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Come Experience What Others Already Know... The Insurance Trust
GREAT BENEFITS! Prescription Drug Coverage Dental and Orthodontic Benefits $500 Wellness Benefit Guaranteed Issue Term Life Insurance... up to $50,000 (no underwriting requirements)
Call or e-mail TODAY to schedule a time to discuss your health insurance needs.
Trevor Miller – Director of Insurance Services 404.419.8107 or email at tmiller@gpha.org Georgia Pharmacy Association Members Take Advantage of Premium Discounts Up to 30% on Individual Disability Insurance Have you protected your most valuable asset? Many people realize the need to insure personal belongings like cars and homes, but often they neglect to insure what provides their lifestyle and financial well-being - their income! The risk of disability exists and the financial impact of a long-term disability (90 days or more) can have a devastating impact on individuals, families and businesses. During the course of your career, you are 3½ times more likely to be injured and need disability coverage than you are to die. (Health Insurance Association of America, 2000) As a member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, you can help protect your most valuable asset and receive premium discounts up to 30% on high-quality Individual Disability Income Insurance from Principal Life Insurance Company.
For more information visit www.gphainsurance.com. * Association Program subject to state approval. Policy forms HH 750, HH 702, HH 703. This is a general summary only. Additional guidelines apply. Disability insurance has limitations and exclusions. For costs and details of coverage, contact your Principal Life financial representative.
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Departments
Georgia Gubernatorial Candidates Answer Your Questions FEATURE ARTICLES
9 10 12 14 22 28 29
Pam Marquess Installed as GPhA Second Vice President
GPhA Revised Election Process: What it Means to You GPhA Membership Goal: A Work in Progress! GPhA Member News Pharmacy School News MTM: The Promise, The Challenge
7 12 19 20 25
Pharm PAC 2010-2011 GPhA New Members Georgia Pharmacy Foundation Annual Fund
Southeastern PRN Conference New Practitioner Leadership Conference Nomination Form 31 GPhA Board of Directors
Advertisers 2 2 5 5 6 8 9 11 13 14 15 24
The Insurance Trust Principal Financial Group PharmAssist Recovery Network Melvin M. Goldstein, P.C. GPhA Career Center Logix, Inc. PTCB Ad Pharmacists Mutual Companies GPhA Workers Compensation Michael T. Tarrant DCH Job Listing Southeastern Girls of Pharamcy Leadership Weekend 26 AIP 30 Toliver & Gainer 32 The Insurance Trust
Checks in the Mail: Part D Gap Begins Closing
COLUMNS
4 8
President’s Message Editorial
For an up-to-date calendar of events, log onto
www.gpha.org. The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dale M. Coker, R.Ph., FIACP GPhA President
The Golden Handcuff and the Three-Legged Stool he GPhA Executive Committee recently attended the Southeastern Officers’ Convention in New Orleans. This is an annual event held by the National Alliance of Pharmacy Associations (NASPA), with the site rotating each year among twelve southeastern states. New Orleans is always a very interesting place to visit. The sights and sounds of Bourbon Street, the street vendors, the amateur musicians, and of course, the food, always make for a memorable experience. Concerning the title of this article, no, your Executive Vice President did NOT end up bound with golden handcuffs, standing on a three-legged stool, in some sleazy bar on Bourbon Street.
right), following are some of his pearls and my personal reflection on how they relate to GPhA:
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Effective Leadership Effective leadership is “the art of leading while appearing to be led.” Egos have to be placed aside for the good of the organization. Effective leadership requires servanthood. Just look at the most effective leader of all time, who started out with a gang of twelve men, served them and taught them how to serve. The world’s calendar was set based on the birth and death of this leader. An effective leader realizes that if the membership shines, he/she will also shine. Our Executive Vice President is fond of the saying, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Your leaders need feedback and constructive criticism to better serve our membership. This is why we survey the membership each year following the convention and why we must do a better job of gauging the pulse of the membership in the future. Williston is quick to point out that the association belongs to the membership and that is always to be remembered by the ones in a leadership role.
Another memorable experience from this trip was the presentation given by Christopher L. Williston, V., Sr. Vice President and CEO of the Texas Bankers’ Association. Mr. Williston’s message: Transforming an Organization from Good to Great. During his talk, Williston made many references to a book he had written entitled “The Association Executive’s Little Black Book: Lessons and Teachings from Two Generations of Executive Management.” The book was patterned after a book written by Harvey Pennick entitled “Harvey Pennick’s Little Red Book: Lessons and Teaching in the Game of Golf.” Having read Pennick’s book, I figured that if Williston’s was half as good, it would be worth reading, and it was.
Membership: The Golden Handcuff Williston’s advice on the never ending search for the ‘Golden Handcuff’ is to “quit trying.” I have been fortunate enough to attend the last three Southeastern Officers’ Conferences, and every year the question is asked, “What is your association’s ‘golden handcuff’ for attaining and maintaining membership?” Williston’s advice is to quit searching for that one service or program which would make it a must to belong to the organization. Instead, the focus should be on strategies that will help
In his book, Williston gave some little nuggets and pearls of wisdom from not only his own experiences, but also from those of his late father, who had been a nationally renowned association executive. Without fear of copyright infringement (Williston’s idea of copyright is to copy
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The PharmAssist Network continues to provide advocacy, intervention and assistance to the impaired practitioners, students and technicians in the state. If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please call the hotline number:
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PharmAssist Hotline Number (24 hours / 7 days a week)
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404-362-8185 (All calls are confidential)
„ 'PSNFS "ENJOJTUSBUJWF -BX +VEHF GPS UIF 0GGJDF PG 4UBUF "ENJOJTUSBUJWF )FBSJOHT identify the unique and ever changing needs of the membership. Well, your association did just that, as a diverse group from our membership has developed the framework for a five year strategic plan. This is one of the many reasons that GPhA is one of the top associations in the country. We are in the first year of the strategic plan, and your association leadership has clear directives: focus on membership and advocacy. Some of the goals for membership include an improved website, a greater emphasis on providing continuing education, allowing payment of dues and PharmPac donations through monthly credit card debits, and improved information technology such as electronic journal option. We have begun the process of achieving these and many other goals to add even more value to membership.
political process. No matter how good your relationship with a political candidate, he/she is not likely to get elected, nor re-elected, without the financial means. If you are not giving to PharmPac, I strongly encourage you to do so. We have made it much easier to give through a monthly credit card debit option. Member contributions are critical in ensuring legislative effectiveness in keeping with the mission of our organization, which is to preserve and protect the profession of pharmacy. Williston’s advice concerning a lobbyist is to hire a great one. I think we deserve a grade of A+ here. With Stuart Griffin’s leadership, coupled with the able assistance of Cindy Shepherd, we had an unprecedented year in the 2009-10 Legislature. The same principle of servant leadership applies here as in all other areas of leadership. A great lobbyist is not concerned about who gets the credit for a legislative success. Lobbying and grass roots need cohesiveness to achieve the kind of success we enjoyed this past year. Effective grass roots make the lobbyist look good and effective lobbying makes the membership look good. It’s a win-win. Our leaders will do well to always remember that effective leadership is “the art of leading with the appearance of being led.�
Advocacy: A Three-Legged Stool Williston spoke of the three-legged stool of legislative effectiveness: grassroots, money and lobbying. All the money and all the lobbying in the world can be fruitless without effective grassroot support. A price can’t be placed on the value of a personal relationship by a member with his/her elected representatives. This does not minimize the importance of money, as it is essential to the
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SUPPORTING PHARMACISTS. ADVANCING CAREERS. Find the best jobs and highly qualified pharmacists Georgia has to offer.
