’t. That, and my unwillingness to engage once I had “finished,” prevented others from succeeding. Taking care of myself wasn’t enough — not in this game anyway.

It’s not enough in pharmacy, either. If you’re reading this, there’s a good

chance you’re not a GPhA member — and that’s not just a shame. From a certain perspective, it’s not even fair.

That’s because, regardless of your practice setting, you absolutely benefit from the advocacy work we do. Yet that

work is funded by a mere 2,000 of Georgia’s 11,000 licensed pharmacists.

Are you a part of the solution, or are you part of the problem?

You may just be hoarding your puzzle pieces. We’re stronger and more effective — and so are you — when you’re a member. Much better to be a part of the solution to the challenges facing pharmacy practice and patient care in Georgia.

It’s a puzzle, all right. We need you on our team.

Scott Brunner is GPhA’s cheerleader-in-chief. Contact him at [email protected].

prescript

Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?

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SCOTT BRUNNER

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JOINING IS EASY. GO TO GPHA.ORG/JOIN AND SIGN-UP. DO IT BEFORE MAY 31, GET THREE MONTHS FREE, AND PAY NO MORE DUES UNTIL AUGUST 2017.


Georgia Pharmacy 6 April/May 2016

In what GPhA’s VP of Policy Greg Reybold calls “a perplexing response,” U. S. Secretary of Health and Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell told Con-gressman (and pharmacist) Buddy Carter of Pooler that federal law allows for office-use compounding of drugs, and that the FDA shouldn’t be acting otherwise.

Carter brought his pharmacist cre-dentials to bear in a House Education & Workforce Committee hearing in March, where he expressed his con-cern “about the FDA interpreting for legislative intent.”

“The FDA continues to prevent medications to be compounded for office use,” he said, a practice that “prevents patients from having to go to the doctor, get a prescription, then go to the pharmacist, and allows for doctors to dispense necessary medications to patients without the additional steps.”

Secretary Burwell, however, ex-plained that it was her understanding that office-use compounding was permitted. “We don’t have any guid-ance out preventing that,” she said.

GPhA is now offering members a clean, clear, and simple-to-use MAC-pricing appeal form for filling complaints with the Georgia Commissioner of Insurance about a PBM’s reimbursement practices.

To be clear: The form is meant to be used after you have been through your PBM’s appeal process. In fact, we’ve got the guidelines for the appeals process for you, written by our Georgia pharmacy-law guru (and VP of public policy) Greg Reybold. But if you exhaust that process, feel Georgia’s MAC law has been violated, and need to ap-peal to the commissioner, this new form will make it easier.

You’ll find the guidelines at GPhA.org/mactransparency. Read them and use them. And then — if necessary — you can download the form to use with your appeal from that page. (And yes, we explain just how to file that appeal and how to use the form as part of it.)

This is a GPhA mem-bers-only benefit, so you’ll need to log in to the site to get the form.

NEW FORM MAKES MAC-PRICING APPEALS SIMPLER

news

OFFICE-USE COMPOUNDING: PERPLEX-ING RESPONSE FROM HHS SECRETARY

“Right now compounding should be occurring and there should not be a problem with any rules.”

But GPhA’s Reybold says Sec-retary Burwell’s response glosses over the central issue of whether compounding pharmacies enjoy an exemption provided in Section 503(a) of the FD&C Act when they provide non-patient specific compounds for office use. “The short answer,” says Reybold, “Is they do not.”

“My fear is that pharmacists are going to take the statements made by Secretary Burwell as a green light to prepare non-patient spe-cific compounds for office use and lose their 503(a) exemption in the process,” he explained. “Were I still in private practice, my advice to my compounding clients would be sim-ple: Secretary Burwell’s comments change nothing, and if you want to continue to enjoy 503(a) exemption, you cannot provide non-patient specific compounds to practitioners for office use.”

Burwell said she would work with Carter’s staff to clear up the issue.


read more @gphabuzz.com


NCPA WORKING TO RESOLVE UNDERWATER PART D MACS

Because many GPhA members have had questions about Medicare Part D reimbursements, we’ve been working with the National Community Pharmacy Association to collect detailed examples of underwater Part D MACs.

NCPA representatives met with CMS officials to discuss how the agency’s new mandates are — or are not — being followed, including the issues of MACs not reflecting market prices and

Not only people can join GPhA, entire companies can — through the Corpo-rate Partner Program. And Walgreens has become one of first.

Under the program, up to 10 company representatives can en-gage in various GPhA initiatives and programs. It’s designed for retail pharmacy chains, wholesalers, buying groups, suppliers, service providers, and others with an interest in Georgia pharmacy. Through the program, part-ners can increase their leverage and

influence in the state, as GPhA is the only entity in Georgia that speaks for the entire scope of pharmacy practice, and GPhA is seen by legislators and regulators as the voice for pharmacy.

The Corporate Partner Program is flexible, with the details of member-ship designed to fit the corporation — large or small.

As GPhA CEO Scott Brunner put it, “We have high credibility with legisla-tors and the one group they’ll always want to hear from before taking a vote on pharmacy-related regulation. With Walgreens as a corporate partner, our voice is louder and more effective. It’s definitely a win for both organizations — and all of Georgia pharmacy.”

WALGREENS JOINS GPhA AS CHARTER CORPORATE PARTNER

the problems pharmacies and PSAOs are having with updates.You can help NCPA in its efforts to address concerns over how

Medicare Part D reimbursements are being handled. Provide it with examples of underwater MACs that it can pass on to CMS. How? Grab the spreadsheet at fllw.me/ncpamac, enter your information, and send it to Michael Rule at [email protected]. Do not include any patient identifiable information.



(“PHI”) of a patient is being requested from a third party without a court order or subpoena, it crosses into the territory of federal law, Georgia law, and Georgia rules.

Federal lawIn layman’s terms, HIPAA allows you to disclose PHI in the course of a judicial proceeding without authorization as long as whomever is requesting the information gives you “satisfactory assur-ance” that reasonable efforts have been made to notify the patient about the request, and that the patient hasn’t filed an objection “within the time allocated by the applicable court.” More on that in a moment.

