Winter 2017/2018
Inside: PHARMACY SCHOOL UPDATE PREPARING FOR THE FLU NEW PDMP RULES
MEDICATION THERAPY MANAGEMENT:
Why it matters (and why you should be paid)
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COVER STORY: MTM: WHY IT MATTERS Medication therapy management: Pharmacists are trained to do it, and it saves money (and lives). So maybe it’s time they were compensated for the work they do.
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12 LeadershipGPhA
On the road again CEO Bob Coleman is travelling around the state (and a few other places) with barely a moment to catch his breath.
Meet the future leaders of the association
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4 news What’s happening in the Georgia pharmacy world Here comes the flu, Viagra goes generic, what Instagram says about you, and more
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14 legal injection What you need to know about the new PDMP rules
Upcoming events and classes
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9 membership 2018
Investors in the future of pharmacy in Georgia
23 contact us Who does what at GPhA — and how to reach us
24 postscript Naloxone: Be prepared One pharamcist’s story shows the value of having naloxone on your shelf
How we’re bringing more pharmacy pros into the fold
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10 student pharmacist update 7
What’s happening at Georgia’s pharmacy schools
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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 AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Direct any questions to the editor at akantor@gpha.org.
Winter 2017 / 2018
Chief Executive Officer Bob Coleman President and Chair of the Board Liza Chapman President-Elect Tim Short Immediate Past President Lance Boles
Director of Communication Andrew Kantor akantor@gpha.org Art Director Carole Erger-Fass ADVERTISING All advertising inquiries should be directed to Denis Mucha at dmucha@gpha.org or (404) 419-8120. Media kit and rates available upon request.
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.
POSTAL
Georgia Pharmacy (ISSN 1075-6965) is published bi-monthly by 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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Dedicated to Our Members since 1909. phmic.com
800.247.5930 Our Mission To help our customers attain peace of mind through specialized insurance products, risk management solutions, and superior personal service.
prescript
On The Road Again… After the last six weeks, I’m almost convinced Willie Nelson’s inspiration for that song must have been GPhA. We’ve been on the road quite a bit since the last issue. In early September, I headed off to Nashville for a recon BOB COLEMAN trip prior to the 2018 Georgia Pharmacy Convention (June 21-24, mark your calendars). I’m thrilled to report that it’s going to be a fantastic convention! Location, location, location: The Country Music Hall of Fame is connected to the headquarters Omni Hotel. I’d highly recommend a tour. The original Grand Ole Opry building is just a few blocks away, as is the Johnny Cash/Patsy Cline Museum. And Broadway — with its great music and bars — is only a stone’s throw from the hotel. (Bringing the family? The Adventure Science Center for kids is close by, and if you want a short road trip, the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills for shopping is about a 15-minute drive.) Of course inside the hotel we’ll have great CE courses, standing-ovation keynotes, blockbuster general sessions, plus the usual fun events: the big President’s Bash, an expo hall full of vendors (and food), and a lot more — so be sure to plan your trip. You’ll be seeing plenty of information on the GPhA website, in our Facebook group, on our Twitter feed, and of course in your inbox. Back to traveling. In late September it was my pleasure to attend the APhA Board of Trustees and state executives meeting in Washington, D.C. It was a great learning experience and ended with calls on congressmen to ask for their support on H.R. 592/S. 109. In October, it was on to Orlando, for NASPA and NCPA meetings. NASPA — the National Association of State Pharmacy Associations — is where I connect with my counterparts from across the country to discuss what is happenWinter 2017 / 2018
ing in their states, and I came away with a lot of ideas for doing more for the membership. At NCPA — the National Community Pharmacy Association — the buzz was all about CPESN-USA, with plenty of seminars, meetings, and receptions held to educate pharmacists on what CPESN-USA is, how it can benefit them, and how to participate in both CPESN-USA and state-level CPESNs. If you haven’t heard about CPESN-USA or CPESN-GA, I encourage you to learn more. Academy of Independent Pharmacy (AIP) members should have received information from CPESN-GA with a new agreement form recently. Coming back home meant beginning my tour around the state, starting with GPhA’s 12 fall region meetings where I presented GPhA’s legislative agenda for the 2018 session. More on that in the next issue of Georgia Pharmacy. It was truly a pleasure to get out of the office and spend time with members and listen to their concerns and issues. (Of course, the presentations and wonderful food helped.) In the middle of the month, it was off to Macon for the AIP’s Fall Meeting. This one-day meeting offered AIP members the opportunity to support the vendors in attendance, learn during the presentations, and engage with their peers. Thanks to all who attended. Finally, I hope you notice the new university news section in this issue. It’s just the beginning of GPhA’s efforts to get students from all four Georgia Pharmacy schools engaged with GPhA activities and membership. I had the opportunity to meet with the presidents of Mercer University’s Student Pharmacy Associations in October, and I’ll be traveling to Athens and PCOM later this month to conduct similar meetings. I can’t thank everyone I met on my travels enough for your support and ideas. Please keep them coming! Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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Bob Coleman is chief executive officer of the Georgia Pharmacy Association. Georgia Pharmacy
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news VIAGRA GOES GENERIC (AND OTC) The little blue pill is getting a cheaper generic brother — the little white pill, also by Pfizer. It’s half the price (only about $33) of the identical brand name version. In other words you’d pay an extra $32 just for that blue coloring. Or wait for other companies’ generics for even lower prices. In other Viagra news, it’s now legal to purchase over the counter in the U.K.
GOP SENATOR: GEORGIA SHOULD LOOK AT EXPANDING MEDICAID TO SAVE RURAL HOSPITALS Georgia State Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford) said the state should look at expanding Medicaid. Not with a traditional expansion via the ACA, but — possibly — through a federal waiver. “We have to open that box and look just a little bit and see what’s available,” Unterman said. “Hopefully, if you draw down federal dollars, you can free up some of those state dollars. Right now, we’re just pumping out state dollars to stay in the midst of the crisis.” About 400,000 Georgians earn too much to qualify for Medicaid without some kind of expansion, but too little to qualify for federal subsidies. 4
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HERE COMES THE FLU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The season started early Not incredibly early, but earlier than is typical. Several southern states, including Georgia, were reporting cases of flu or “influenza-like illness” well before Thanksgiving, meaning it’s likely to hit hardest ... well, just about when you get this magazine. It’s expected to hit hard Going by how fast the flu has spread in previous years (and what’s happened in Australia), health officials can usually get a pretty good idea of how it will spread in the U.S. And it looks like it’s going to be hard and fast. Georgia is already among four states with the highest number of cases. Worse, this particular strain (H3N1) is one of the nastier ones. FluMist is still off the table Once again, the CDC is recommending against using the
nasal-spray version of the flu vaccine because it’s not effective. But there’s some hope. Researchers think they may have figured out why it didn’t work: “a previously unnoticed genetic mutation” in the virus used to make it. Of course, knowing the reason and being able to act on it are two different things, but finding the (probable) cause means a ray of hope for needle-phobes everywhere. The vaccination is probably only about 10 percent effective The U.S. gets information about the upcoming flu season from Asia and Australia; each year’s flu appears there first. The vaccine used in Australia is the same one available here, so it provides health officials with a good barometer of what to expect: e.g., this year the vaccine is only about 10 percent effective in stopping the flu (compared to 40 to 50 percent in most years). Winter 2017 / 2018
2018 GPHA AWARDS: A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS At each Georgia Pharmacy Convention, GPhA recognizes the best of the best in Georgia pharmacy, and that means we need your nominations. •T he Bowl of Hygeia: Among the most prestigious awards in pharmacy, the Bowl of Hygeia is presented annually by GPhA and all state pharmacy associations to one pharmacist in each state with an outstanding record of service not only to the pharmacy profession, but to the community as well. • Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award: Recognizing the achievements of young pharmacists, this award has become one of GPhA’s most prestigious. It recognizes an individual who, although having been in the profession for less than a decade, has demonstrated a dedication to Georgia pharmacists and patients. •E xcellence in Innovation Award: This award acknowledges a pharmacist who has found new and better ways to improve the care of his or her patients — innovative and impressive solutions, techniques, or business practices for all pharmacies to consider.