Members Save 20% on Job Postings Use code MEMDIS001
Career Center
www.gpha.org/jobs
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Pharm PAC Enrollment Pledge Year 2010-2011
Titanium Level
Gold Level
Bronze Level
($2400 minimum pledge)
($600 minimum pledge)
($150 minimum pledge)
Michael E. Farmer, R.Ph. Jeffrey L. Lurey, R.Ph. Robert A. Ledbetter, R.Ph. Marvin O. McCord, III, R.Ph. Judson L. Mullican, R.Ph. Mark L. Parris, Pharm.D. Fred F. Sharpe, R.Ph. Jeff Sikes, R.Ph.
Platinum Level ($1200 minimum pledge) Robert C. Bowles, Jr., R.Ph., CDM, Cfts Taylor M. Bridges, R.Ph. Bruce L. Broadrick, Sr., R.Ph. Thomas E. Bryan, Jr., B.S. William G. Cagle, Jr., R.Ph. Hugh M. Chancy, R.Ph. Dale M. Coker, R.Ph., FIACP Billy Conley J. Ashley Dukes, R.Ph. Robert M. Hatton, Pharm.D. Alan M. Jones, R.Ph. Ira Katz, R.Ph. Harold M. Kemp, Pharm.D. Brandall S. Lovvorn, Pharm.D. Eddie M. Madden, R.Ph. Jonathan G. Marquess, Pharm.D., CDE, CPT
Pam S. Marquess, Pharm.D. Scott Meeks, R.Ph. Drew Miller, R.Ph., CDM Laird Miller, R.Ph. Jay Mosley, R.Ph. Tim Short, R.Ph.
James W. Bartling, Pharm.D., ADA, CAC II Robert Cecil Liza G. Chapman, Pharm.D. Patrick M. Cook, Pharm.D. Mahlon Davidson, R.Ph., CDM Kevin Florence H. Neal Florence, R.Ph. David Gamadanis Marsha C. Kapiloff, R.Ph. J.Thomas Lindsey, R.Ph. Robert B. Moody, III, R.Ph. Sherri S. Moody, Pharm.D. Robert Anderson Rogers, R.Ph. Daniel C. Royal, Jr., R.Ph. Dean Stone, R.Ph., CDM Thomas H. Whitworth, R.Ph., CDM
Silver Level ($300 minimum pledge) Renee D. Adamson, Pharm.D. John L. Colvard, J. R.Ph. F. Al Dixon, R.Ph. Marshall L. Frost, Pharm.D. Amy S. Galloway, R.Ph. Michael O. Iteogu, Pharm.D. Willie O. Latch, R.Ph. Kenneth A. McCarthy, R.Ph. Kalen Beauchamp Porter, Pharm.D. Edward Franklin Reynolds, R.Ph. Michael T. Tarrant Brandon Ullrich Alan M. Voges, Sr., R.Ph. Flynn W. Warren, M.S., R.Ph. Oliver C. Whipple, R.Ph. Walter Alan White, R.Ph.
Mark C. Cooper, R.Ph. Monica M. Ali-Warren, R.Ph. Lance P. Boles, R.Ph., MBA James R. Brown, R.Ph. Michael A. Crooks, Pharm.D. Charles Alan Earnest, R.Ph. Stewart Flanagin, Jr., R.Ph. Amanda R. Gaddy, R.Ph. Fadeke Jafojo Allison Layne William E. Lee, R.Ph. William J. McLeer, Sr., R.Ph. Houston Lee Rogers, Jr., Pharm.D., CDM Richard Brian Smith, R.Ph. Wallace Whiten Sharon B. Zerillo, R.Ph.
Members (no minimum pledge) Jill Augustine Claude W. Bates, B.S. Chad J. Brown, R.Ph. Max C. Brown, R.Ph. Lucinda F. Burroughs, R.Ph. Waymon M. Cannon, R.Ph. Walter A. Clark, Jr., R.Ph. Jean N. Courson, R.Ph. Carleton C. Crabill, R.Ph. Alton D. Greenway, R.Ph.
Martin T. Grizzard, R.Ph. J. Clarence Jackson, Jr., R.Ph. Gina Ryan Johnson, Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE
Ashley S. London Tracie D. Lunde, Pharm.D. Ralph K. Marett, M.S. Rose Ann Pinkstaff, R.Ph. Leonard Franklin Reynolds, III, R.Ph. Victor Serafy, R.Ph. Harry A. Shurley, Jr., R.Ph. James. E. Stowe, Jr., R.Ph. William D. Whitaker, R.Ph. Jonathon A. Williams, Pharm.D. Michael R. Williams, R.Ph.
If you made a gift or pledge to Pharm PAC and your name does not appear above please, call Stuart Griffin at 404-4198118 or Ursula Hamilton at 404-419-8115. Donations made the Pharm PAC are not considered charitable donations and are not tax deductible. The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
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EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S EDITORIAL Jim Bracewell Executive Vice President / CEO
The Fifth Voice think the Georgia Pharmacy Association is the 5th Voice of Pharmacy.
Pharmacy Association.
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Can you hear the fifth voice of pharmacy? Can you hear the sound of change in pharmacy? Can you hear a new beginning for your profession? If you can, then you may be hearing the unified voice for the profession coming from GPhA.
Fifth Voice is a term with which some of you may not be familiar. But most of you are familiar with a quartet or perhaps most familiar with the concept of a Barber Shop Quartet. Snappy and entertaining, a Barber Shop Quartet is made of four individuals who are passionate about singing their own specific voice: tenor, alto, lead and bass. What is interesting is that as each individual sings their individual part, they give voice to a specific tone, pitch, and notes and the combination of those four individual voices come together and produce a fifth voice.
I want you to make time to come your GPhA Region Meeting this October. I want you to hear the message of GPhA and see if we truly are becoming the fifth voice of pharmacy. What we need is a strong voice for your profession and the only way that can happen is for you to add your voice to your future, you career and your profession.
What happens when the Georgia Pharmacy Association gives a strong voice to our varied practice settings of pharmacy like hospital, consultant, independent and chain? What happens when we come together as professionals and passionately voice the importance of the needs of our specific practice in an open and supportive forum? What happens is a new voice is born out of our collective voices and that new voice is stronger than each independent voice. That voice is stronger than any individual voices that sing alone. We, together, are stronger than our parts. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts is the basis of the concept of synergism and is the basis of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.
See you at your Region Meeting.
Is there a place for your voice in the Georgia Pharmacy Association? Yes, there is if you care about your profession, if you care about your patients, if you care about improving your practice, if you want to get to know professional pharmacists that feel the same way. Then yes, there is a membership place for you in the Georgia
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FEATURED ARTICLE
Pam Marquess Installed as GPhA Second Vice President
ith the election of Pamala Marquess, Pharm.D., as Second Vice President of the Georgia Pharmacy Association on August 28, 2010, the GPhA Board of Directors for 2010-2011 met for the first time on August 29, 2010, and agreed that their focus would be membership and advocacy.
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Pam will serve as Second Vice President for 2010-2011, and pending her election to First Vice President in 2011 she will remain on the GPhA Executive Committee for a total of Five Years. Jim Bracewell, GPhA EVP/CEO said, “It has been an honor to work with Pam in various capacities within GPhA. I look forward to working with her during her time on the Executive Committee, and to help her achieve her goals for GPhA during her tenure.”
The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
Pam is the co-owner, with Jonathan G. Marquess, Pharm.D., CDE, CPT, of three community Pharmacies in the metro Atlanta area. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She has completed Certificate Training in Immunizations, Diabetes, Asthma and Diabetic Shoe Fitter. She presents continuing pahrmacy education programs nationally on diabetes, Medication Therapy Management and workflow issues in pharmacy. She is a trained national media advisor for the American Pharmacists Association(APhA) and a media ambassador for the National Community Pharmacists Association(NCPA).
Pharmacists Association. She has served on the GPhA Board of Directors and the GPhA audit committee. Currently, she serves as AIP Secretary and on the GPhA Convention Planning Committee. Nationally, she serves on the NCPA Communications Committee. Marquess’s GPhA recognitions include the Innovative Pharmacist Award, Mal T. Anderson Outstanding Region President Award, Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award and AIP Pharmacist of the Year.