Georgia law and rulesBesides the obvious (releasing information to the patient and the people he or she designates, as well as in cases necessary to protect the patient’s health and well-being), Georgia law allows PHI to be released to ‘such other persons or government agencies authorized by law to receive such confi-dential information.’

As for who that is, the Board of Pharmacy says that a letter from an attorney without a court order or official subpoena is not sufficient.

It gets more complex: Both the board’s rules and Georgia code allow release of the information when the issue in court involves the patient’s care, treatment, or injuries. And Georgia’s Civil Practice Act clarifies that the patient may object to pro-viding this information within 20 days (that’s the “time allocated by the applicable court”) and has to provide that objection to the health care entity -— i.e., you the pharmacist.

If you don’t get an objection from the patient, Georgia code says that you “shall be immune from regulatory, civil, or criminal liability…” if you provide the information.

So when a pharmacy receives non-party RPDs, if it receives the requisite assurances and there are no objections raised within the applicable time period, it is likely safe to provide patient records. However, in light of the breadth and complexities of the laws and rules involved, you should contact an attorney to advise you.

What do I need to be aware of when I receive a request for patient records from an attorney via a non-party request for production of documents?Requests for production of documents are a tool attorneys use to obtain

information in connection with a dispute being litigated in court.

In the event you receive such a request, and the patient has not authorized their release, I would strongly recommend you consult an attorney.

Why? When protected health information

legal injection

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In which Greg Reybold, GPhA’s vice president of public policy and association counsel, answers questions about Georgia pharmacy law.

(Greg can’t actually give legal advice to members, but he’s happy to offer his interpretation of the law here. You know the drill: If you have a legal issue, consult your own attorney.)

GREG REYBOLD

Revelations



academies


For more information about insurance services, contact:Bryan Turner Vice President J. Smith Lanier & Co. Tel: 678.656.2093 Email: [email protected]

Denis Mucha Manager – Member ServicesGeorgia Pharmacy AssociationTel: 404.419.8120 Email: [email protected]

AVAILABLE SERVICESEMPLOYEE BENEFITS• 5 Medical Plans to choose from• 2 Dental Plans to choose from• Vision and Life • COBRA Administration and FSA available

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT• Customized/Updated Employee Handbooks• HR Support on Labor Issues and Trends• Unemployment Claims Assistance• Labor Law Poster Compliance

PAYROLL SERVICES• Full Payroll Administration• Payroll Tax Filings• Direct Deposit Services with PayCards• W2 Processing

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BENEFITS• Outside many of the ACA regulations• No Community Rated Rates • No high health insurance renewal increases• Stability

Insurance Solutions that work

Where do you belong?Whether you work at a pharmacy or own it, work for a hospital, health system, chain, or indepen-dent, GPhA realizes that each practice setting has different needs. That’s why GPhA has practice academies.

The Academy of Independent PharmacyGPhA.org/aipRepresenting independent pharmacies and their owners, AIP has spent years building bridges with government officials, PBMs and wholesalers, part-ners, and between AIP members themselves.

When there’s an audit, AIP is there. When members need to compare wholesalers, AIP helps smooth the process. When PBM pricing schemes mean that pharmacies aren’t adequately reim-bursed, AIP mobilized members to advocate for a new MAC transparency law.

“Our ability to help our members when they have a problem is one of the biggest values we bring to the table,” says Jeff Lurey, GPhA’s vice pres-ident of independent pharmacy. “When we come together under the AIP banner, we can truly help keep independents independent.”

The Academy of Employee PharmacistsGPhA.org/aep No matter where they work, retail employee phar-macists face unique challenges: long days, complex management dynamics, and ever-changing policies they’re responsible for knowing and implementing.

AEP gives employee pharmacists a chance to connect no matter what pharmacy is on their business card, and it helps ensure GPhA’s programs reflect their needs.

Case in point: Earlier this year AEP polled its members, learning that CPE on interpersonal dynamics and career management topped the most-wanted list. So now we’re offering courses on ‘soft skills’ such as pharmacist-to-patient and pharmacist-to-physician communication.

“Can you depend on your employer to keep you up to date with new laws and protocols?” asked 2015-16 AEP board chair Ashley London of Augusta. “AEP is not your employer. It’s you, bringing issues forward to shape your training, your opportunities, your career.”

The Academy of Clinical and Health System Pharmacists GhA.org/achp Pharmacists who work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and other health systems have an entirely different set of issues to be concerned with.

ACHP pharmacists’ roles run the gamut from general patient care, to specialties like senior or transitional care. They tend to have a very different relationship with physicians and patients, and a unique set of issues to contend with, including legal and regulatory matters like accountable care organizations, Medicare Part D reporting and billing, and a host of issues many retail pharmacists see less frequently.

As ACHP’s board chair, clinical pharmacist Ted Hunt, put it, “To be involved in ACHP is to be involved in a multi-faceted academy that’s addressing both clinical and practical aspects of our members’ practice, in all sorts of settings, in efficient and effective ways.”

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The 2016 legislative session saw a number of bills introduced that would have a direct effect on pharmacy, including those on which GPhA advocated from the start.

As this issue of Georgia Pharmacy goes to press, the legislative session is not yet closed. Here are the various bills affecting Georgia pharmacy and their current status. Look for a detailed recap of the legislative session and what it means for Georgia pharmacists in our next issue.

BILLS GPhA SUPPORTSPDMP reform (HB 900) Gives pharmacists ability to delegate retrieval and review of PDMP information to technicians and allows pharmacists and physicians to commu-nicate concerns about a patient’s inappropriate use of a controlled substance. Passed legislature, awaiting governor’s signature.

Limiting DCH audit recoupment (HB 916)Gives pharmacists (and others) the right to cor-rect any clerical errors on the part of the Depart-ment of Community Health and limits how much recoupments to the amount of the error. Passed legislature, awaiting governor’s signature.

Pseudoephedrine ID requirements (HB 588) Requires pharmacies to use an electronic system to track and limit pseudoephedrine purchases. Passed legislature via HB 362, awaiting governor’s signature.