• Generation Rx Champions Award: With prescription drug abuse continuing to be a serious problem, this award honors a pharmacist who has demonstrated a committed effort to reduce it through notable programs, outreach, education, and other community efforts. • Larry Braden Meritorious Service Award: The highest honor GPhA bestows on a pharmacist, this award recognizes the Georgia pharmacist who, over his or her career, has made extraordinary, invaluable contributions not only to GPhA, but to the practice of pharmacy in the state of Georgia. These are awards created by your association, but its your input — your nominations — that give them meaning. The more our members are involved in the awards process, the more meaning each award will carry. And it starts with nominations. Visit our awards page at GPhA. org/awards for more information on award criteria and to make your nominations. Deadline for submissions is February 12, 2018.
EpiPen® failures skyrocket Seven people have died and at least 228 have been hospitalized just this year from failed EpiPen and EpiPen Jr-brand epinephrine injectors, according to data submitted to the CDC. Mylan makes the epinephrine; Pfizer puts it into EpiPens. Pfizer said that it could be a problem “due to epinephrine itself,” not the pens, and suggested the issue could be that the pens are used “by non-medically trained individuals.” But that doesn’t explain the fact that complaints have already more than doubled from 2016 to 2017. Mylan said it was “confident in the safety” of the product.
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MARQUESS ENTERS NCPA LEADERSHIP GPhA past president (and, to be honest, all-around great guy) Jonathan Marquess was elected fifth vice president of the National Community Pharmacists Association. Marquess is the president and CEO of the Institute for Wellness and Education, a disease management company in Woodstock. He and his wife Pam (also a GPhA past president), own 10 community pharmacies in Georgia. “We could complain about all of the challenges we face,” he said, “but there are more opportunities now than ever before. It is our time to take back the profession and be compensated for our services.”
REPORTS OF EPIPEN FAILURES Data submitted by patients and physicians to the FDA 250
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2017 reports are through September 11. Source: Food and Drug Administration data and reports
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Representing pharmacists and pharmacies before the Georgia Pharmacy Board, GDNA and DEA. AREAS OF PRACTICE Professional Licensing Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Reimbursement Criminal Defense Administrative Law Healthcare Law Legal Advice for Licensed Professionals
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Student loans might get more costly Got student debt? The tax-code overhaul being proposed by the GOP would eliminate the student-loan interest deduction. That could cost you a lot more after graduation. Shameless plug: Now might be a good time to look into SoFi, our partner that can probably help you refinance and cut your interest rate. Check out SoFi.com/gpha.)
Instagram photos might reveal your mental health Apparently, if you post photos to Instagram, you’re also giving away clues to your mental health based on what filters you use on your images, according to a study out of the University of Vermont. (For you non-Instagram users, the site lets you post photos with “filters” for them, giving a variety of effects, from simple black-and-white to all sorts of colorful and funky options.) A study found that “depressed participants used fewer Instagram filters […] When these users did add a filter, they tended to choose “Inkwell,” which drains a photo of its color, making it black-and-white. The healthier users tended to prefer “Valencia,” which lightens a photo’s tint. Winter 2017 / 2018
PAGING DR. MOREAU The CRISPR* gene-editing technique looks like it’s about to get some big new tools. Put simply, CRISPR is a powerful “cut” tool for genes, but the “paste” part was left up to the DNA’s own repair tools. Not any more. The phrase to remember is “base editor” and it’s the pencil to CRISPR’s scissors. (At least that’s the analogy everyone’s using.) One team from Harvard and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute created “ABE,” a base editor that can edit DNA, while another team from the Broad Institute and MIT created “REPAIR,” which can edit RNA. The latter is notable because edits don’t affect the germline — they aren’t passed down. Obviously these new techniques are in their infancy and will only ever be used for good.
Georgia’s compounding pharmacies are experiencing closer scrutiny by state pharmacy regulators and the Food and Drug Administration.
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* Yes, we know it’s “CRISPR/Cas9.” Don’t be picky.
Mmm … bacon Speaking of CRISPR, a team of Chinese scientists have found a great use for it: They created a better, lower-fat bacon. Oh, yeah, and it also helps the pigs adapt better to colder weather, but whatever. Bacon! As one researcher put it, “This is a paper that is technologically quite important. It demonstrates a way that you can improve the welfare of animals at the same time as improving the product from those animals — the meat.” Winter 2017 / 2018
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Membership 2018: We want more! More members, that is. It’s good for Georgia pharmacy and it’s good for you — your patients, your practice, and even your bottom line. •M ore members means more clout — clout in the legislature and with regulators. •M ore members means more resources — more courses we can offer, more services we can provide. •M ore members means more connections — more professionals for you to meet and engage. GPhA is launching major acquisition initiatives to spread the word and bring in more members.
For your efforts, members of the President’s Circle receive: •P latinum: Free registration to the Georgia Pharmacy Convention or two free GPhA memberships. • Gold: Half off convention registration or one free GPhA membership • Silver: 10 percent off GPhA membership or a $25 gift card Plus all members receive recognition in Georgia Pharmacy magazine and at the Georgia Pharmacy Convention. Get more information at GPhA.org/ presidentscircle. * See details on the website
THE 100% CLUB Is every member of your pharmacy staff also a member of GPhA? Congratulations — you’re part of the 100% Club. It costs nothing to join the Club, and pharmacies that make the cut will get some major recognition. For starters: • Signage for their location — let consumers know the entire staff in invested! • Recognition on the GPhA.org website and in Georgia Pharmacy magazine • Public acknowledgement at the Georgia Pharmacy Convention • Ability to promote your membership in your own advertising and marketing If you think your location qualifies, notify your member service rep, give us a call (ask for Mary), or download the application from GPhA.org/100percent.
THE PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE Even today, word of mouth is still the most popular marketing tool. The GPhA President’s Circle recognizes the people who bring in new members to GPhA. • Recruit one to four members*, you’re a Silver member of the Circle. • Five to nine? A Gold member. • Ten or more? A Platinum member.