She is a past President of GPhA Region 7 and Cobb County 9
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GPhA NEWS
GPhA Revised Election Process: What it means to you. lections were used as early in history as ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and throughout the medieval period to select rulers such as the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope. Today’s modern "election," which consists of public elections of government officials, didn't emerge until the beginning of the 17th century when the idea of representative government took hold in North America and Europe. Well, the Georgia Pharmacy Association election process is not as old as any of the above comments represent, but with today’s electronic age our paper ballot mailing to voters who must then re-mail to a special post office box for security and storage and later counting, our election process is one of the most singularly expensive projects each year in your association budget.
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March 20, 2011 The Georgia Pharmacy Association Nominating Committee will submit their selections for candidates for GPhA First Vice President and Second Vice President to the GPhA membership. Any GPhA member who would like to be a candidate for First or Second Vice President and is not among those presented by the GPhA Nominating Committee, may petition to have their name included on the ballot or these offices. The petition requires the signature of at least twenty active members of the Georgia Pharmacy Association for the candidate to be certified by the GPhA Executive Vice President as a candidate via petition. This will allow candidates the opportunity to reach out to the membership during the spring Region Meetings.
Last year at the annual meeting the membership voted to amend the bylaws to allow for electronic voting via the internet.
April 19, 2011 Noon on this is the last day in which a candidate not presented by the GPhA Nominating Committee, can petition GPhA to be on the ballot as a candidate for office.
Why did we make they make this change? 1. It will save many membership dollars. 2. It will save many hours of staff time. 3. It will save many hours of members’ time. 4. It should improve participation in the election process. 5. It will be timely so the new officers can be installed in office and the association will not have to go without two of its officers for two months. 6. It will allow the newly elected officers to participate in the planning for the next year. 7. The newly elected officers will serve a full year rather than only ten months.
May 4, 2011 On this day voting via the internet will open. Any member of GPhA not wishing to vote via the internet may request from GPhA via phone, mail or email a paper ballot for voting. All paper ballots must be returned to the special GPhA Post Office Box and be post marked no later than midnight June 10, 2011, in order to allow for pick up, ballot security and counting. June 20, 2011 At noon on this date the electronic ballot via the internet will be closed and no other votes accepted. This will allow the candidates several days at the annual meeting to reach out to members who will be allowed to vote via the internet at the convention. An electronic tally will be provided via the Teller’s Committee and the results announced to the GPhA Board of Directors.
How will the new process work? Important Dates of the Election for 2011 February 15, 2011 The Georgia Pharmacy Association Nominating Committee made up of the twelve Region Presidents and the GPhA President will meet to consider nominations from the membership.
The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
The newly elected officers of GPhA will installed at the Annual Meeting and Convention.
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October 2010
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Trust T rust Leader tthe he L eader For the past ce century, entury, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company ompany has been committed c to providing qua lity products and ser rvice with this mission: n: To help our customers mers attain quality service ÀQDQFLDO SHDF FH RI PLQG 2XU true mutual spirit RI SXWWL LQJ SROLF\RZQHUV ÀUV W UHPDLQV ÀQDQFLDO SHDFH RI PLQG 2XU true spirit RI SXWWLQJ SROLF\RZQHUV ÀUVW UHPDLQV VWHDGIDVW W GI W 3 KDU P DFL VW V 0X W X DO L V G H G L FDWH G WR V X S S RUW L Q J W K H S KD UP DF\ S U RIHV VL RQ ,Q WK H 3KDUPDFLVWV 0XWXDO LV GHGLFDWHG WR VXSSRUWLQJ WKH SKDUPDF\ SURIHVVLRQ ,Q WKH llast ast d ecade, w eh ave c ont r i b u te d over over $1 $1 million mi ll i on toward t owar d pharmacy p ha rm acy initiatives initiatives decade, we have contributed D Q G V X S S RU W 2X U NQ RZO HG J H RI W KH L Q G X V WU \ D QG RX U FRP PL W PHQ W W R W K H DQG VXSSRUW 2XU NQRZOHGJH RI WKH LQGXVWU\ DQG RXU FRPPLWPHQW WR WKH SKDUPDF\ SURIHVVLRQ KDV HDUQHG XV WKH HQGRUVHPHQW RI PDQ\ VWDWH DQG QDWLRQDO S KDU PD F\ S U RI HV VL RQ KDV HD UQ HG X V WK H HQ G RU VHP HQ W RI PD Q\ VW D WH DQ G Q DW LR Q DO D VVRFLDWLRQV * DVVRFLDWLRQV -RLQ WKH WKRXVD -RLQ WKH WKRXVDQGV RI SROLF\KROGHUV ZKR WUXVW 3KDUPDFLVWV 0XWXDO the DQGV RI SROLF\KROGH UV ZKR WUXVW 3KDUPD FLVWV 0XWXDO the lea leader der in SURYLGLQJ LQVXUDQFH DQG ÀQDQFLDO VHUYLFHV GHVLJQHG VSHFLÀFDOO\ IRU WKH SKDUPDF\ SURYLGLQJ LQVXU UDQFH DQG ÀQDQFLDO VHUYLFHV GHVLJQHG V SHFLÀFDOO\ IRU WKH SK KDUPDF\ SURIHVVLRQ
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GPHA MEMBER NEWS
Welcome to GPhA! The following is a list of new members who have joined Georgia’s premier professional pharmacy association! Peter Adair, Pembroke William C. Anthony, Pharm.D., Mongomery, AL Luther Harold Beck, Sr. R.Ph., Commerce Donna Bellamy, Centerville Whitley Bellew, Elberton Demetrice Lashelle Browning, CPhT, Covington Anthony Drew Carlisle, Pharm.D., Opelika, AL Hannah Carsillo, Kennesaw Rika Cooley, Ladson, SC Mary Hereford Cooper, Pharm.D., Decatur Leslie Reynolds DeMent, R.Ph., Athens Laura A. Duran, R.Ph., Alma Uyen Francis, Duluth Angela Given, Nicholls Christopher Ryan Gurley, Pharm.D., Jefferson Marti Harris, CPhT, Elberton Lori H. Harvey, Pharm.D., Griffin Timothy L. Hattaway, R.Ph., Kathleen Amanda Kay Howard, McDonough Tanya Hutchens, CPhT, Kennesaw
Charles Jensen, Savannah Tracie Johnson, CPhT, Elberton Perry Scott Jones, Pharm.D., West Point Daniel J. Kiser, R.Ph., Perry Lisa S. Kiser, R.Ph., Perry Daniel Loffredo, Savannah Trenton S. McDaniel, Cochran Amanda K. Mulherin, Pharm.D., Savannah Eric Northcutt, Savannah Nina Grace Patterson, CPhT, Dallas Angela H. Powell, Pharm.D., Gray Essena Howell Souter, Montezuma Christo N. Stevens, Pharm.D., Canton Ashley LaShay Stubblefield, Lafayette, TN Susan Thomas, R.Ph., Smyrna Travis Waldrep, Pooler Eleanor Mary Walker, R.Ph., Athens
If you or someone you know wishes to join the Georgia Pharmacy Association you need only visit www.gpha.org and click “Join” at the top of the page. You can pay by credit card and your membership begins immediately. If you have any questions please call Kelly McLendon at 404-419-8116.
GPhA Membership Goal: A Work in Progress! n January of 2010 the GPhA Board of Directors set a membership of goal of a 20 percent increase in pharmacist membership by 2015. That is a net increase of 300 member pharmacists by 2015. This breaks down to 60 new pharmacist members net per year.