Annual update to state’s overall drug and phar-macy law (HB 926)Notable to pharmacy, includes language protect-ing the ability of pharmacies to provide pa-tient-specific sterile and non-sterile compounded drug products to providers. Passed legislature, awaiting governor’s signature.

legislative recap

Big wins shaping up on PDMP, DCH audits


Annual update to controlled-substance law (“Drug update,” HB 783) Passed legislature, awaiting governor’s signature.

OTHER PHARMACY LEGISLATIONGPhA monitored these bills. In several instances we worked to improve or clarify the legislation, but we took no active position on them.

Allowing PAs to prescribe hydrocodone com-pound products (SB 115) Passed Senate; died in House but similar language was added to HB 588 (see above).



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CANNABIS OILGPhA’s does not have a position on the broader issue of the availability of cannabis oil. What we are concerned about is patient care and safety, and to that end we wanted to be sure that any plan for providing cannabis oil to Georgians included pharmacist involvement — not in dispensing the drug, but in counseling patients, discussing possible interactions, and evaluating response.

Although Representative Allen Peake’s efforts regarding cultivation and sale were unsuccessful, the bill did propose a role for pharmacists consistent with GPhA’s policy and we’re grateful to him for not only hearing our concerns, but involving us in the process.

Allowing for volunteer health practitioners in an emergency (SB 230) Passed legislature; awaiting governor’s signature.

Regulating mail order pharmacies (HB 886) Passed legislature; awaiting governor’s signature.

Establishing a drug repository for unused medication for indigent and elderly patients (HB 897) Passed legislature; awaiting governor’s signature.

Governor oversight of professional boards (HB 952) Gives the governor’s office the authority and duty to actively supervise Georgia professional li-censing boards in order to avoid anti-trust issues. GPhA agrees that oversight is necessary if boards are to enjoy immunity but advocated for over-sight to lie with the AG in order to give Georgia’s boards the best chance of successfully invoking state action anti-trust immunity. Passed legisla-ture, awaiting governor’s signature. 1

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Exempting hospitals and health systems from certain requirements in administration of the influenza vaccine (HB 1043) Passed legislature; awaiting governor’s signature.

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Pharmacy in the Age of Uber with ALLISON LINNEY

Management expert Allison Linney is convinced that the practice of pharmacy is becoming to healthcare what Uber is to getting a ride: more accessible, more effective, more human. But have you positioned yourself within this new healthcare paradigm? Do you even understand it?

For two decades, Allison Linney has been helping healthcare professionals broaden their vision. That’s what Pharmacy in the Age of Uber is all about. Explore with Allison your profession’s adventurous new course.

The Provider Status Show with BECKY SNEAD

For Georgia to find a way forward on Provider Status, we’ll have to hear from a lot of voices. NASPA CEO Becky Snead says it’s time to get the conversation started.

That’s where The Provider Status Show comes in. You’ll learn what provider status can mean both in Georgia and nationally for pharmacists, and what must be done to get us there. After all, what better way to explore this complex topic, than hearing experts hash it out?

Innovation Showcase with KRYSTALYN WEAVER:Five Pharmacists Who Are Paving the Way to Provider Status in Georgia

Think provider status is just about immunizations and MTM? Think again. Pharmacists in Georgia and elsewhere are finding surprising ways to practice to the full extent of their licenses and training. And as they do, they’re also finding new revenue streams and, more importantly, delivering better healthcare outcomes for their patients. Join us as our lineup of pharmacist innovators as they share their surprising pathways to provider status.

GENERAL SESSIONSLed by leaders from the world of law, healthcare, and business,

we’re sure you’ll agree there’s no better way to prepare for the challenges pharmacists will face.

HILTON HEAD MARRIOTT RESORT, JUNE 16-19, 2016

GROW...The 2016 Georgia Pharmacy Convention is the biggest event for Georgia

Pharmacists all year, and it offers more than 35 hours of continuing ed courses. (Realistically, you can take 15 hours of them.)

The instructors are top-notch, and the resort is incredible. See more, get more, and register at GPhAconvention.com.

EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 16.

JUNE 16

Critical Conversations: Coaching Patients to Adherence (2 hours)

2016: New Laws Update (2 hours)

HIV/AIDS in Special Populations: Management and Treatment Updates for Pharmacists (2 hours)

Managing in Every Direction (1.5 hours)

Biosimilars: What We Can Expect (1.5 hours)

MTM User Group: Best Practices and Other Stuff That Works (1.5 hours)

Pharmacy in the Age of Uber (General Session; 1 hour)

JUNE 17

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Beyond the Hospital Setting (1 hour)

New & Improved: Georgia’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (1 hour)

Preventing Hospital Readmissions: Pharmacists’ Roles in Transitions of Care (1 hour)

Call Me Maybe: Improving Patient Safety Through Physician-to-Pharmacist Communication (1 hour)

New Drug Update 2016: A Formulary Approach (1 hour)

Medicaid Update: State of the State and Future Directions (1 hour)

Pharmacists, Physicians & Value-Based Payments: Why They Need Us More Than They May Know (1.5 hours)

The Prescription Opioid Overdose Epidemic: A Question of Balance (1.5 hours)

The Provider Status Show (General Session; 1 hour)

JUNE 18

Pharmacy Quality Data: Measures, Measuring and Me (1 hour)

Integrating Pharmacists into Innovative Team-based Care Delivery Models (2 hours)

What Changed? A Quick Review of Guideline Updates (2 hours)

Preventing Adverse Drug Events and Medication Errors (1 hour)

Reimagining Pharmacist Scope of Practice (1 hour)

Cannabinoids: A Pediatric Perspective (1 hour)

A Visit With Your Board of Pharmacy Members: Supervision, Handling Controls, and More (1 hour)

Innovation Showcase (General Session; 1 hour)

JUNE 19

Medication Therapy Management for Patients with Diabetes (2 hours)

Increasing Pharmacist Value Through Patient Screening Assessments (2 hours)

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Go to GPhAconvention.com. You’ll be able to register and find out more about our complete lineup of CPE sessions and other events at the 2016 Georgia Pharmacy Convention.

