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William Blair, Pharm.D., MBA, Returns from Capitol Hill! July 8, 2002 WASHINGTON, D.C. -William Blair, Pharm.D., MBA, Director of Pharmacy Services at McGuff Compounding Pharmacy Services, Inc. met with representatives from Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein's offices as well as House Representative Loretta Sanchez on June 25, 2002 to discuss pharmacy issues and garner support for legislation that would ensure patient access to affordable drug products, especially compounded medications that are used to treat patients with unique medication needs.
Blair was one of nearly 200 pharmacists representing 32 states who gathered in the nation's capital to participate in the Annual Meeting & Compounders on Capitol Hill, a legislative conference sponsored by the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) on June 23-25, 2002. "Due to our members' efforts on the Hill this year," said IACP Executive Director L.D King, "more than 12 members of Congress signed on to co-sponsor the bills relating to compounding pharmacy and patient care even before the conference had concluded. I'm confident that the presence of compounding pharmacy and our issues continue to be felt on our visits to Washington D.C." Compounding pharmacists have been spokespersons on pharmacy and medical related issues since 1995 when they first started meeting in Washington D.C. to educate legislators about the necessity of compounded or individualized medications. "During the last eight years, we've taken the most innovative and professional pharmacists to meet with members of Congress to explain the importance of customized therapies," said King. "Members of Congress who recognize the necessity of individualized medications work with us to ensure that the safest and most effective medications are available and affordable for their constituents." Although the focus of the meeting was to reach members of Congress with compounding pharmacy's message points on affordable medications, pharmacists also participated in an open forum to collectively discuss the future practice of compounding with other stakeholders in the profession, including the recently released FDA Compliance Policy Guide. Participants in these discussions included top officials from the Food and Drug Administration, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, the United States Pharmacopeia, the American Pharmaceutical Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the National Community Pharmacy Association. Blair is one of 1800 members of IACP who specializes in practicing the traditional art and skill of compounding pharmacy to meet the unique needs of individual patients. |
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