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DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGN With e-mail already overwhelming so many people, direct mail campaigns are making a comeback. GPhA is mailing a series of comic postcards — focused on advocacy, engagement, information, and education — to a targeted list of non-member Georgia pharmacists, encouraging them to join.
MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT One of GPhA’s most popular products is the daily GPhA Buzz e-mail newsletter. It combines important pharmacy and health information with fun and interesting health and science news. In the past, Buzz was available free to anyone, but that’s changing in January 2018 when only members will be receiving the news. The same will be true for many sections of the GPhA.org website, including back issues of Georgia Pharmacy. Pharmacist resources on topics such as immunization, MTM, MAC pricing, and more — as well as printable CE lessons and the Career Center — will also require GPhA membership.
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New GPhA Members GPhA welcomes our newest members (as of November 30, 2017). Sara Lowery; Jasper, Ga. Jessica Jones; Shellman, Ga.. Brian Taylor; Slocomb, Ala. Adam Lowney; Dallas, Ga. Laura Thomas; St. Simons Robert Atkinson; Blairsville, Ga.. Abdullah Katoot; Roswell, Ga.. Staci Mackey; Bainbridge, Ga. Amanda Khalil; Cary, N.C. Island, Ga.. Jeffrey Baggett; Calhoun, Ga.. Crystal Maher; Eastman, Ga. Laura Ko; Alpharetta, Ga.. Ella Vasquez; Metairie, La. John Bailey; Douglas, Ga.. Martin Maldonado; Kennesaw, Ga. Gregory Kosater; Braselton, Ga.. Rosa Williams; Stockbridge, Ga.. Cathy Barbree; Cohutta, Ga.. Shalanda Mathis; Valdosta, Ga. Chris Laguerre; Riverdale, Ga.. Jamie Wilson; Pelham, Ala. Jolyn Bennett; Newnan, Ga.. Amy Matz; Powder Springs, Ga. Adrian Lawrence; Evans, Ga.. Matthew Bethel; Hahira, Ga.. Technicians Christie McClellan; Keysville, Ga. Lindsay McCoy; Athens, Ga.. Lauren Bethel; Hahira, Ga.. Christina Miller; Athens, Ga. Jeneau Meadows; Eastman, Ga.. Ariel Basley; Macon, Ga. Jeff Burnette; Palmetto, Ga.. Kathleen Motley; Senoia, Ga. Mohamad Najafabadi; Duluth, Ga. Hannah Beall; Griffin, Ga. Nicole Busbin; Griffin, Ga.. Michael Birdsong; Gray, Ga. Erica Parker; Griffin, Ga. Nan Panter; Cartersville, Ga.. Brian Crabtree; Atlanta. Sara Bolden; Eastman, Ga. Leighann Patterson; Blairsville, Ga. Kelly Cravey; Hawkinsville, Ga.. Michelle Paris; Norcross, Ga.. Sally Boline; Hawkinsville, Ga. Matthew Phillips; Watkinsville, Ga. Jignesh Patel; Newnan, Ga.. Christopher Davidson; Evans, Ga.. Jamie Buice; Griffin, Ga. Larissa Pina; Atlanta Laura Peavy; Fort Valley, Ga.. Lee Davidson; Evans, Ga.. Erin Clements; McRae, Ga. Machielle Pinson; Jasper, Ga. Sarah Poole; Savannah, Ga.. Valeana Domercant; Atlanta. Dawn Cunningham; Augusta, Ga. Mary Queen; Atlanta Tim Poole; Suwanee, Ga.. Carolyn Dowda; Jasper, Ga.. Nancy Davis; Valdosta, Ga. Chelsea Redding; Valdosta, Ga. Ashley Rigby; Atlanta. Jenna Evans; Eastman, Ga.. Felesha Renfroe; Dawson, Ga. Ereny Sawirs; Palm Harbor, Fla. Misty Duggan; Ellijay, Ga. Lana Franklin; Colquitt, Ga.. Kylie Shoemaker; Acworth, Ga. Cindy Sellers; Montgomery, Ala. Lisa Frazier; Macon, Ga. Karl Fuselier; Lake Charles, La. Pharmacy Michelle Sinyard; Cordele, Ga. Barbara Shirley; Lake Park, Ga.. Christi Gibson; McDonough, Ga. Georgia Mitzi Gary; Fayetteville, Ga.. A S S O C I AT I O N Yasmin Hickman; East Point, Ga. Anne Stainer; Grantville, Ga. Samir Shwayri; Evans, Ga.. Daniel Griffis; Brunswick, Ga.. Nikita Jackson; College Park, Ga. Kristie Sullivan; McDonough, Ga. Ruth Silalahi; Ellijay, Ga.. Christopher Griner; Sylvania, Ga.. Ivy Jackson; Hawkinsville, Ga. Lawana Walker; Evans, Ga. Gary Simmons; Fairburn, Ga.. Kristine Hannifin; Pooler, Ga.. Indira Kendall; Griffin, Ga. Sandra Watts; Fort Stewart, Ga. Ashley Smith; Statesboro, Ga.. Laura Hartzog; Crestview, Fla. Donna Ledbetter; Clarkesville, Ga. Courtney Weldon; Concord, Ga. Janna Smith; Sheridan, Wyo. Harskin Hayes; Hopkins, S.C. Regina Lee; Hephzibah, Ga. Anne Worlds; Blakely, Ga. Riffat Subhani; Milton, Ga.. Ivy Helton; Navarre, Fla. Denise Leftridge; Atlanta Jessi Wright; Eastman, Ga. Kareema Sullivan; Atlanta. Anna Hendershot; Pooler, Ga..
Pharmacists
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calendar February 24 and May 26, 2018 GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher Course March 1, 2018 Future Trends for Pharmacy Technicians (CPEasy) March 8, 2018 The Technician’s Role in Supporting Chronic Care Management (CPEasy) Winter 2017 / 2018
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For details, registration, and more info visit GPhA.org/calendar.
March 15, 2018 Technicians and the High-Performing Pharmacy Team (CPEasy)
July 21, 2018 GPhA’s Practical Skills Refresher Course
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April 15, 2018 2018 AIP Spring Meeting June 21–24, 2018 2018 Georgia Pharmacy Convention
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student pharmacists Notes from Georgia’s pharmacy schools UGA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
PCOM SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
More than 250 alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends celebrated the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy’s 2017 Homecoming on October 14. Pregame festivities included tours of the expansive, state-of-the-art college; food; games; music; and much reminiscing. Alumni who celebrated significant reunion years were from the classes of 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992. A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award to Steve Purvis. A 1998 graduate of the College of Pharmacy, he became the owner of Huff’s Drug Store in Ellijay early in his career. He has since expanded his business portfolio to include sole ownership of an additional store, along with co-partnership of four other pharmacies in North Georgia.