HILTON HEAD MARRIOTT RESORT, JUNE 16-19, 2016

...PLAY, CONNECTAll work and no play is no fun at all.

There’s more than classes and sessions at the convention. We know how important down time is, so there are lots of chances to kick back and relax (or kick it into high gear if you prefer):

More than 250 restaurants. Bakeries and farmers’ markets. Fishing. Gourmet shops. Biking. Museums and theatre. Kayaking. Helicopter tours. Kids’ activities galore. More than 350 tennis courts and 24 championship golf courses. The beach.

You won’t be bored, that’s for sure.

EXCITEMENT WITH THE FOUNDATION DRAW-DOWN It’s like “The Hunger Games” meets “The Price is Right” — an exciting, fun-filled game in the Expo Hall, where contestants vie for a chance to win hundreds of dollars (while helping support the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation).

The first night has $50 tickets, and the second night doubles that — and doubles the winning and the excitement.

A GINORMOUS EXPO HALL

The convention’s Expo Hall is our largest in years, with dozens and dozens of vendors representing products, services, and organizations across the pharmacy spectrum. It’s a great chance to learn, connect, interact, and explore. (And eat — there’ll be noshes available much of the time, and our grand opening will have some of the tastiest hors d’oeuvres around.)

AN ALL-NEW PRESIDENT’S BASH

We heard you, and this year our anchor event welcoming incoming president Lance Boles will be a fun, casual, beach bash. Leave your black ties at home, and eat, drink, and be merry with the surf, the sand, and the live band on a Saturday night under the stars.

Georgia Pharmacy 16 April/May 2016Georgia Pharmacy 16 April/May 2016


cover story

We talk a lot about the idea of pharmacists having “provider

status.” But what exactly does that mean? GPhA CEO Scott

Brunner sat down with Krystalyn Weaver, PharmD, the

vice president of policy and operations for the National

Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, to talk about that

phrase — why provider status is important, what it means for

pharmacists in Georgia, and why we’re working so hard to

achieve it here and nationwide.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN SCHRAD

Georgia Pharmacy 17April/May 2016 Georgia Pharmacy 17April/May 2016


Across practice settings, provider status is seen as the great brass ring for pharmacists. So let’s start by defining the term: What is provider sta-tus, and why do we need it?

Today the federal government does not recognize pharmacists as medical “providers” — specifically in Part B of the Social Security Act. That means Medi-care beneficiaries aren’t able to access pharmacists’ patient-care services such as diabetes management, smoking cessation assistance, and even simple well-ness visits through their Medicare benefits.

Hence our goal of attaining federal “provider status.” A major step of that would be passage of the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, aka H.R. 592 or S.314. It would allow Medicare to pay for pharmacists’ services in medically-underserved areas, of which Georgia has more than a few.

To sum it up, the goal is to ensure that patients’ have access to pharmacists’ brains — not just the products we dispense.

Back to the term provider status. Medicare access is a major step, but it’s only the first step. The reality is that we need to approach ensuring patient access to pharmacists’ services from more than one angle. Though Medicare patients make up a huge population of those who would benefit from phar-macists knowledge and skills, there are many other patients who do not have Medicare coverage.

So “provider status” is broader. It encompasses any effort to get patients access to these services, which makes the meaning of that term somewhat complicated.

Add to that the fact that not every pharma-cist wants to provide those services. Often when

I’m talking about integrating more patient-care services into our practices I get the inevitable com-ment: “I’m too busy in the pharmacy as it is. There is no way I can add even more activities to my day-to-day operations and still get prescriptions filled.”

I challenge my peers not to think of the current practice environment. When we’re talking about broadening pharmacists’ services, think of the future. Remember that the reason we aren’t already doing this is because our payment system is broken — it doesn’t recognize the value pharma-cists are capable of providing. A core premise of the provider status push is that we have to change our business model. We need to change the practice environment and make it feasible for our services to be delivered effectively.

We are talking about overhauling our work-flow so patient-care services become a focus, not an add-on. And yes, we’re talking about new streams of revenue.

Any pharmacy owner can attest to the fact that margins are decreasing. In order to keep phar-macist jobs viable, we need to leverage our most valuable asset: our ability to optimize medication regimens, assist patients with disease management and prevention, and decrease overall health care costs — not just get the right drug to the right patient at the right time (although that will always be important).

If the case is so strong, what’s keeping Congress?

That’s a great question, but it assumes that policy decisions are always made with 100 percent reli-ance on facts and data. The reality is that national policy is influenced by political pressures. And one



of the biggest political pressures we’re facing today is our national debt and the ever ballooning costs of entitlement programs. Adding pharmacists services to Medicare benefits will come at an added cost to the program, at least initially.

So rather than reflecting on why it hasn’t happened yet, I like to focus on why now is a good time. There has never before been more of an awareness on health policy in the larger policy en-vironment. Policy makers are realizing that saving money is more than simply cutting costs — it’s also critical to get the most value.

Pharmacists are pros at keeping people healthy and maximizing the utility of a critical healthcare resource: medications. We have plenty of data to show that. More people are realizing this, so not only do we have unprecedented collabora-tion among pharmacy associations, wholesalers, and national pharmacy chains, we are now seeing support from many outside organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Governors Association, the Office of the Surgeon General, and others.

Okay, so Congress is concerned about the price tag. I get that. Isn’t there research, though, to demonstrate that the long-term savings from compensating pharmacists as providers is greater than the short-term costs? I can imagine healthier patients and reduced hospital admis-sions could save Medicaid and Medicare some real money.

Absolutely, there are plenty of data to show that pharmacists can save payers on the overall cost of healthcare in both the short and long term. There

are hard data showing that within one year, simply paying pharmacists to provide modest MTM ser-vices for Medicaid patients delivered a 4 to 1 return on investment. And data for the long term is even stronger — an average ROI as high as 12 to 1.

Unfortunately, the way new federal bills are analyzed doesn’t account for these savings. The Congressional Budget Office assigns a “score” to bills that estimates the cost of the bill to the fed-eral budget over the next 10 years. But that score doesn’t take into account cost savings — which doesn’t help our cause one bit. We’ve heard that this process may be loosening a bit but the score of the federal bill will continue to be a challenge, especially in an election year.