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On the day this plan was inacted the membership total was 1519. An increase of 300 members would mean The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
that the total we are shooting for is 1819. On October 7, 2010, the total number of pharmacist members is 1558. That means we only need 261 new pharmacists to reach our goal. This is great! We have added a net of 40 new pharmacist members so far. Let’s meet the goal ahead of schedule! If you know of a non-member who would like to become a member they 12
can become a member online by going to www.gpha.org, or, if they would perfer, they can call Kelly McLendon at 404-419-8116. She can sign them up over the phone or fax them a paper application. With all new member benefits expected throughout the year this is a great time to become a GPhA member.
October 2010
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GPHA MEMBER NEWS
Board of Certification/Accreditation International Expnds Board by Four
Questioning the wisdom of your financial plan? If so, this ad entitles ou y to:
he Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC) has expanded, adding four new directors effective immediately. All four seats were filled as appointment, according to BOC Board of Directors chairwoman Sharon Nichelson, CMF, COF. The new Board members are:
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• Mark L. Parris, Pharm.D., COF, who practices in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and has been a BOC certificant since 2003; • Robbin Wright, BOCP, of Yazoo City, Missouri, who earned certification in 2000; • Jeff Hedges of R.J. Hedges & Associates, New Florence, PA; and • William J. Powers, a retired military Medical Service Corps officer and a retired non-profit healthcare executive residing in Midlothian, VA. The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
Bill is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Parris is President and CEO of Parris Pharmacy and Parris Medical Services, both located in Blue Ridge, Georgia. After earning his bachelor's degree in biology, he studied at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, and his special concentrations include working with patients who have asthma, diabetes, and/or high blood pressure, as well as patients who need orthotics. He is a member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and the National Community Pharmacists Association, and a past Board member of the Georgia Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Independent Pharmacies, the Academy of Compounding Pharmacies, and Fannin Regional Hospital.
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A cup of coffee, and a second opinion. You’re welcome to scheduleme a ti to com e in or talk via conference call about your financialoals g and what your portfolio is inte nded to do for you and your family. I’ll review it withyou and give you my opinion – withoutobligati on. Either way , the coffee is one.m
Michael T. Tarrant Financial Net work Associates 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite N307 Atlanta,GA 30338 • 7703502455 mike@fnaplanne rs.com www.fnaplanners .com i An Independe nt Financial Planner ince s 1992 Focusing on Pharmacy since002 2 i Securities,ertain c ad visory service s and insurance product s are offered through INVEST Financial Corporation (INVEST), memberFINRA/SIPC, a federally registered Investment Adviser,and affiliated insurance agencies. INVEST is not affiliated with Fin ancial Network Associate s, Inc. Other advisory services may be offered through Financial N etworkAssociates, Inc., a registerednvest i ment adviser.
October 2010
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Department of Community Health JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Agency Overview
The Georgia Department of Community Health has an exciting opportunity in its Medicaid Division for an experienced Pharmacist seeking a new challenge. DCH strives to provide access to affordable, quality health care in our communities; encourage responsible health planning and use of health care resources; and promotes healthy behaviors and improved health outcomes. Position Information
Job Title: Manager of Pharmacy Operations
Division/Unit: Medicaid / Pharmacy Services
Overall responsibility and management of the pharmacy network operations, communications, maintenance and updates to the Georgia Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) listing, and the Pharmacy Policy Manual. -Performs liaison functions to PBM and pharmacy providers. Ensures drug file and updates are consistent with contractual terms and meet reimbursement standards and deployment timelines. -Prepares and oversees updates to the State Plan and Pharmacy Manual. Ensures update submissions are accurate and meet posting deadlines. -Monitor, identify and support program integrity, fraud and abuse efforts. Coordinates efforts across internal and external sources. Provides updates and report actions at least monthly to the Director of Pharmacy. -Effectively seizes opportunities to coach and mentor direct reports and pharmacy interns. -Proactively identifies ways to contribute to the state's goals and mission; achieves results through independent initiative, identifies and takes action to address problems and opportunities. -Serves as a first line resource for pharmaceutical vendors for clinical review and PA inquires. Coordinates and schedules meetings with key stakeholders when appropriate. Ensures closure and timely resolution of industry and provider inquires within Departmental guidelines. -Accurately reports at least quarterly to the Director; utilization and cost trends with recommendations in supporting savings, and/or disease improvement. Requires: Current Georgia license to practice pharmacy and five years of professional pharmacy experience. Technical Competencies: -Knowledge of the principles and practices of professional pharmacy and clinical therapeutics -Skill in researching pharmacology literature to determine optimal treatment -Ability to design the optimal drug therapy for prescriptions -Proficiency in MS Office suite of products (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access) -Knowledge of federal and state accrediting organization requirements. -Knowledge of drug audit and program review Applying for this job
Interested applicants should e-mail their resume to dchrecruiter@dch.ga.gov for immediate consideration. Benefits
Anticipated salary between $80,000 - $85,000; additionally we offer a generous benefits package that includes a flexible schedule, employee retirement plan, deferred compensation, 12 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, dental, vision, long term care, and life insurance.
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COVER STORY
Georgia Gubernatorial Candidates Answer Your Pharmacy Questions
Candidates for Governor in the State of Georgia Roy Barnes - Democrat (right) and Nathan Deal - Republican (left) took the time to answer the questions that affect pharmacy most. THE GEORGIA PHARMACY JOURNAL has provided the questions and the candiates provide their answers. The order the answers are listed after the question is alphabetical. Neither candidate had the opportunity to preview their opponents answers. “Most Favored Nations� policy is a federal initiative to ensure that States have the ability to purchase drugs at the lowest cost that a provider offers to the public. Georgia may be the only state that interprets that policy to include the cost of dispensing as well as the drug cost. Dispensing is a labor intensive process to assure proper medications are dispensed as prescribed and to avoid drug interactions and to ensure that proper counseling is provided at the level the patient requires.
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(Barnes) Yes. Medication should be properly dispensed and Georgia should ensure that patients are educated on interactions and side effects at the time they receive prescribed drugs.
As Governor, would you have the Department of Community Health consider a Most Favored Nations policy to apply only to the cost of the drug product and allow the dispensing reimbursement to be adjusted to reflect a fair reimbursement based on an independent survey of true costs for that community?
(Deal) I fully support ensuring fair dispensing fees are in place that cover the cost associated with the service that pharmacists provide. As the former chairman and ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, I introduced legislation and offered amendments to major bills at the federal level to provide a $6 minimum dispensing fee for prescriptions reimbursed through the Medicaid program. I also support increasing availability and utilization of generic pharmaceuticals where possible to provide the most
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enforcement of this legislation and the regulations that will be required to apply the law in Georgia?
cost-effective care to patients in need of these drugs. As governor, I will work with members of the pharmacy community and the Department of Community Health to ensure pharmacists continue to be able to provide services through fair reimbursement that acknowledges the value they add to patient care.
(Barnes) Yes. Accountability and industry standards should be upheld in the new Pharmacy Benefits Managers licensing law, and I will work with the Department of Insurance to ensure the law is implemented smoothly and efficiently – with the best interest of Georgia’s patients in mind.
2. Currently pharmacists face serious concerns about the quality of healthcare due to Pharmacy Benefit Managers, policies that have dramatically affected the quality of the care for our patients. The issue involves exclusive contracts removing the patient from the community pharmacy into mandatory mail order prescriptions from the PBM owned pharmacy in another state. This is with little price transparency to the patient or the employer.
(Deal) Transparency in healthcare administration is essential to ensure patients receive the care they need and have information readily available to make the best decisions with regard to their individual care. As governor, I will work to support the intent of SB 310 to ensure patient access to needed therapies in addition to the promotion of generic utilization where possible.
When elected, what efforts will you make to keep the patient care in the community and provide patients the opportunity to fill their prescriptions in Georgia and in their local community?
4. The State of Georgia placed most of its Medicaid program under managed care a few years ago. Do you believe this has saved the state of Georgia money and do you feel it has improved healthcare for the Medicaid population? Many states that have gone to managed care organizations (CMOs) have carved their prescription drug benefit out in order for the state to retain the huge millions of dollars in rebates from the drug manufacturers. What role will your administration have for the use of CMOs and would you consider a prescription drug benefit carve out?