Drug Take-Back Day Recognition. Students from the PCOM School of Pharmacy were recognized by the Snellville City Council on October 23 for their work with the Snellville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration on the National Drug Take Back Initiative. They helped keep narcotics and other prescribed medications out of the hands of children and others who may abuse unused and unwanted prescription medications. Council member Bobby Howard presented a proclamation to the students at a Snellville City Council meeting noting that as of April 2017, “more than 2,000 pounds of unwanted and/or unused prescription medication have been disposed of as part of this effort.” Seven second, third, and fourth year students were on hand to represent the PCOM students: members of the American Pharmacy Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity. Wesley Fischer, president of the Pharmacy Council, said, “Those of us in attendance were honored to be recognized by the city of Snellville for our continued efforts to eliminate excess medications within the community.” He added, “Our continued coordination with the local police force and DEA help to build a safer environment throughout the region, and being observed for these accomplishments was appreciated.” White Coat Ceremony. In other news, Dr. Chika Onyegam, a pharmacist who precepts PCOM School of Pharmacy students at the Veterans Administration, addressed the 87-member PharmD class of 2021 at the White Coat Ceremony on October 20. “Pharmacists are often cited as professionals that Americans trust the most,” she said, noting that patients want pharmacists to be humble, empathetic, kind, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and front-line educators. She called on the students to “pay attention to the patients we encounter” and to become patient advocates. Operation Diabetes Field Day. Pharmacy students have planned Operation Diabetes Field Day at George Pierce Park in Suwanee. They are working to raise money for gestational diabetes
(l-r) Kara Purvis, Steven Purvis, Dean Svein Øie, Executive Director of External Affairs Dana Strickland] Active in the pharmacy industry, Steve’s success and contributions to the pharmacy community were formally recognized when he received the Innovative Pharmacy Practice and AIP Independent Pharmacist of the Year awards from the Georgia Pharmacy Association a few years ago. “Since his graduation, Steve has continuously devoted his time and resources in support of our college and the students we serve,” said Svein Øie, dean of the UGA College of Pharmacy. “This, along with his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for his profession truly exemplify the characteristics of a distinguished alumnus.” —Mickey Y. Montevideo, Public Relations Coordinator, UGA College of Pharmacy 10 Georgia Pharmacy
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Dr. Chika Onyegam addresses PCOM’s PharmD class of 2021. education booklets and glucose tablets for patients at the Hall County Health Department Gestational Diabetes Clinic. —Jiehyun Lee, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus
MERCER UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY Mercer University College of Pharmacy students were excited to host their seventh annual Policy on Tap event on Thursday, October 26. This annual event, hosted by Mercer’s APhA-ASP and NCPA GPUR-PharmMag-HalfPgAd-fin-cmyk.pdf
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student chapters, brings together pharmacy students, faculty, and members of the Georgia Pharmacy Association. Brewing future pharmacy advocates is the cornerstone for this annual event. By engaging attendees in discussion on legislation impacting the profession of pharmacy, students see the impact and power they have when unified in a collective voice. The highlight of this year’s event, held at Monday Night Brewing’s “Garage,” was keynote speaker U.S. Congressman Doug Collins. Representative Collins serves Georgia’s 9th District and has openly fought for pharmacists’ interests on the national level. Recently, Collins sponsored the bipartisan H.R. 1316, the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, which requires pharmacy benefit managers to be more forthcoming about pharmacy reimbursement rates and provides oversight to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer funds. The evening’s events included a speech by Collins, accompanied by a letter-writing campaign focusing on pharmacy’s 2017 legislative priorities including DIR fees, provider status, pharmacy compounding, access to patients, and fair reimbursement. —Dawn Lieber Sasine, Student Pharmacist (class of 2019), Mercer University College of Pharmacy
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LeadershipGPhA
Meet the class of 2018 We’re proud to introduce the 2017–18 class of LeadershipGPhA: the Georgia Pharmacy Association’s program for up-and-coming pharmacist leaders. Through the program, 14 Georgia pharmacists — men and women who have demonstrated a desire or knack for leadership — will develop and polish those leadership skills. Over the next nine months, the participants will take part in a training curriculum that combines
MICHELLE CRUSON, BONAIRE
CHRISTOPHER GRINER, SYLVANIA
Licensing and Compliance Pharmacist, MedQuest Pharmacy Michelle hopes to gain additional skills in leadership to further the profession to a new, innovative level while she develops relationships with leaders in GPhA and throughout Georgia.
Co-owner and Manager, Ross Drug By joining LeadershipGPhA, he would like to improve upon his leadership and communication skills with both his employees and other professionals.
MANDY DAVENPORT, BROOKLET Director of Hospital Pharmacy, Emanuel Medical Center, Swainsboro (via PharmD on Demand) A member of GPhA since she began pharmacy school at UGA, she hopes to learn through LeadershipGPhA not just how to manage, but to lead in a way that inspires change and progress.
JAMIE DIAGOSTINO, ATLANTA Assistant Director of Pharmacy, ElderCare Pharmacy, Acworth By completing LeadershipGPhA, Jamie hopes to build upon her communication and leadership skills in order to foster productive work environments and to advocate for the profession.
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leadership training and project experience. They’ll take part in team-building exercises, learn how to identify their own and others’ strengths and weaknesses, work on ethical decision making, and improving their communication skills. In the end, they’ll be equipped to help shape the future of the pharmacy profession in Georgia, to help mentor other professionals, and to advance their own careers.
KEVIN HEMPE, VALDOSTA Assistant Pharmacy Manager, PruittHealth Pharmacy Services Through LeadershipGPhA, he hopes to accomplish growth in his leadership skills that would help him more effectively manage the people he works with.
CHRIS LAGUERRE, RIVERDALE District Pharmacy Coordinator, Kroger Pharmacy He hopes to become a more effective leader through LeadershipGPhA and help mold the upcoming leaders of whom he is in charge.
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DAKOTAH MALLERY, KENNESAW
IVY SIMMONS, SAVANNAH
Long Term Care Pharmacist, ElderCare Pharmacy, Acworth Through LeadershipGPhA, Dakotah hopes to further develop leadership and communication skills, and to continue to be an active member of the pharmacist community.
Director of Pharmacy, Liberty Regional Medical Center, Hinesville (via PharmD on Demand) Through LeadershipGPhA, she hopes to further develop her skills as a leader in the profession of pharmacy by participating in activities that focus on teambuilding, communication, and problem- solving strategies.
KENDRA MANIGAULT, ATLANTA Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Mercer University College of Pharmacy She would like to continue her development as a leader by participating in LeadershipGPhA.
J. LUKE RILEY, ATHENS Staff Pharmacist, Ingles Pharmacy Through LeadershipGPhA, he hopes to improve his mentorship abilities, expand and grow his strengths in pharmacy practice, and learn how to better advocate for the profession.
VALEANA DOMERCANT, ATLANTA Pharmacist in Charge, Piedmont Cancer Institute Through LeadershipGPhA, she hopes to utilize the knowledge gained to develop effective strategies to improve the healthcare of patients. She hopes to bridge the gap and encourage more pharmacists to become active in the communities they serve and advocate on behalf of the pharmacy profession.