You’ve mentioned that Congress would need to enact provider status at the federal level. But what about at the state level? Is there any bene-fit to asking the legislature to grant pharmacists provider status here in Georgia? What would state provider status look like?

Absolutely, there is a lot states can do to ensure patients access to and coverage for pharmacists’ patient care services (which is really what we mean by “provider status,” remember). Unfortunately it isn’t as simple as a state legislature simply granting provider status.

There are often several places in state law and regulation where “provider status” is defined, each with a different degree of impact on patient access to pharmacists’ services. They may be important in their own way but are unlikely to be the broader solution that a federal change would be.

Additionally, it’s at the state level where scope of practice is defined, and that’s an essential factor in pharmacists’ ability to provide the care they want to provide. In recent years states have made improvements to laws regulating pharmacists: broadening immunization and collaborative practice agreements, allowing pharmacists to prescribe travel medication, and promoting access to public health services through pharmacies, such as smoking cessation products and hormonal contraceptives.

Finally, states can influence local payers in-cluding Medicaid, state employee plans, and private


“WE ARE NOW SEEING SUPPORT

FROM MANY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS

SUCH AS THE CDC, THE NATIONAL

GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, THE

SURGEON GENERAL, AND OTHERS.”


payers through legislative or regulatory action, or by simply working with those payers directly and sharing the business case with them.

So are we talking about expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice? Providing services under col-laborative practice agreements with physicians? Or simply doing stuff pharmacists can already do but currently can’t be compensated for?

All of the above. As we discussed before, state pro-vider status efforts often include work to help align pharmacists’ scope of practice with their clinical ability — so patients aren’t missing out on pharma-cists’ care because of outdated laws.

Collaborative practice agreements can allow for increased collaboration and efficiencies in care delivery — unless the state laws and regulations are so restrictive that entering into an agreement becomes a burden.

And finally there is “stuff” pharmacists can already do and already are doing that they aren’t being compensated for. It won’t be as easy as just submitting a quick claim for services; we’ll need to comply with the rules and regulations other pro-viders comply with now — including credentialing, documentation and quality assurance.

How do you think physicians will react to that? Does it change the physician–pharmacist rela-tionship?

The examples we currently have of physician-phar-macist collaborations are relatively few and far be-tween because it requires great creativity to make the relationship financially viable. But when we are able to find sustainable revenue streams to take the strain off of the system, physicians often report favorably on working closely with pharmacists.

I think physicians and other providers will embrace the presence of pharmacists on the health care team. Let’s face it — drugs are complicated, and there are plenty of other things doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners have to focus on. Having a medication expert on their side will make their job that much easier and allow them to provide care to more patients.

How do you see this new paradigm impacting the quality of patient care?

It’s been said many times before but I’ll say it again: When pharmacists are on the team, health out-comes improve and costs go down. I think it’s a giv-en that pharmacists’ services can improve quality. The impact pharmacists are already making, even in our broken system, is probably underappreciated. But I think if we align the incentives appropriately — and build an infrastructure that allows pharma-cists to access the patient health data they need — the system can be fixed to maximize pharmacists’ skills and improve patient care.

Let’s talk about compensation. If, as providers, pharmacists could be compensated for a broader range of their services, what does that look like?

I don’t want it to sound like an easy, quick transi-tion. We’ll need to adjust workflows, reimagine how we use pharmacy technicians, implement infra-structure changes to allow pharmacists to plug into the information systems hospitals and doctors use, and learn how to do medical billing. And medical billing is VERY different than prescription billing, which is quick, automated and immediately tells you if a claim is covered.

In medical billing, a claim is submitted but the provider may not know for weeks if it will be paid by the insurer. Copays have to be collected at the time of service but are only estimates of what the patient’s cost share is — meaning you have to bill the patient after the fact as well. And if a claim isn’t



covered, the dispute process can be lengthy and arduous. Obviously all of these challenges have been overcome by our colleagues in other health professions so they’re not insurmountable, but they will be big changes for pharmacy.

Sounds like this is an issue pharmacists need to anticipate. What can pharmacists be doing now to prepare themselves, their practices, and their patients for provider status?

Pharmacists can get themselves ahead of the game by incorporating services into their current business model now. Start small. Consider incorpo-rating med sync into your pharmacy. Incorporate other adherence interventions. Make sure to fulfill all the Medicare Part D MTM opportunities that come your way. This will help you get your work-flow to a better place and start to change patient perceptions about the level of care pharmacists are capable of providing.

Build relationships in the community. Reach out to local physicians’ offices, get to know the care managers in the local hospital, and see if you can find a way to help them with medication reconcilia-tion at discharge. Yes, this will mean business when we are able to bill Medicare for medical services, but it will also mean increased business now. If your local providers see you as the go-to pharmacy for optimal medication management, they will send their patients to you.

Try to understand the quality measurement landscape beyond star satings. Physicians, ACOs, medical homes, and hospitals are held to different quality metrics. Learn what they are, learn the pres-sure points, and think how pharmacists can help to achieve those metrics. Also get to know the billing codes that may be available to us through Medicare. These include CPT codes, chronic care management codes, G-Codes and more. The Medicare Learning Network is a great resource. Sign up for their email list and get information sent to you regularly.


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We fight for the laws and regulations that make your work easier, more fulfilling, and yes, more profitable. Whether it’s fighting prescription drug abuse, ensuring fairer reimbursement processes, expanding your ability to provide immunizations, clarifying what constitutes adequate supervision, defending office-use compounding, or a host of other issues — GPhA is working. For you.

We provide the continuing education you need — and not the usual canned material. Our courses and instructors are up to date, informative, and lively. We offer certifications in diabetes manage-ment and MTM and we cover topics you won’t find anywhere else.

GPhA gives you the tools you need to stay on top of your profession: news, resources, and an ever-growing library of information. A subscription to Georgia Pharmacy magazine is just one benefit — and we hope you’re enjoying this complimentary issue. The biggest one? Getting more by being a part of a group of pharmacists who want to be at the top of their games.