(Barnes) Yes. Keeping patient care in our community is not only beneficial for patients but it supports local businesses and keeps patients’ dollars in Georgia’s communities. (Deal) As governor, I will work to ensure patients maintain access to their local pharmacy and are not forced to purchase drugs through mail order. Mail order may be an appropriate mechanism for some patients who choose to utilize this option, but it should not be mandated for all patients. Medication Therapy Management is an essential component of quality patient care, and in many cases, comprehensive prescription management is best achieved in a local pharmacy with one-on-one interaction between the patient and pharmacist. We should also encourage prescription dollars are remaining in our state, an important part of helping Georgia’s pharmacies prosper and to remain able to provide services in their community.
(Barnes) I think there should be a wholesale review of the CMO program. I will also consider a carve out.
3. In the 2010 legislative session, Senate Bill -310 requiring Pharmacy Benefits Managers to be licensed under the Department of Insurance was passed.
(Deal) CMOs have helped to bend the cost curve in our state Medicaid program and have helped ensure patients are receiving preventative care for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, that have reduced the occurrence of avoidable healthcare costs through condition management. As governor, I will closely evaluate the potential costs and benefits of removing pharmacy benefits from the CMO structure and will work with the General Assembly, the pharmacy community, CMOs, patients and providers to ensure Georgia’s Medicaid program is providing the best care possible in the most cost-effective manner.
The law becomes effective January 15, 2011. As Governor, how will you support the Department of Insurance’s
5. Pharmacists are healthcare’s most accessible provider being readily available in most communities seven days a
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week and often twenty four hours a day, but pharmacy is perhaps the least represented of all healthcare professions on state commissions and boards that address the health policies for Georgia citizens.
our boards and commissions. (Deal) Pharmacists are the tip of the spear in healthcare delivery who serve on the front line of patient care and therapy management. They provide a critical service in the continuum of care and are integral to improving quality and reducing the cost of healthcare in our state. I have always maintained an open door policy during my time in public service, and as governor, I will continue to work closely with stakeholders on any policy decisions I make. I have had a great opportunity as a former leader on healthcare in Congress to work with members of the pharmacy community and I have developed a deep understanding of the issues pharmacists face on a daily basis. I will take this experience to the governor’s office to serve as an ally to the pharmacy profession to advance our common goal of improving healthcare and the well-being of the citizens of Georgia.
What would you do as governor to see that pharmacy is represented in the policy making process for health care in your administration? (Barnes) During my term as governor, I ensured that Georgia’s boards and commissions were representative of our state. That’s why I appointed a record number of females - moving Georgia from 48th to 19th in the ranking of states with women in leadership roles. I also made sure that issue experts were appointed to complementary boards and commissions. I’ll continue to ensure that Georgia’s brightest minds from the medical community – including pharmacists - are given leadership roles on
World War II Veteran and GPhA Member, Oliver Littlejohn, R.Ph., Honored for Role in French Battle s a soldier in World War II, Sandy Springs resident Oliver Littlejohn stumbled upon a German cave filled with stolen artwork from the Louvre Museum. That day, he wore what he surmised was the crown of Charlemagne.
was 18 when he enrolled.
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Littlejohn comes from a family of veterans. His father lost his right arm and earned a Silver Star during World War I. His grandfather, just 15 at the time, was a drummer who marched with Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and the Union troops during the Civil War. Littlejohn’s great grandfather was a Confederate soldier and his great, great grandfather fought in the War of 1812.
Now 65 years later, Littlejohn is about to wear France’s highest honor, the National Order of the Legion of Honor. The Consul General of France in Atlanta, Pascal Le Deunff, will knight Littlejohn and three other veterans Sept. 1 at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins. Napoleon Bonaparte founded the National Order of theLegion of Honor in 1802. About 1,000 American WWII veterans have received the honor since 2004, Collobert said. Littlejohn is receiving the designation for his role in liberating the French town of Wolfgantzen from German occupation in 1945.
After the battle in France, Littlejohn continued to fight in Holland and Germany. He was discharged, after a tour of Europe, on Jan. 1, 1946. He went back to school for chemistry and pharmacology and earned his doctorate.
A native of Cowpens, S.C., Littlejohn and his brother abandoned their jobs as shipbuilders in Charleston and voluntarily joined the U.S. Army. “I was never classified and no way were they going to draft me,” said Littlejohn, who
He spent 27 years as dean of Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Littlejohn retired at 62 but still lectures each Thursday at Mercer. He and his wife of 63 years, Beverly, have two adult children and two grandkids.
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GEORGIA PHARMACY FOUNDATION ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN The Georgi a Pharm acy Foundat ion begantsi 9th Annual Giving Campaign on September 1st . Since 2002, he t Foundat ion’s Annual Giving Campaigns have raised more than $102,000. Thank you to everyone who has made a difference with their gift. Each year, these resources make it possible for the Foundation to: x x x x
Provide financial aid through schol arships to deservi ng Georgi a studentpharm acists Provide training for futurermacy pha leaders through our New actitioner Pr Leadership Conference Help with the funding of the Southeastern PRN Program Provide cont inuing educat ion program s for pharm acists and pharm acytechnicians
By giving to the Annual Campaign you are contributing to the continuity of the pharmacy profession, in turn strengthening the future of pharm acy. These gifts are vitallyportant im to the continued success of the Foundationbecause they offer the flexibility toupport s emerging opportunities and et unm needs when often no other source of funding is availa ble. Acknowledging the difference that pharm acy has m ade in your life will ensure that theession prof rem ains the place where thinkers becom e leaders. If you have not yet made your taxdeductible* gift for the currentcampaign, please do sooday t . Your support, at any level, is impor tant. It will ha ve an impa ct! Remember, many com panies will m atch your cont ribution, doubling or even tripling the value of your gift! The success of our fundrai sing depends on donat ions and grant s from foundat ions, governm ent, corporat ions, and a mny generous individuals.ontributions C are acknowledged with a Charitable tionDona receiptfor tax purposes, nam es will appear on our website and will be listed in the GPhA Journal. Checks should be made payable to the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation. We also welcome Visa, MasterCard, Am erican Expre ss and Di scover. Donat ions can so al be m ade via our websi te at www.gpha.or g. (*As provi ded bylaw)
Giving back is the best way to keep our profession going forward! Yes! I want to help support the good work of the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation by contributing to the 9th Annual Giving Campaign with my pledge of: [ ] President’s Circle = $5,000 or more [ ] Gold Partner = $500 $999 [ ] Partner = $____ $99
[ ] Eagle = $2,500 $4,999 [ ] Silver Partner = $250 $499
[ ] Centurion = $1,000 $2,499 [ ] Bro nze Pa rtner = $100 $249
Name (Please Print): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company (if applicable) : ______________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________________________ ST _________ Zip _________________ Telephone: (_____) ___________________ Email: __________________________________________________________ [ ] Please check here f you i preferotbe ilsted as an Anony mous cont ributor.
Please specify if you would like to ake m your donation a gift. If so, please provide e and nam address of where ou ywould like the In Mem ory/Honor gift card to be sent: (Please Print) [ ] In Memory of _______________________________________________________________________________ [ ] In Honor of _________________________________________________________________________________ Send not ification to: __________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________
* * * * * * * * * * DON’T FORGET, you can make your gift online at WWW.GPHA.ORG
click on th e Georgia Pharmacy Foundation logo on the front page.