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HEATHER STATON, LAFAYETTE Pharmacist and Co-owner, Medi-Thrift Pharmacy Through LeadershipGPhA, she hopes to accomplish a greater understanding of ways to influence the pharmacy community and become a greater advocate for pharmacy.
KAREEMA SULLIVAN, ATLANTA Staff Pharmacist, CVS Health Through the LeadershipGPhA program, she desires to strengthen her leadership and networking skills and become more engaged with GPhA.
SHIRIN ZADEH, ATLANTA Pharmacist, Kroger Pharmacy Through LeadershipGPhA she hopes to become an effective leader in pharmacy practice and be an advocate for the profession.
Georgia Pharmacy 13
legal injection
The new PDMP rules Greg Reybold, GPhA‘s vice president of public policy and association counsel, offers his perspective on issues specific to pharmacy. As a reminder, nothing in this column constitutes legal advice. If you have a legal issue or question, consult your own attorney. As you may know, in 2017 the Georgia legislature put the Department of Public Health in charge of administering the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. DPH has set the rules GREG REYBOLD for using the PDMP, and they’re now in effect. Here are answers to some of the most common questions regarding the PDMP and those new rules. When/how often do I have to upload information? Pharmacists and other dispensers must transmit prescription information electronically to the PDMP database no more than 24 hours after a Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance is dispensed. This is explicit in both the law and DPH rules. However, while not in the law, it’s important to note that DPH rules also require that a report be filed even when no scheduled prescriptions are dispensed within a 24-hour period. These are commonly referred to as ‘zero reports.’ What are the requirements for safeguarding information obtained from the PDMP? Georgia law allows for prescription information obtained from the PDMP to be included in a patient’s electronic health or medical record. Additionally, DPH rules allow prescription information obtained from the PDMP to be included in a patient’s chart. Importantly, while Georgia law limits who can
access the system and for what reasons, DPH rules require that dispensers and prescribers protect prescription information obtained from the PDMP in accordance with HIPAA and the HITECH Act — and that they follow written policies governing access to the PDMP. Finally, dispensers and prescribers authorized to access the PDMP must “review DPH Form 7207 ‘Guide To The Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Database’” and sign DPH Form 7207-A “Responsibility Statement.” (DPH will be making these forms available to dispensers and providers soon, and we’ll let you know where to find it.) Can I still delegate to technicians? Yes, according to Georgia law and DPH rules, dispensers can delegate up to two technicians per shift or rotation to access the PMDP on their behalf. Importantly, technician delegates may only access the PDMP “for the purpose of providing pharmaceutical care to a specific patient of the delegating dispenser, or to inform the delegating person or entity of a patient’s potential use, misuse, abuse, or underutilization of prescribed medication.” But before a technician can act as a delegate, you must (1) ensure the proposed delegate takes DPH’s online training course (“The Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Database: Understanding your Responsibilities”) and passes the online test with a score of at least a 70; (2) ensure he or she is instructed in your PDMP security policies; and (3) obtain a signed “Responsibility Statement” from the proposed delegate that you keep in his or her personnel file. The online training course and the “Responsibility Statement” is expected to be available from DPH by year’s end. In the meantime, DPH is requesting that dispensers hold off on delegating responsibility to access the PDMP to technicians
DO YOU HAVE AN ISSUE YOU’D LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED IN THIS COLUMN? LET US KNOW — SUBMIT IT TO GREG AT GREYBOLD@GPHA.ORG.
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until January. Finally, if you do delegate PDMP access, you must maintain records documenting “the delegate’s completion of the online PDMP training, the execution of the Responsibility Statement, the date on which each delegate was granted access to the PDMP, and the date on which the delegate’s access was terminated.”
derstand what they can and cannot do under the law. If I dispense naloxone, do I have to upload that information into the PDMP? No, naloxone is not a scheduled drug and does not have to reported to the PDMP. And we can’t say this enough: Remember that pharmacists can dispense naloxone without an individual prescription — you just need a copy of the standing order signed by DPH Commissioner J. Patrick O’Neal on hand at the pharmacy. The state worked hard on improving naloxone availability and wants pharmacies to carry it. If your pharmacy is not carrying naloxone, please consider doing so.
That’s a lot of work. Do I have to delegate to technicians? No, the law does not require that dispensers delegate to technicians. Besides, dispensers can be held legally liable for the actions of their delegates — so you should be conservative when delegating, and you should be sure that your delegates un-
Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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Use of this article, or the information it contains, does not constitute any legal advice, does NOT establish any attorney-client relationship, and does NOT create any legal duty on the part of the author or the Georgia Pharmacy Association. When making a decision that may have legal consequences, readers should consult with qualified legal counsel.
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Georgia Pharmacy 15
Coverage You Need. Service You Deserve. A Price You Can Afford.
cover story
MEDICATION THERAPY MANAGEMENT:
Why it matters
W
BY ANDREW KANTOR
e all want the same thing (for the most part), even when we disagree how to get it: We want people to be healthy. Healthy people create and produce more, they pay more taxes, they start more businesses, they buy more, they contribute more … and the fact is, sick people cost us all. That’s why affordable healthcare matters; a healthy Georgia is better for all of us. So let’s start by looking at some unhealthy numbers. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, preventable chronic disease costs Georgians 200,000 years of life each year. Those are years when people could have been working, learning, creating, shopping, playing, teaching, hiring — in short, those are 200,000 years of lost opportunities. Winter 2017 / 2018
Then there’s the cash. DPH estimates Georgia — the state itself and individuals directly — spend $40 billion dollars each year treating those preventable conditions. It’s not difficult to think of better ways to use that money: schools, police, roads, libraries. The prevalence of those conditions in Georgia is striking. Of the 50 states and D.C., Georgia ranks 17th in mortality associated to heart disease. We’re 10th in stroke, 17th in diabetes, and 8th in kidney disease. We have among the highest rates of chlamydia and syphilis. Only three states have more uninsured people. All in all, Georgia’s health is ranked among the worst in the country — 41st out of 51 (including D.C.) in the latest analysis by the United Health Foundation. It needs to change. Georgia Pharmacy 17
cover story Quick fixes, and the lack thereof There is no silver bullet to fix these issues. There’s no magic button, no simple policy change that will ripple through the landscape to instantly repair our healthcare system. What there are, are incremental fixes: ways we can change policies that will add up to the kinds of wholesale change that we clearly need. Today, Americans pay more for healthcare than any other nation on Earth, and our outcomes — what we get for that high price tag — are described as poor to fair. Whether the money comes from private insurance, government programs, or direct from our pockets, what we are paying for is, shall we say, disproportional to the outcomes we receive. That cost comes from many places, and long arguments can be had for each: Unnecessary tests. High malpractice costs. PBMs. Insurance company interference. Too little government control. Too much government control. The list goes on. For pharmacists, of course, the focus is on medication. (And again, in the U.S. we pay the highest prices in the world.) And in that area there’s at least one simple way to make people healthier and thus keep all our costs down: Make sure people take their medication, and that the medication is working. Or, put simply, medication therapy management. MTM can cover a host of practices, but its typical definition is fairly straightforward: Actively making sure a patient’s medication works. As the American Pharmacy Association defines it: Pharmacists provide medication therapy management to help patients get the best benefits from their medications by actively managing drug therapy and by identifying, preventing and resolving medication-related problems. There’s more than that, of course. MTM includes patient assessments, medication review, working with physicians on treatment plans, monitoring efficacy and safety, ensuring adherence, and of course education. And it makes a difference. Maybe not a silver-bullet difference, but a big one nevertheless. Considering that Americans spent $323 billion on prescription medication in 2016 (that’s after discounts and rebates), it makes sense that we should 18 Georgia Pharmacy
ONLY NINE STATES’ MEDICAID PROGRAMS REIMBURSE PHARMACISTS FOR MTM SERVICES. GEORGIA’S ISN’T ONE. ensure that money was, and is, spent wisely. Simply getting patients the right medication, making sure they take it, and making sure it works would go a long way to improving those numbers.
