By Ashley Jost
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — For the Missouri Pharmacy Association, their priorities this legislative session have been quite large, including, but not limited to, the largely discussed issue of Medicaid expansion or reform. ![Unknown[6]](https://themissouritimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Unknown6.png)
Ron Fitzwater, chief executive officer of the Missouri Pharmacy Association, said the focus of the organization this session is just like every other: to represent and be the voice of Missouri pharmacists and protect their ability to continue to practice what they have been trained to do.
This session, one of the top priorities has been the pursuit of the prescription drug monitoring program, Fitzwater said.
“We’re the only state in the country that doesn’t have it,” he said. “We’ve removed some road blocks but there are still a few things holding up that legislation.”
There are currently three bills in the legislature about the drug monitoring program, including: House Bill 347 — last action was a second read on Jan. 30 — and Senate Bills 146 and 233 — each had their last hearing March 7 in committee.
Fitzwater said there has been a lot of support on the issue from both chambers, though some has waned in the Senate. An additional, unexpected roadblock he said was a cause for the delay has been the controversy surrounding the Department of Revenue.
“The issue regarding data and the collection of data in regard to the Department of Revenue has not been positive for the prescription drug monitoring program,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve become sidetracked into that debate. The program makes perfect sense. We’ve got 49 other states that have been a model for the program.”
Much like other medical related associations, the pharmacists also have a vested interest in making Medicaid “a 21st century program,” Fitzwater said.
While he said the organization did not support the Affordable Care Act when it was initially proposed, now that it has become law, Fitzwater said they believe there is a way to utilize the federal program to benefit Missouri.
“Our contract lobbyists have been actively working with Rep. [Jay] Barnes,” Fitwater added about House Bill 700, the main legislative vehicle involving Medicaid reform currently in the legislature. “We’ve worked closely on the pharmaceutical side of the program, and Rep. Barnes was good to come to us during the process and make sure [the bill] didn’t negatively impact the positive work we’ve done the last six or seven years.
Additional issues in front of the association this session have been continued efforts to make pseudoephedrine products available, especially as allergy season approaches.
“We’ve been working very aggressively to bring those products from behind the counter,” Fitzwater said. “Also, we’ve been working with administration to set up a tracking program to let law enforcement know who is purchasing the products.”
Following suit with the pseudoephedrine issue, he added the association has worked with Attorney General Chris Koster on an “anti-smurfing campaign” to target people who are using the drug for unlawful uses, like methamphetamine, who are getting other people to purchase the drugs because they’ve reached their monthly or yearly maximum.
Looking ahead, he said the organization will likely work with the Board of Pharmacy on issues they’ll bring back during the 2014 session. But until then, Fitzwater said he and the association will continue to work on the “complicated issues” that affect Missouri pharmacists.
To contact Ashley Jost, email ashley@themissouritimes.com, or via Twitter at @ajost.
Ashley Jost is no longer with The Missouri Times. She worked as the executive editor for several months, and a reporter before that.