[ ] Enclosed is my check pay able to Georgia Pharmacy Foundation for $__________OR [ ] Bill my credit card for $____________ (If you preferto payby installm ents,please indicate which one: Monthly [ ] or [ ] Quarterly. A separate form will be sent to you for com pletion.) (Please circlene: o AmEx Visa M/C Disc.)Card #:_____________________________________________ Security#: (If name on credit card and the billing address are different omfrabove, please provide that inform ation too)
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Exp.Date: _____
Signature: _______________________________________________________________________Today’s Date: __________________
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November 12-14, 2010 Simpsonwood Conference Center
Please Register By OCTOBER 15th Attendee List has to be provided to Simpsonwood.
Norcross, GA
Registration Form Pharm.D.___; R.Ph.___;
Name:____________________________________________________________ Student___; Tech___; Other_______________ And/Or Title: _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________ Please help us maintain our mailing list. If you have attended previous SE PRN Conferences and have since moved, check here if this is a new address. [ ] Is the following Home [ ] or Business [ ]?
If Business, Name of Company/Organization: ______________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State:________ Zip:___________________ Telephone: (Office)____________________ (Home)____________________ (Cell) _____________________ E-Mail:_________________________________________ FAX:______________________________ Mail Your Registration with Check / Money Order to: Georgia Pharmacy Foundation / SE PRN Conference Attention: Regena Banks 50 Lenox Pointe, NE Atlanta, GA 30324
Register on-line at: www.gpha.org, click on Other Programs, Georgia Pharmacy Foundation, SE PRN Conference Or you may FAX your Registration to: 404-364-5021, Attention Regena Banks
Payment Information: Conference Registration, CPE, Meals and Hotel fees are all inclusive for those requiring overnight lodging. Fees are listed on the back of this form. There are benefits to registering early and rooming with a friend. Rates for Pharmacists, Students and Technicians include conference registration, lodging for 2 nights, all meals at Rollins Dining Room and breaks. Rates are per person. [ ] R.Ph.—How many in room: ___ = $______
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Day Rates for Pharmacists, Students and Technicians who do not need overnight lodging include a 2 day conference registration, CPE, 4 meals (2 Saturday & 2 Sunday) and breaks. [ ] Day Rate: Pharmacist $______ *
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[ ] Spouse/Guest for Weekend—This includes meals and lodging only, No CPE ($250): [ ] Spouse/Guest for Weekend—Lodging ONLY, No CPE or meals ($150): Spouse/Guest Name: _______________________________________________ *
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[ ] CHECK / MONEY ORDER — Enclosed in the Amount of: $ __________ [ ] PLEASE CHARGE THE FOLLOWING CREDIT CARD (circle one): MasterCard VISA Discover AMEX
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(Please provide billing address if not same as above)
Please make payable to Georgia Pharmacy Foundation / SE PRN
Amount to be Charged: $___________
Credit Card #: _______________________________________________________ Security #: _______
Exp. Date: __________
Cardholder Signature: ____________________________________________________________________________ Today’s Date: _________ Credit Card Billing Address _______________________________________________________________________________ (If different from above)
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2010 SOUTHEASTERN PRN CONFERENCE REGISTRATION Please Register By AND
PRICING INFORMATION How to Register:
OCTOBER 15th Attendee List has to be provided to Simpsonwood.
*** BE SURE TO REGISTER EARLY! ***
On-Line: WWW.GPHA.ORG, click on Other Programs, Georgia Pharmacy Foundation, SE PRN Conference FAX your registration to 404-364-5021, Attention: Regena Banks. Credit Card information is required for faxed registrations.
By FAX
By Mail: Forward the completed Registration Form (see reverse side) along with payment to: GA Pharmacy Foundation; SE PRN Conference 50 Lenox Pointe, NE Atlanta, GA 30324
Registration Fees: Rates for Pharmacists: This includes registration, CPE, lodging for 2 nights, all meals and breaks. Rates are per person. # in room On or Before 10/1 After 10/1 1 2 3 4
$325 $250 per person $225 per person $210 per person
$350 $275 $250 $235
Rates for Students and Technicians: This includes registration, lodging for 2 nights, all meals and breaks, CPE for Technicians, and a Certificate of Achievement for Students. Rates are per person. # in room On or Before 10/1 After 10/1 1 2 3 4
$275 $220 per person $205 per person $190 per person
$300 $245 $230 $215
Day Rates: This includes a two-day registration, CPE, 4 meals (2 Saturday & 2 Sunday) and breaks. Pharmacists Students/Technicians
On or Before 10/1
After 10/1
$150 $100
$175 $125
Spouse/Guest Rate for Weekend: This includes all meals and lodging only; No CPE: $250.00 Spouse/Guest Rate for Lodging ONLY for Weekend, NO meals or CPE included: $150.00
*** REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE GPhF OFFICE ON OR BEFORE 10/1/10 TO QUALIFY FOR EARLY REGISTRATION. *** Cancellations/Refunds: Cancelled registrations are subject to a $25.00 administrative fee. Registrations not cancelled by October 15, 2010 are subject to the full registration fee. Once Rooming List is submitted to Simpsonwood they will not allow us to cancel rooms. Substitutions within an organization may be arranged. Cancellation requests must be made in writing and sent to the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation.
Questions? Contact Regena Banks at Georgia Pharmacy Foundation: 404-419-8121 (direct #) 404-364-5021 (Fax #) or email rbanks@gpha.org
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PHARMACY SCHOOL NEWS
Coca Cola Enterprises Donates Antique Soda Fountain to UGA College of Pharmacy he University of Georgia College of Pharmacy is the proud recipient of a historic soda fountain donated by Coca-Cola Enterprises. The 1907 soda fountain, manufactured by Liquid Carbonic Company, is valued at $15,000.
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Featuring a mirrored frame and marble counter tops and dispensing unit, the massive oak fountain has 13 flavoring dispensers. It was operational for many years at the Brightwell Store in Maxeys, Georgia, before eventually moving to Coca-Cola Enterprises in Atlanta. The soda fountain now has a new home in the College of Pharmacy’s Alumni Suite, which was recently dedicated as part of the Pharmacy South Building project and renovations to the Robert C. Wilson Pharmacy Building.
Pictured in the photo from left are Joe Cunningham, Dana Strickland, Svein Øie, Laura Brightwell and her son, and Bill Douglas.
colleagues at Coca-Cola Enterprises, Bill Douglas, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Joe Cunningham, Coca Cola Facilities Manager in Athens, officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with Svein Øie, Dean of the College, and Dana Strickland, Director of Development.
Laura Brightwell, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at Coca-Cola Enterprises, is a descendent of the Maxeys Brightwell family. She and her
Beth Phillips Named Residency Preceptor of the Year eth Phillips, clinical associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, has been named Residency Preceptor of the Year by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).
experiences for her residents that are now integral to all of our training programs in the College.”
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In addition to being evaluated on sustained significant contributions to residency training, Phillips was judged on her lead-by-example teaching philosophy, continuing mentorship, leadership and active participation in research, education and service. The majority of her peerreviewed publications are with current and former residents.
Phillips is director of the College’s post-graduate year-2 (PGY-2) ambulatory care residency program, which she developed in 2008 in collaboration with the Charlie Norwood Veteran’s Affairs Department of Pharmacy and Ambulatory Care. Residents are primarily located at the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Athens. During her 14-year career she has also developed two other residency programs and has trained more than 50 PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents.
Phillips is also an ASHP faculty member for the national ASHP Residency Learning System Workshops and an ASHP specialty surveyor for ambulatory care program accreditation. She maintains an active clinical practice at the VA Community Outpatient Clinic and helps improve health and outcomes of patients referred to the pharmacotherapy clinic that she developed for veterans. Phillips will receive her award at the Pharmacy Residency Excellence Awards reception during the national ASHP Mid-year Clinical Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., on December 4, 2010.