The MTM difference Diagnosing a disease is only a first step. Pharmacists are then the key to optimizing the therapy by identifying, preventing, and resolving medication-related problems. The good news: In Georgia, pharmacists are already able to provide these services. In fact, many of you already do, either through Medicare Part D, through CareSource (the Medicaid care management organization), or simply as part of good customer — and patient — service. It helps, and it’s not just us saying that. The National Governor’s Association wrote in a 2015 paper, “The Expanding Role of Pharmacists in a Transformed Health Care System”: The critical role that medication management plays in treating chronic diseases suggests that the integration of pharmacists into chronic-care delivery teams has the potential to imWinter 2017 / 2018
A sampling of studies •M edicare participants receiving pharmacist-provided MTM services with congestive heart failure, COPD, or diabetes had significantly higher rates of adherence than those not enrolled in MTM programs. • A study of medication adherence rates in Medicaid beneficiaries with congestive heart failure found increased medication adherence rates and fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits resulting in cost savings of $5,910 per year. • A study of group of Part D beneficiaries in California found that 57 percent of drug-change recommendations implemented and sustained led to $1,797 in plan savings (drug and medical) per participant. • I n Minnesota, 789 drug therapy problems were resolved through MTM and total health care expenditures were reduced by $20 per member per month. • A medication program in Connecticut saved an average of $1,123 in drug costs and $472 in medical, hospital, and emergency department charges per patient.
prove health outcomes. Studies of pharmacists providing medication therapy management (MTM) services to improve therapeutic outcomes indicate that such services can improve outcomes and reduce costs. The NGA then noted that only nine states’ Medicaid programs reimbursed pharmacists for their MTM services. With the exception of CareSource, Georgia isn’t one. The governors’ recommended that pharmacists be utilized for these MTM services — it’s good healthcare policy and good fiscal policy — “and encourage private insurers to do the same.” Indeed. On the federal level, the CMS is also in favor of pharmacist-provided MTM services. It cited a list of studies that have pointed to improved outcomes and reduced costs — and by “list” we mean more than 300 of them. They found significant health benefits and the associated savings (direct and indirect) that come with those improved outcomes. In August 2013, in a report titled “Medication Therapy Management in Chronically Ill Populations: Final Report,” the agency concluded:
MTM programs consistently and substantially improved medication adherence and quality of prescribing for important medications treating CHF, COPD, and diabetes. In fact, says CMS, for every dollar spent on MTM, the return on that investment is between $1.50 and $4.00 — maybe more. Looking at a recent study in Minnesota, it concluded that not only did patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia receiving MTM from pharmacists have significantly better outcomes, “Claims data showed that patients receiving these MTM services had much lower health expenditures, leading to cost savings of $12.15 for every $1.00 spent on the MTM program.” Not many people would turn down a 1200 percent return on investment. That’s not only cash saved in the long run, either, but also the productivity gained — and it doesn’t even take into account the ripple effects that healthier people have throughout the economy.
The pharmacist’s role It’s clear that MTM represents a significant opportunity for Georgia’s patients. It’s also an opportunity for pharmacists to improve outcomes for Georgia’s chronically ill, and for pharmacists to reduce state healthcare expenditures. And it’s a chance for the state to take advantage of this significant ROI, by reimbursing pharmacists for the value and expertise they can, do, and should provide as part of everyone’s healthcare team. “Do” is a key word here, because in many cases this is a service Georgia pharmacists already provide — but it seems both fair and right that they be compensated for it. It’s an opportunity that GPhA is working to make the Georgia Department of Community Health: the benefits of reducing the state’s healthcare costs via preventative care. The facts remain: Pharmacists remain the most accessible healthcare providers. They are trained in MTM and many are specifically certified to provide it. They can and should be a part of the solution to chronic disease in Georgia. As we enter 2018, that’s the approach we’ll be encouraging DCH to take. Stay tuned. Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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INVESTING IN PHARMPAC IS INVESTING IN YOUR PRACTICE. 2017 PHARMPAC INVESTORS The following pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students, and others have joined GPhA’s PharmPAC for the 2017 calendar year. The contribution levels are based on investment through November 15, 2017. Diamond Investors ($4,800 or $400/month)
RALPH BALCHIN Fayetteville
CHARLES BARNES Valdosta
MAC McCORD Atlanta
SCOTT MEEKS Douglas
FRED SHARPE Albany
Titanium Investors ($2,400 or $200/month)
DAVID GRAVES Macon
LON LEWIS St. Simons Island
TOMMY LINDSEY Omega
DANIEL ROYAL Tifton
DEAN STONE Metter
BRANDALL LOVVORN Bremen
David Graves, Macon, PharmPAC chairman 20 Georgia Pharmacy
Winter 2017 / 2018
Platinum Investors ($1,200 or $100/month) DENISE BENNETT BRUCE BROADRICK THOMAS BRYAN, JR. WILLIAM CAGLE HUGH CHANCY KEITH CHAPMAN WES CHAPMAN DALE COKER BILLY CONLEY BEN CRAVEY BLAKE DANIEL AL DIXON JACK DUNN ROBERT HATTON CASSIE HAYES
Silver Investors ($300 or $25/month)