You belong here. We want to make joining your association easy. Sign up before May 31 and we’ll extend your membership: Instead of one year, you’ll be part of GPhA through August 31, 2017.*

That’s a savings of more than $100 off the regular rate. And you can make your membership pay itself back easily with the broad array of discounts we of-fer. (The math says you can save more than $700.)

Go to GPhA.org/newmember2016. Click on the join link and get ready to enjoy all the benefits of GPhA membership at the best deal of the year.

You belong in GPhA.

* Fine print: This offer is only for non GPhA members who have not been a member in the past 12 months.

We are your association.We work for you. We work for your practice. We work for your patients.

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INVESTING IN PHARMPAC IS INVESTING IN YOUR PRACTICE.

The following pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students,and others have joined GPhA’s PharmPAC.

The contribution levels are based on investment for the entire 2016 calendar year.

David Graves, Macon, PharmPAC chairman

Diamond Investors ($4,800 or $400/month)

Titanium Investors ($2,400 or $200/month)

FRED SHARPEAlbany

SCOTT MEEKSDouglas

CHARLES BARNESValdosta

MAC McCORDAtlanta

RALPH BALCHINFayetteville

GREG HICKMANMonroe

JEFF SIKESValdosta

BRANDALL LOVVORNBremen

DANNY SMITHMcRae

DAVID GRAVESMacon

DEAN STONEMetter

2016 PHARMPAC INVESTORS


THOMAS BRYAN, JR.WILLIAM CAGLEHUGH CHANCYKEITH CHAPMANWES CHAPMANAL DIXONJACK DUNNROBERT HATTONWILLIAM HUANGIRA KATZJEFF LUREYJONATHAN MARQUESS

DREW MILLERLAIRD MILLERMARK PARRISHOUSTON ROGERSTERRY SHAWTIM SHORTCARL STANLEY CHRIS THURMONDDANNY TOTHTOMMY WHITWORTH

JAMES BARTLINGLANCE BOLESBRUCE BROADRICKLIZA CHAPMANMARSHALL CURTISMAHLON DAVIDSONSHARON DEASONROBERT DICKINSONBENJAMIN DUPREEKERRY GRIFFINMICHAEL ITEOGUSTEPHANIE KIRKLAND

CHAD MCDONALDBOBBY MOODYDARYL REYNOLDSBRIAN RICKARDANDY ROGERSMICHAEL TARRANTCAREY VAUGHANCHUCK WILSONH.D. WILSON, IIIWILLIAM WOLFE

2016 PHARMPAC INVESTORS (CONTINUED)

Silver Investors ($300 or $25/month) Renee AdamsonNelson AnglinJames CarpenterGregory DrakeMarshall FrostWillie LatchKalen ManascoHillary Jack Mbadugha Bill McLeerAshley RickardAustin Tull

Bronze Investors ($150 or $12.50/month)

Phil BarfieldNicholas BlandMichael CrooksMelanie DeFuscoJohn DrewYolanda EllisonLarry HarkleroadPhillip JamesBrenton LakeMicheal LewisSusan McCleerAmanda PaisleyJonathan RileyJames Strickland

Member Investors(up to $150)

Marla BanksCharles Tigner

Platinum Investors ($1,200 or $100/month)

Gold Investors ($600 or $50/month)

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL FOR 2016!

Thank you to all our PharmPAC investors for their contributions to the future of pharmacy in Georgia.

Visit GPhA.org/PharmPAC to find out more.

$0 $25,000 $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000

$20,008

In this election year it’s critical that PharmPAC raises enough funding to support pro-pharmacy candidates for the Georgia legislature. You can bet the PBMs will be well funded!

GET INVESTED TODAYVisit GPhA.org/PharmPAC

or call (404) 419-8118


Reach out to us

contact

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For questions about our magazine, Web sites, or social mediaAndrew Kantor Director of Communication [email protected]

For questions about engagement with the Georgia pharmacy community, our events, or CPE creditsPhillip Ratliff Vice President of Communication and Engagement [email protected]

For membership questions Tei Muhammad Director of Membership Operations (404) 419-8115 [email protected]

For questions about any of our insurance productsDenis Mucha Manager of Insurance Services (404) 419-8120 [email protected]

For questions about governmental affairsGreg ReyboldVice President of Public [email protected]

For questions about the Board of Directors or for scheduling the CEORuth Ann McGehee Executive Assistant and Governance Manager (404) 419-8173 [email protected]

For operational or accounting questions:Dianne Jones Vice President of Finance & Administration (404) 419-8129 [email protected]

Patricia Aguilar Accounting Coordinator [email protected](404) 419-8124

GPhA’S MEMBER SERVICE PARTNERS

InfiniTrakinfinitrak.usTrack and trace compliance software

Pharmacy Quality Commitmentpqc.netQuality assurance compliance resources

Pharmacy Technician Certification Boardptcb.org

SoFisofi.com/gphaStudent-loan refinancing

UBSubs.com/team/wileFinancial planning

OUR PHONE NUMBER IS 404.231.5074OUR WEBSITE IS GPhA.ORG

GPhA LEADERSHIPPresident & Chair of the BoardTOMMY WHITWORTH, LaGrange [email protected]

President-Elect LANCE BOLES, [email protected]

First Vice President LIZA CHAPMAN, [email protected]

Second Vice PresidentTIM SHORT, [email protected]

Immediate Past PresidentBOBBY MOODY, [email protected]

Chief Executive OfficerSCOTT BRUNNER, CAE [email protected]

At-Large Board MembersJOHN DREW, [email protected]

SHARON DEASON, [email protected]

DREW MILLER, [email protected]

DAVID GRAVES, Warner [email protected]

DARYL REYNOLDS, [email protected]

CHRIS THURMOND, [email protected]

For assistance with independent-pharmacy issuesJeff Lurey, R.Ph. Vice President of Independent Pharmacy & Director of AIP (404) 419-8103 [email protected]

For questions about your AIP membershipVerouschka “V” Betancourt-Whigham Manager of AIP Member Services (404) 419-8102 [email protected]

AIP Member Service RepresentativesRhonda Bonner (229) 854-2797 [email protected]

Charles Boone (478) 955-7789 [email protected]

Melissa Metheny (678) 485-6126 [email protected]

Gene Smith (423) 667-7949 [email protected]

Got a concern about a GPhA program or service? Want to compliment or complain?Drop a note to [email protected].