In his letter of recommendation for her award, Associate Dean George Francisco stated, “Dr. Phillips fosters excellence in every facet of residency training both at UGA and nationally. First, she is a clinical role model and mentor to all her residents....Second, she has and continues to develop new preceptors and practice The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
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GPHA MEMBER NEWS
UGA Faculty Members Make Contributions to School and Community clinic at the National Residency Preceptor Conference in Washington, D.C. in August 2010.
ee Dee McEwen, Public Service Assistant at the University of Georgia participated in an interview with WNEG-TV that was aired on August 23, 2010. The News Segment was entitled “Flu Shot Time Early Arrival of Flu Vaccine.”
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Phillips also presented “When a ‘Good Job’ Just Isn’t Enough: Improving Qualitative Feedback on Resident Evaluations” at the National Residency Preceptor Conference where she also was the workshop facililtator of “Residency Learning System: PGY1 Existing Programs.”
Beth Phillips, Clinical Associate Professor presented a poster with Josh Guffey entitled “Establishment of a novel PGY2 Residency at a VA community based outpatient
White Coat Ceremony Welcomes Largest Pharmacy Class he annual White Coat Ceremony at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy recently recognized 144 new students, the largest class in the College’s 107year history. All students received white lab coats to mark the beginning of their pharmacy careers. The event, which was sponsored by Kroger Pharmacy, featured a program and a reception for new students and their parents.
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Of the 144 members of the Class of 2014, 71% are female, 33% are minority and 2% are out-of-state. The grade point average is 3.52 and the average composite Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores were in 80th percentile; 31 percent of the new students already have a bachelor of science degree and 55percent previously attended UGA.
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PHARMACY SCHOOL NEWS
Mercer University Celebrates Honors at Pinning Ceremony The Pinning Ceremony for third year pharmacy students was held on May 6 for an audience of more than 500. The Class of 2011 makes the transition to their fourth year with the receipt of the commemorative third year pin. This event has become an important part of our culture and promotes professionalism in our students. Mr. Scott McAuley, R.Ph., director of pharmaceutical services at DeKalb Medical Center, was the featured speaker. The Walgreen Company generously supported the reception that was held immediately following the ceremony. On May 8, more than 1,000 people witnessed the 2010 College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences commencement ceremony where 145 doctor of pharmacy degrees were awarded. The keynote speaker was Otis W. Brawley, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of The American Cancer Society. Five students received their Ph.D. degrees during the ceremony. Sahitya Katikaneni, Satya Surya Shankar Lanke, Kemba N. Lee, Guohua Li, and Jyotsna Paturi successfully defended their dissertations to receive the doctor of philosophy degree.
The Reuben C. Hood Award was presented to Matthew Forbes Duff and Vivian Yun- Thayer for completing their pharmacy studies with a 4.0 grade point average. Diane Matesic, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, received the Award for Excellence in Research. Dr. Matesic has been a Mercer faculty member for 11 years and an active researcher during her tenure with the University. For the second year, members of the COPHS Half Century Club participated in the processional and were recognized during the ceremony. The Class of 1960 members were Charles Burke, Jerry Green, Bob Grizzle, Don Hadden, and Ed Jenkins. This tradition was started last year and has been well received and anticipated by the upcoming Half Century Club members. A reception, sponsored by Rite Aid Pharmacy, was held immediately following commencement. Faculty, staff, family and friends were on hand to congratulate the new graduates. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Alumni Association welcomed the “new� alumni and presented each with a COPHS license plate frame.
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April 8-10, 2011 Legacy Lodge & Conference Center Lake Lanier Islands Resort Lake Lanier Islands, GA !
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I would like to nominate the following individual to attend the 2011 New Practitioner Leadership Conference: (Please Print) Nominee’s Name: __________________________________________________________ Designation: __________________ (R.Ph., Pharm.D., etc.)
Works For:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Preferred Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
This address is [ ] Home [ ] Work
_______________________________________________ State: ______ ZIP: ______________
Telephone: (Work) (____) __________________ (Home) (____) ___________________ (Cell) (____) ______________________ (Fax) (____) _______________
E-mail: __________________________________________________________
NOMINATED BY: _________________________________________________________________ Designation: _________________ Company: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:
[ ] Home or [ ] Work?________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ State: _______ Zip: ___________________ Tel. (____) __________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________________
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Please return this Nomination Form to: Georgia Pharmacy Foundation Attn: Regena Banks 50 Lenox Pointe, NE Atlanta, GA 30324
Please return by January 24, 2011
Or, you may FAX this Nomination Form to: 404.237.8435 Or, submit online at WWW.GPHA.ORG, If you have questions, please contact Regena Banks at GPhF: Direct # 404.419.8121 • Email: rbanks@gpha.org
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PHARMACY SCHOOL NEWS
New Pharmacy School in Georgia Opened August 11; 75 Students Enrolled SUWANEE – Ga. - Students arrived for orientation August 11 and classes began August 16 for the newest pharmacy school in Georgia. The announcement was made in a joint communication from PCOM President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Schure, PhD, and Mark Okamoto, PharmD, Professor & Founding Dean of the PCOM School of Pharmacy in Suwanee.
experiences beginning in year one. Classroom and lab experiences continue throughout the first three years of the program, while the fourth academic year sends students to eight, 5-week rotations in hospital practice, community practice, ambulatory care and medicine rotations along with four elective rotations in a variety of settings including pediatrics, cardiology, infectious diseases, nuclear pharmacy, psychiatry, and managed care, to name a few.
That announcement comes on the heels of written approval from the national pharmacy education accrediting body, following an April visit to the school and a comprehensive review of the educational structure, some of the planned clinical training sites and the facility.
Most of the entering students have a baccalaureate degree and some have graduate degrees, but some of the students are able to fulfill the prerequisite requirements in less time. Many of the charter class come from working professional backgrounds as pharmacy technicians.
Although the accrediting body, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), has just formally granted the School pre-candidate accreditation (the first of three levels of accreditation), plans for the School have been underway for nearly two years. Applicant interviews have been conducted and 75 students have been selected for the inaugural class.
“The opening of the school of pharmacy,” according to Dr. Robert Cuzzolino, PCOM’s vice president for planning and graduate programs, “is a major step in PCOM's growth as an institution offering a wide array of high-quality graduate and professional programs in health related fields, from medicine, physician assistant studies and biomedical science to psychology, forensic medicine, organizational leadership, and now pharmacy.”
President Schure expressed his delight at the ACPE ruling granting Pre-Accreditation status and allowing the School of Pharmacy to proceed with enrolling the first class. “We look forward to welcoming our class in August, to educating much needed pharmacists for Georgia and the Southern states, and to creating new models of interprofessional collaboration between pharmacists and physicians." The proposed opening of the new school attracted a large number of students for the 75 available seats, and over three hundred applicants were invited to the Georgia campus for interviews. According to Dr. Okamoto, “The admissions team has worked diligently to recruit and admit students who are talented, who have expressed passion for the profession and who we expect to excel, both academically and professionally.”
As a benefit to our members, GPhA has partnered with Sparkfly to offer a unique member discount program. Visit the “Member Benefits” section of our website, www.gpha.org, to learn more.
Students in the four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program will be involved in classroom, lab and pharmacy
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PHARMACY IN THE NEWS
MTM: The Promise, The Challenge Oriana Pawlyk 2010 APhA Intern in Political Journalism
uring the Capitol Hill debate over health care reform (HCR), APhA and much of pharmacy focused like a laser on making sure that medication therapy management (MTM) made the cut when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed Congress and was signed into law by President Barack Obama. With that accomplished, now comes another equally daunting challenge: getting funding for the MTM grants program authorized in the law and negotiating with federal officials—especially those in the important Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)—on just how the funds will be used.
continue to ask,” Lunner said. “The goal is to identify the best way to deliver MTM services and use that information to expand patient access to these services.”
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Tick tock, tick tock “I am waiting, as are many pharmacists, to see what grant opportunities emerge from the HCR legislation,” said Stephanie Ferreri, PharmD, CDE, FAPhA, Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Experiential Education at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. “I see my current MTM practice being able to possibly expand with these grants. I am hoping these grants will lead to MTM being provided to any patient who needs medication management.”