Nelson Anglin Michael Azzolin Larry Braden Jack Cantrell James Carpenter David Carr Chandler Conner Michael Crooks Ernie Culpepper Ed Dozier Gregory Drake James Elrod Marshall Frost Amy Galloway Becky Hamilton Joe Holt Susan Kane Willie Latch Tracie Lunde Lynn Marshall Hillary Jack Mbadugha Bill McLeer Wallace Partridge Jignesh Patel Donald Piela, Jr Jonathan Sinyard Renee Smith Marie Tomblin Austin Tull Andy Ullrich
Winter 2017 / 2018
MARSHA KAPILOFF IRA KATZ JEFF LUREY DREW MILLER LAIRD MILLER HOUSTON ROGERS JOHN SANDLIN TIM SHORT TERESA SMITH CARL STANLEY DENNIS STRICKLAND CHRIS THURMOND DANNY TOTH ALEX TUCKER TOMMY WHITWORTH
Gold Investors ($600 or $50/month) JAMES BARTLING NICHOLAS BLAND LANCE BOLES WILLIAM BREWSTER LIZA CHAPMAN BARON CURTIS MARSHALL CURTIS MAHLON DAVIDSON SHARON DEASON BENJAMIN DUPREE KEVIN FLORENCE KERRY GRIFFIN JOHNATHAN HAMRICK MICHAEL ITEOGU STEPHANIE KIRKLAND
ASHLEY KUNKLE GEORGE LAUNIUS MACK LOWREY EUGENE MCDONALD BOBBY MOODY SHERRI MOODY SUJAL PATEL WILLIAM PRATHER GREG REYBOLD DARYL REYNOLDS ANDY ROGERS BEN ROSS JOHN SHERRER SHARON SHERRER JAMES THOMAS
Bronze Investors
Member Investors
Michael Adeleye Fred Barber Phil Barfield Claude Bates Thomas Beckham Bryce Carter David Collins Jean Cox Ray Crisp Mathew Crist Josh Greeson Douglas Hall Larry Harkleroad Phillip James Jason Jones Josh Kinsey Brenton Lake Micheal Lewis Jonathan Marquess Max Mason Terry Shaw Richard Smith Amanda Stankiewicz Randall Thorton
Michael Adams Stephen Adams Russell Adams Carmen Agnew Thomas Akins Bonnie Ali-Warren William Allen Karine Alleyne Lori Altman Robert Ault Brandon Bailey Joe Ballew Marla Banks Mark Barnes Crystal Bartlett Richard Bass Larry Batten Robert Bazemore William Bedingfield Stetson Bennett Samuel Bird Fred Bishop Duane Black Kenneth Bladen Lee Boyd Amber Brackett Ben Braddy Albert Branch Jeffery Bray Lawrence Bridges Lawrence Briggs Winston Brock Dan Brock Joe Brogdon Jesse Brown Max Brown
($150 or $12.50/month)
(up to $150)
WILLIAM TURNER CHUCK WILSON H.D. WILSON III INTEGRATGED FINANCIAL GROUP A CADEMY OF STUDENT PHARMACISTS, MERCER UNIVERSITY
Thomas Bruckner Wendy Buttrey Ron Cain Sheryl Cannington Waymon Cannon Sandra Cardell Emile Carr Earl Carter Jay Ceesay Tina Chancy Mark Click Horace Cline Henry Cobb Dawn Collier Margaret Collins-Free James Colston Paul Combs Joseph Cook Leslie Cornelison Charles Cosgrove Jean Courson Guy H Cox Merry Culberson Kim Curl Kimberly Curl Nancy Davis Suleman Daya Ken DeLay Blake Dennard Richard Dennard Stacy Dickens Ray Dixon Helen DuBiner John Dukes Sheila Dukes Bill Dunaway Annette Duncan Patrick Dunham
Georgia Pharmacy 21
2017 PHARMPAC INVESTORS Lori Harvey Hannah Head Earl Henderson John Herndon Gerald Herndon Shawn Hodges Eric Holgate William Horton Jennifer Huggins Woody Hunt Terry Hurley Iris Ivey Tara Jackson Amy Jacobs Robert Johnston Jack Jones Jami Justus Matt Kent Kenneth Kicklighter Charles King Brenda Kirkland Donald Lane Evan Lane Georgie Langford Edwin Laws Jennifer Leavy David Ledbetter Robert Ledbetter Madison Ledford Robert Lee John Leffler Stanley Lewis Randel Logue Charles Lott Gloria Machalk Andre Mackey Eddie Madden Earl Marbut Ralph Marett Shauna Markes-Wilson Teresa Marlow Joseph Marlow Mike Martin Merri Mason Cynthia Massengill Sam Massey Hewitt Matthews
Elizabeth Dunn Terry Dunn Freddie Dwozan Stephen Dyer Alton Dykes Karla Ellington Joseph Entrekin Frank Erwin James Farr Bruce Faulk Stewart Flanagin Jimmy Flanders Dena Foley Vernon Ford Robert Forehand Tricia Francetich Matthew Frazier Elbert Fricks Raymond Fulp David Gamadanis Charles Gass Julie Gay John Gee Stacey Girardeau John Glenn Samuel Goldberg James Goodson Heather Gourley Melodi Graham Charlene Granberry James Graves Laura Greene Donnie Griffin Marvin Griffin Richard Griffin Charles Grogan Kimberly Grubbs Erin Hale Robert Hall Maxwell Hancock John Hansford Rodney Harbin Roland Harbin Gloria Harbuck Buddy Harden James Harris Gerald Hartman
Roy McClendon Janie McCook Josh McCook Len McCook Charles McDuffie Herbert McGinty Mark McGregor Kathy McLeod Alfred McNair Pat McPherson Charles McWilliams James McWilliams Edward Mills Melissa Minix Brian Mitchem Joshua Morgan Stephen Morgan John Moseley David Moseley Sandy Moseley Eric Mullins William Murray Hani Mussad Clementine Nanje Linton Neal Robert Newsom Albert Nichols Charles Nicholson William Nicoletti Thomas Noles Darby Norman Debbie Nowlin Robert Oliver Ricki Oliver Brenda Owens Mi-Deok Park Carl Parker Glenn Parkman Larry Parrish Jeffery Patterson Rhett Paul Donnie Payne Walter Pease William Perry Amon Peters William Phillips Whitney Pickett
(CONTINUED)
Cynthia Piela Alex Pinkston Faith Pinnell Lee Pinnell Irvin Pinnell Michael Pitzing Thomas Porter William Posey Ali Pouryousefi Milton Powell Jeffery Prentiss Susan Preston Robert Probst Kara Purvis Reginald Pye Ofori Quarcoo Thomas Rawls Genevieve Regal Stanley Rentz Leonard Reynolds Jennifer Richardson Brian Rickard Donna Riggins Gerald Riggins David Rink Tom Roberts Kenneth L Rogers Stacey Schuessler Edward Schutter Wade Scott Bryan Scott Edgar Sego Victor Serafy Donal Sharp Nakia Shaw Nancy Sheppard Harry Shurley Michael Sims Johannes Smit Amanda Smith Roxanne Smith Tammy Sprayberry Steven Spruill Angela Stadler Carolyn Stephenson Don Stiles Walter Strange
William Tatum Richard Taylor Leonard Templeton Patricia Templeton John Thomas Archie Thompson Sonny Thurmond Tommy Tolbert Sara Traylor Mitchell Trotter David Turner Oby Uyanwune Erica Veasley David Vest Sondi Vest Lindsay Walker Robert Ward Flynn Warren Keith Webster Mitchell Weitman Lindsey Welch Michael Wells Lewis West Benjamin Wheeler Mark White Jerry White Walter White John Whitehead Jonathon Williams Joseph Williams Paula Williams Timothy Wilson William Wolfe Rogers Wood Carla Woodall Joseph Woodson Kevin Woody Earl Wright Laura Yancey Ginny Yates Kelestan Packaging, Inc P rescription Packaging Investment, LLC
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL FOR 2017! Visit GPhA.org/PharmPAC to find out more.