Coverage You Need.Service You Deserve.A Price You Can Afford.

GPhA’S SPRING REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES ARE HERE

for your region’s meeting and dinner, and get updated on the issues we’re working on during this legislative session.

Region 1 April 19 Statesboro

Region 2 April 5 Valdosta

Region 3 April 7 Columbus

Region 4 April 7 Peachtree City

Regions 5 & 7 April 19 Sandy Springs

Region 6 April 21 Macon

Region 8 April 5 Waycross

Region 9 April 14 East Ellijay

Region 10 April 14 Athens

Region 11 April 26 Augusta

Region 12 April 21 Dublin

What’s your region? See the map at GPhA.org/regions.

Tell us you’re coming at GPhA.org/briefings/spring2016

SAVE THE DATE


postscript

Thirty-five years ago, I was working at one of the great U.S. retail pharmacy chains: Eckerd Drugs.

Eckerd Drugs! That’s a name that’s fading, but at the time it was widely known — maybe revered — as one of the most phar-

macy-friendly, progressive chains in America. My branch was located in the small town of La-nett, Alabama, just across the Georgia line. Even from what might seem like a humble vantage point, my Eckerd seemed determined to live up to its reputation as an advocate for healthcare — to cross lines that might otherwise divide.

Eckerd decided to go into an alliance with a group of independent pharmacists in the West Georgia/East Alabama region called “the valley,” to stem a new challenge to healthcare: mail order pharmacy. We formed a group of retail chain and independent pharmacists passionate about one thing: pharmacy is more than hand-ing out pills.

Through the efforts and leadership of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, we were able stem that threat. Our solution: We formed a third-party supplier that morphed into a very benevolent — and very successful — PBM. That third-party entity is why GPhA enjoys such a large endowment today, by the way. Yep. I was a part of that, and I’m proud.

When the opportunity came to move from Alabama to set up my own practice in Georgia, I knew I would have to become a part of this group of dedicated members, colleagues, and mentors known as GPhA.

First off, they were and are winners, and every experience I have had with GPhA since then has confirmed this. In my three decades in GPhA, our regulatory and legislative victories have just kept piling up, and there is no doubt in my mind that pharmacists are more pros-perous and their patients better taken care of because of GPhA.

But life is about more than winning. What ultimately attracted me to GPhA membership wasn’t just that we’ve gotten things done. It’s that GPhA members are about creating an en-vironment that lets pharmacists be pharmacists.

I run across people who were burned out and I run across people enjoying their careers. When pharmacists get involved with something bigger than themselves, their state of mind is clearer, their focus is better. And when pharmacists turn inward, they soon learn that, on their own, they can’t become what they imagined becoming. They need information, educational opportuni-ties, close colleagues. They need to reach outside themselves, make friends and find mentors who

think about the same things they do, but maybe in a way that they don’t.

As I’ve gone from retail chain to independent and hospital pharmacist, from single guy to husband and father, from a red-headed Ala-bamian to a gray-haired Georgian, I’ve loved where I’ve been and I’m glad I’ve crossed each and every line that I have.

The relationships I’ve made, the little wins, the big wins, all these experiences come down to one thing: people from different practice areas, different parts of the state, different pharmacy school backgrounds, different perspectives, all giving back to make pharmacy better and to make being a pharmacist better.

Tommy Whitworth of LaGrange is GPhA’s 2015–2016 president.

TOMMY WHITWORTH

Crossing lines

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WHEN PHARMACISTS GET INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES, THEIR STATE OF MIND IS CLEARER, THEIR FOCUS IS BETTER.


SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 Navigating Specialty PharmacySpecialty pharmacy is one of the fastest growing healthcare niches. Get up to date on how pharmacists fit in to the new field of personalized medicine.

Specialty Pharmacy & the Specialty Pharmacist’s Role8:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Specialty Pharmacy: Hepatitis C10:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Specialty Pharmacy: Oncology, Multiple Sclerosis, IBD and Rheumatoid Arthritis12:30 PM | 2 hours | $50

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 New Laws, New Drugs, New OpportunitiesNew laws affecting pharmacists, drugs, and your patients are passed every year. You need to know the rules, and you need to see the opportunities they provide to deliver new clinical services.

2016 New Law Update with Greg Reybold8:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

2016 New Drug Update with Rusty May10:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

New Opportunities for Patient Care with Jake Galdo12:30 PM | 2 hours | $50

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Rising to the Top: A Leadership Symposium for Women in PharmacyWomen face unique challenges in the pharmacy profession, especially as more become leaders in the field. This day-long symposium will cover management roles, policy positions, business issues, career options, and more — it’s not your average CPE!

Rising to the Top: A Leadership Symposium for Women in Pharmacy8:00 AM | 6 hours | $200

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5Pharmacies in the Crosshairs — Reducing Fraud and Abuse Risk in the Pharmacy SpaceThink you know the biggest fraud and abuse risk area in your pharmacy? You may be surprised. These sessions show you what to watch for and how to ensure com-pliance with the law while minimizing your risks of liability. Scott Grubman, partner with the Atlanta law firm of Chilivis, Co-chran, Larkins & Bever, has expert advice on how not to cross any lines.

The False Claims Act and Pharmacies8:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Pharmacies and Their Relationships with Prescribing Physicians and Beneficiaries10:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Confronting Drug Diversion12:30 PM | 2 hours | $50

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 Pharmacists and the Golden Years — Caring for Senior PatientsSenior care is becoming a larger part of the healthcare market — so be pre-pared. Join Richard Marasco, owner of seniorpharm.com, as he explores how pharmacists can be a part of a senior-fo-cused healthcare team.

