American Pharmacist's Association
August 21, 2009
By Beth Farnstrom

On August 5, Rep. Judy Biggert (R–IL) visited Dominick’s Pharmacy and Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in the Chicago area to learn more about pharmacist-provided comprehensive patient care services. Biggert is a member of the GOP-led Health Care Solutions Working Group, which works to provide solutions for health care reform. An article on pioneerlocal.com stated that Biggert hoped to use the pharmacy visits to “look at all facets of health care and find ideas she could introduce to health care legislation.”  
 
Sonali Kshatriya, PharmD, Residency Director for Dominick’s Pharmacy, and Elizabeth Seybold, PharmD, Pharmacy Care Manager, led the community pharmacy tour, pointing out areas specially designated for patient interaction—encouraged by Dominick’s accessible, open layout—and patient consultation, screenings, and immunizations.
 
Biggert participated in a blood pressure screening and was privy to demonstrations of vaccinations, diabetes, hypertension, and bone density screening programs. Kshatriya and Seybold described their preventive health program, Healthy Measures, which uses self-motivation and rewards, such as health premium discounts, to improve overall wellness.
 
At the hospital location, Biggert met with Jack Durley, director of pharmacy, and clinical pharmacists Michelle Smith and Glenna Hargreaves. They explained the institution’s medication reconciliation process and discussed how anticoagulation therapy is monitored. Through these programs and others, the pharmacists at Hinsdale Hospital have made more than 21,000 drug therapy recommendations to physicians this year alone, the pharmacists told Biggert.
 
Pharmacists at both locations urged Biggert to advocate for pharmacist inclusion in health care reform legislation, mentioning several pressing issues that currently affect the profession. Lack of recognition as providers, they explained, hinders payment for provided services and compromises funding for further programs. Pharmacists asked Biggert to support the designation of pharmacists as providers under Medicare Part B; they also asked for her support in obtaining federal funding of specialty pharmacy residency programs and federal loan forgiveness through the National Health Services Corp. Biggert asked a question about health information technology and was told that ready access to patient medical records is an essential tool to pharmacists, as it prevents medication problems and assures that patients have optimal drug therapy, both in terms of outcome and cost efficiency.
 
The visit was deemed a success by all parties involved. A media release provided by Dominick’s representatives read, “Congresswomen Biggert indicated her strong support for health care policies that build on the many important roles pharmacists already play in controlling health care costs while improving the accessibility and quality of care. The pharmacists were delighted with her comments and echoed their appreciation of her support for health care reform that included their ideas.”

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