With Congress focused on a difficult midterm election year, pharmacy may be running out of time to get MTM provisions funded before the federal government’s fiscal period begins October 1. “The politics of an election year will hamper efforts to fund many of the HCR initiatives, including the MTM grant program,” said Kristina Lunner, Vice President of Government Affairs at APhA. “While APhA continues to work to secure such funding, we are also looking for near-term opportunities for pharmacists to engage in activities with AHRQ that may provide pharmacy the opportunity to “tell the MTM story.’” The MTM grant program is addressed in Section 3503 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) part of the ACA law. As noted in the law, the grant program would seek to improve the quality of care and reduce overall cost of treatment of chronic diseases through pharmacist-provided MTM services.
Under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 that created the Part D prescription drug benefit, many targeted Medicare patients are already receiving MTM services. Patients with multiple chronic conditions and receiving multiple medications expected to cost at least $4,000 per year are eligible for MTM services.
Grant programs fund services (paying practitioners to provide care, so tha the number of patients getting such services is increased), infrastructure (increasing the number of practitioners set up to provide services), and research (assessing the best ways of implementing a new service). The use of the initial grant funds is still being discussed.
ACA takes this a giant leap further. “The requirements in the grant program are more expansive than the Medicare Part D MTM because the grant program is not specific to Part D,” said Anne Burns, Vice President of Professional Affairs at APhA. A larger number of patients will be eligible for MTM services when the grant program is funded.
The Health Care Reform Pharmacy Stakeholders, co-chaired by APhA, were instrumental in securing the grant language and have now turned their efforts to securing appropriate funding for the program. “The grant program will allow us to test MTM in different care settings and answer some of the questions that policymakers
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students in the process, using one or more of the platforms available. So, in some ways, the future looks bright, as today’s students and grads are ‘ready to go’ in delivering MTM services.”
Pharmacy is ready When the grant program is funded, pharmacists will be ready to go. Just a few details remain to be worked out, explained Stephen Caiola, MS, Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Experiential Education at UNC Chapel Hill.
Pharmacists and student pharmacists are working hard to be ready to build practices on provision of MTM services. But now, the profession again looks to Congress to act on the needed funds. APhA is working on Capitol Hill to secure funding.
“The bottom line issue is obvious,” Caiola said. “One, what would be adequate reimbursement for the service and two, in what way would service delivery models that allow pharmacists to perform the service be set up?” The details remain to be worked out about the needed physical facilities, appointment schemes, and documentation and communication processes with payers and prescribers, he added.
“Like many other programs in the health care reform legislation, MTM is in for a tough fight for securing money in fiscal year 2011,” Lunner added. As this effort goes on, APhA and the stakeholders are working to identify other opportunities at AHRQ and in the private sector for expanding their capabilities to help patients improve their medication use and quality of life.
“I don’t know what will happen with the MTM initiatives in community pharmacy,” Cailoa said. “However, I can say that most schools and colleges of pharmacy now are educating their
Reprinted with permission from the Hub on Health Care Reform column in the July 2010 issue of Pharmacy Today (www.pharmacytoday.org). For more information about the Affordable Care Act and pharmacy’s role in shaping the outcomes of this law, access the Government Affairs section of APhA’s website, www.pharmacist.com. Copyright © 2010, American Pharmacists Association. All rights reserved.
Checks in the Mail: Part D Gap Begins Closing Diana Yap s a first step in closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap by 2020, beneficiaries who enter the doughnut hole this year and are not eligible for Medicare Extra Help are starting to receive a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate check from Medicare.
According to the discount program’s final guidance, released by CMS on May 21, beneficiaries will see the 50% discount when they pick up their medications at their local pharmacy. At the point of sale (POS), Medicare Part D plan sponsors will be responsible for determining if beneficiaries are eligible for a discount and if the drugs are discountable drugs, calculating the discount amounts on doughnut-hole claims, and including that information in adjudicated-claims response messages back to the pharmacies.
A
The first checks were mailed on June 10, Peter Ashkenaz, a spokesperson for CMS, told PHARMACY TODAY. Checks will be mailed monthly as beneficiaries reach the coverage gap. Medicare Extra Help is a program for low-income beneficiaries.
Plans must reimburse pharmacies for the discounts within the same timeframe as Medicare Part D claims—14 days if submitted electronically or 30 days if submitted otherwise. Drug manufacturers will pay for the discounts to the plans after the claim is adjudicated; when manufacturers will pay is not certain, according to Ashkenaz. CMS released the final guidance to Medicare Part D plans to help them prepare for their 2011 bids, which were due June 7. CMS will coordinate all of this through a third-party administrative contractor, which also will help verify the accuracy of the manufacturer discounts reported by the Medicare Part D plans.
CMS posted a brochure in English and Spanish, titled Closing the Prescription Drug Coverage Gap, to provide information about the checks. CMS and the pharmaceutical industry are also ramping up for 2011 to implement the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program in the Affordable Care Act (the health care reform law). Changes will affect pharmacists, once again putting them in the position of explaining the changes to patients. Beneficiaries who reach the doughnut hole next year and are not eligible for the Medicare Extra Help program will receive a 50% discount on brand-name and some generic prescription drugs. The discount program, which will be effective January 1, 2011, represents the second step in closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap.
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In related activity, on June 1, CMS hosted a public meeting with drug manufacturers, Medicare Part D plans, and advocates for Medicare beneficiaries to discuss the final guidance and the
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draft manufacturer agreement. Manufacturers of applicable Part D drugs must sign agreements to participate in the discount program.
APhA also recommended that CMS collaborate with APhA and other pharmacy stakeholders to develop educational tools about the discount program for pharmacists and pharmacies; work with the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs to ensure that POS claims-adjudication response messages clearly identify the discount or reason why the discount does not apply; and provide extra education and outreach to beneficiaries to limit confusion at the pharmacy.
APhA had earlier commented to CMS on the draft guidance; its comments focused on the need to limit the discount program’s impact on pharmacy workflow and operations at the POS. APhA also expressed appreciation for CMS’s efforts to evaluate implementation options to minimize administrative challenges and financial burdens on pharmacists.
Reprinted with permission from the Hub on Health Care Reform column in the July 2010 issue of Pharmacy Today (www.pharmacytoday.org). For more information about the Affordable Care Act and pharmacy’s role in shaping the outcomes of this law, access the Government Affairs section of APhA’s website, www.pharmacist.com. Copyright © 2010, American Pharmacists Association. All rights reserved.
Lawyer and Pharmacist Leroy Toliver, Pharm.D., R.Ph., J.D. • Professional Licensure Disciplinary Proceedings • Medicaid Recoupment Defense • Challenges in Medicaid Audits • OIG List Problems • SCX or Other Audits Leroy Toliver has been a Georgia Registered Pharmacist for 38 years. He has been a practicing attorney for 29 years and has represented numerous pharmacists and pharmacies in all types of cases. Collectively, he has saved his clients millions of dollars.
Toliver and Gainer, LLP 942 Green Street, SW Conyers, GA 30012-5310 altoliver@aol.com 770.929.3100
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2010 - 2011 GPhA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Georgia Pharmacy Journal Editor:
Jim Bracewell jbracewell@gpha.org
Managing Editor & Designer:
Kelly McLendon kmclendon@gpha.org
The Georgia Pharmacy Journal® (GPJ) is the official publication of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, Inc. (GPhA). Copyright © 2010, Georgia Pharmacy Association, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information storage retrieval systems, without prior written permission from the publisher and managing editor. All views expressed in bylined articles are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily express the views or policies of the editors, officers or members of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.
ARTICLES AND ARTWORK Those who are interested in writing for this publication are encouraged to request the official GPJ Guidelines for Writers. Artists or photographers wishing to submit artwork for use on the cover should call, write or e-mail the editorial offices as listed above.
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