$129,062*
$0
GOAL: $130,000
*As of November 15, 2017
22 Georgia Pharmacy
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REACH US AT 404.231.5074 OR GPhA.ORG
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GPhA LEADERSHIP President & Chair of the Board LIZA CHAPMAN, Dawsonville liza.chapman@kroger.com President-Elect TIM SHORT, Cumming garph9@aol.com Immediate Past President LANCE BOLES, Hartwell lanceboles@hotmail.com Directors ASHISH ADVANI, Atlanta aaadvani@gmail.com WES CHAPMAN, Bishop weschapmanpc@gmail.com SHARON DEASON, Newnan sdeason99@hotmail.com AMY MILLER, Gainesville amylulapharmacy@gmail.com FRED SHARPE, Albany fsharpe@u-save-it.com JONATHAN SINYARD, Cordele sinyardj@gmail.com KEVIN FLORENCE, Athens add.drug@gmail.com CHRIS THURMOND, Athens vildrug@bellsouth.net Chief Executive Officer BOB COLEMAN bcoleman@gpha.org
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For membership questions Mary Ritchie Director of Membership Operations (404) 419-8115 mritchie@gpha.org For questions about our magazine, blog, websites, or social media Andrew Kantor Director of Communication akantor@gpha.org For questions about our educational offerings Phillip Ratliff Education Consultant (404) 426-1140 pratliff@gpha.org For questions about any of our insurance products Denis Mucha Manager — Member Services (404) 419-8120 dmucha@gpha.org For questions about governmental affairs Greg Reybold Vice President of Public Policy greybold@gpha.org For questions about the Board of Directors or GPhA governance policies Ruth Ann McGehee Executive Assistant and Governance Manager (404) 419-8173 rmcgehee@gpha.org
For operational or accounting questions: Dianne Jones Vice President of Finance & Administration (404) 419-8129 djones@gpha.org Patricia Aguilar Accounting Coordinator (404) 419-8124 paguilar@gpha.org
For assistance with independent-pharmacy issues Jeff Lurey, R.Ph. VP of Independent Pharmacy (404) 419-8103 jlurey@gpha.org For questions about your AIP membership Verouschka “V” Betancourt-Whigham Manager of AIP Member Services (404) 419-8102 vbwhigham@gpha.org AIP Member Service Representatives Rhonda Bonner (229) 854-2797 rbonner@gpha.org Charles Boone (478) 538-6425 cboone@gpha.org
GPhA’S MEMBER SERVICE PARTNERS InfiniTrak infinitrak.us Track and trace compliance software (844) 464-4641 Pharmacy Quality Commitment pqc.net Quality assurance compliance resources (866) 365-7472 Pharmacy Technician Certification Board ptcb.org (800) 363-8012 SoFi sofi.com/gpha Student-loan refinancing (855) 456-7634
Got a concern about a GPhA program or service? Want to compliment or complain? Drop a note to info@gpha.org.
Melissa Metheny (678) 485-6126 mmetheny@gpha.org Gene Smith (423) 667-7949 gsmith@gpha.org
Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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postscript
Naloxone: Be prepared Earlier in November, a pharmacist was called upon to assist a person who was found unconscious in the bathroom of the store where the pharmacy was located. A young mother LIZA CHAPMAN had accidentally overdosed on heroin while her 18-month old son was sitting unsupervised and crying uncontrollably in a grocery cart. The mother was found unresponsive with the cap of the syringe used to inject the heroin still in her mouth. The cries of the baby alerted store employees, who found the mother and informed the pharmacist on duty. She reacted quickly and administered a dose of naloxone while 9-1-1 was called. The calm composure and rapid thinking of Dr. Kate Firestine allowed one of our own to save a life. Kate had remembered the pharmacy had inventory of Narcan on the shelf specifically in case a patient, family member, friend, or first responder needed the opioid antagonist in the event of an overdose. Never did Firestine think that she would be called upon to administer the reversal agent during her normal workday. As a result of receiving two doses of naloxone (one by Firestine and one by a first-responder), the mother was revived and her life was saved. As pharmacists, we never quite know what the day ahead may hold for us, but the story of my friend and colleague, Kate Firestine, is a reminder that we must be prepared for whatever challenges and/or emergencies are thrown our way. Does the pharmacy where you work have a supply of naloxone waiting to be dispensed using the State of Georgia Standing Order for Prescription of Naloxone for Overdose Prevention? In December of 2016, Governor Nathan Deal signed an emergency order that was codified during this past legislative session. It allows pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a 24 Georgia Pharmacy
prescription, and you can download it from GPhA.org/naloxone. I ask you to take a hard look at your pharmacy practice. I know that each of us encounters patients on a daily basis who are at risk of an opioid overdose. These patients are not abusers of illegal drugs such as heroin, but everyday people who have been prescribed legal prescription substances that, if taken inappropriately or combined with other medications and/or alcohol, may put them at risk of an overdose. Why not equip your patients or the family
THINK OF DISPENSING NALOXONE THE SAME AS HAVING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON YOUR BOAT members of heroin users with a few doses of naloxone? Think of dispensing naloxone the same as having a fire extinguisher on your boat or AEDs in public places such as airports. They’re there to be readily available when someone goes into cardiac arrest. Don’t be afraid to have the tough conversations with those who are at risk, or who come in contact with those at risk of overdose. As frightening as the situation is of saving someone from an overdose, let’s not be caught off guard, but be at the ready, as Kate was, to handle the emergency. Her story of heroism inspires me as I hope it will inspire you to do the right thing and always be prepared and have naloxone available in your pharmacy. Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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Liza Chapman is GPhA’s 2017-2018 president and pharmacy clinical sales manager for Kroger’s Atlanta division. Winter 2017 / 2018
AIP MEMBERS GET IT
They get benefits They get help ✔ Help working with Medicare and Medicaid ✔ Help with audit relief ✔ Help with MAC appeals ✔ Help buying and selling a pharmacy
✔ Audit relief (AIP efforts saved members more than $320,000)
They get connections
✔ Services specifically for compounding pharmacies
✔ Connections to other independent pharmacies throughout the state
✔ Free business consultations with pharmacy experts
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✔ Access to the comprehensive AIP Pharmacy Manual, which offers extensive material about buying, selling, and managing a pharmacy — including information about regulatory issues and agencies
✔ A chance to learn and network at AIP’s fall and spring statewide meetings ✔ Access to telehealth and chronic care management resources through CriticalKey
With AIP, independent never means alone. No other state association in the country has an organization like the Georgia Pharmacy Association’s Academy of Independent Pharmacy. We are proud to represent our members and our profession! For more information, visit GPhA.org or call Verouschka Betancourt-Whigham at (404) 419-8102
Georgia Pharmacy A S S O C I AT I O N
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