Senior Care is Everywhere: Managing Common Conditions seen in the Elderly8:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

I’m having a Senior Moment: Managing Memory and Mood Issues in Seniors10:00 AM | 2 hours | $50

Slips, Trips, Bumps and Falls: Managing Medication Related Problems In Seniors 12:30 PM | 2 hours | $50

CPE WEEKENDS (Continued from front)


AT CONVENTION

Hilton Head, SC, June 16-19, 2016

The 2016 Georgia Pharmacy Convention is the biggest event for Georgia Pharmacists all year, and it offers more than 35 hours of continuing ed courses. (Realistically, you can take 15 hours of them.) The instructors are top-notch, and the resort is incredible.

See more, get more, and register at

GPhAconvention.com.

JUNE 16Critical Conversations: Coaching Patients to Adherence (2 hours)

2016: New Laws Update (2 hours)

HIV/AIDS in Special Populations: Management and Treatment Updates for Pharmacists (2 hours)

Managing in Every Direction (1.5 hours)

Biosimilars: What We Can Expect (1.5 hours)

MTM User Group: Best Practices and Other Stuff That Works (1.5 hours)

Pharmacy in the Age of Uber (General Session; 1 hour)

JUNE 17Antimicrobial Stewardship: Beyond the Hospital Setting (1 hour)

New & Improved: Georgia’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (1 hour)

Preventing Hospital Readmissions: Pharmacists’ Roles in Transitions of Care (1 hour)

Call Me Maybe: Improving Patient Safety Through Physician-to-Pharmacist Communication (1 hour)

New Drug Update 2016: A Formulary Approach (1 hour)

Medicaid Update: State of the State and Future Directions (1 hour)

Pharmacists, Physicians & Value-Based Payments: Why They Need Us More Than They May Know (1.5 hours)

The Prescription Opioid Overdose Epidemic: A Question of Balance (1.5 hours)

The Provider Status Show (General Session; 1 hour)

JUNE 18Pharmacy Quality Data: Measures, Measuring and Me (1 hour)

Integrating Pharmacists into Innovative Team-based Care Delivery Models (2 hours)

What Changed? A Quick Review of Guideline Updates (2 hours)

Preventing Adverse Drug Events and Medication Errors (1 hour)

Reimagining Pharmacist Scope of Practice (1 hour)

Cannabinoids: A Pediatric Perspective (1 hour)

A Visit With Your Board of Pharmacy Members: Supervision, Handling Controls, and More (1 hour)

Innovation Showcase (General Session; 1 hour)

JUNE 19Medication Therapy Management for Patients with Diabetes (2 hours)

Increasing Pharmacist Value Through Patient Screening Assessments (2 hours)

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Go to GPhAconvention.com. You’ll be able to register and find out more about our complete lineup of CPE sessions and other events at the 2016 Georgia Pharmacy Convention.


MTM and Diabetes Certification Courses from APhA

APhA’s MTM and diabetes certification training classes are the gold standard in equipping pharmacists in medication management strategies. These patient-centered, revenue-enhancing certifications can boost your skills and make your pharmacy more profitable.

EQUIPPING YOURSELF

Preparing for practice in Georgia…or bringing your skills to the next level GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher Course

Our concentrated, four-hour course on the terminology, measurements, and procedures you’ll use on the Georgia Pharmacist Practical Exam — and in the day-to-day practice of pharmacy — is one of our most popular courses ever.

If you’re a student pharmacist or a transfer to Georgia, you’ll want this

PRACTICAL SKILLS PREPcourse for review of critical parts of your pharmacy school curriculum.

Practicing pharmacists will find the Practical Skills Refresher a useful way review the day-to-day measurements, procedures, and terms you and your technicians use every day.

GPhA offers the Practical Skills Refresher Course a total of four times a year, right before each of the four Georgia Pharmacist Practical Exams — and in the same locations, to boot. How’s that for practical?

GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher CourseMay 28 | 8:00 AM | Athens | 4 hours | $149

GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher CourseJuly 30 | 8:00 AM | Suwannee | 4 hours | $149

Go to GPhA.org/practicalskills for a complete listing and to register.

APhA CERTIFICATIONAPhA’s Delivering Medication Therapy Management ServicesApril 16 | 8:00 AM | Rome 12 hours self-study | 8 hours live | $199

APhA’s The Pharmacist & Patient-Centered Diabetes CareApril 17 | 8:00 AM | LaGrange 12 hours self-study | 8 hours live | $199

SAVE EVEN MORE!If you sign up for both MTM and diabetes certification courses offered in 2016, we’ll knock off an additional $50! For more information on APhA’s Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services, go to GPhA.org/MTM. For more information on APhA’s The Pharmacist & Patient-Centered Diabetes Care, go to GPhA.org/diabetes.

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FLAT COLOR

OPENBLACK & WHITE

GLOSS/GRADIENT


6065 Barfield Road NE | Suite 100 Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Audit Bill of Rights. Allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccines without a prescription. Licensing of PBMs. Electronic prescriptions. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Putting the Board of Pharmacy under the DCH. MAC transparency. Allowing pharmacists to give meningitis, shingles, and pneumococcal disease vaccines without a prescription. Insurance commissioner oversight of PBMs. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program enhancements. Subjecting DCH to Audit Bill of Rights.

Mandatory mail-order. Putting non-pharma-cists in charge of pharmacy licensure and investigations. Out-of-state mail order not adhering to same patient safety standards as in-state community retail. Making generic sub-stitution of immunosuppressant and epilepsy drugs difficult. Moving oversight of GDNA to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Requiring retention of unnecessary documentation. Robotic dispensing without oversight by a licensed pharmacist.

PASSED STOPPED

GPhA ADVOCATES FOR YOU.Think our legislative work doesn’t affect your pharmacy practice? Think again.

AND THAT’S NOT THE HALF OF IT.

JOIN NOW: gpha.org/join. Do it before May 31, get three months free, and pay no more dues until August 2017.

You need GPhA to help protect your patients and your practice. And we need you to help assure we have the influence we need in order to be effective.

2016-04 Georgia Pharmacy magazine

Documents

Transcript of 2016-04 Georgia Pharmacy magazine