members working for
you
A Policy-Shaping Opportunity By Justin J. Balint Dr. E. Paul Larrat, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, got up close and personal with policy, thanks to a congressional fellowship sponsored by AACP in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Larrat was placed in the office of Senator Ron Wyden (OR) as a health policy fellow for his unique experience in pharmacy benefit management, epidemiology and cost savings. His year in Washington helped Larrat gain a deeper appreciation of the U.S. political system, the process of developing health policy, and the interaction between the executive and legislative branches. Through involvement with the Senate Finance Committee, Larrat learned how health policy is often driven by finances. He researched issues affecting Medicare Part D and evaluated potential changes. Larrat helped develop the language of the SB 756 Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act and followed the bill from conception to Senate submission. He also assessed many additional proposals on how to limit fraud and abuse in the Medicare system. “Medicare fraud and abuse accounts for $60 billion annually,” said Larrat. “There is a huge potential to save the system money by preventing this activity.”
Examining Medication Therapy Management During the fellowship, Larrat witnessed pharmacy associations advocating for Medication Therapy Management programs. “MTM is definitely the hot issue in pharmacy,” Larrat noted. He believes that pharmacists supporting legislation to further MTM and pharmacy payment models can uncover many “incredible opportunities for nontraditional roles.” Pharmacists need to prove that they provide value, Larrat emphasized, and this is something MTM helps accomplish. “Parts of the Affordable Care Act are tailor made for pharmacists. Accountable Care Organizations will be accountable for patient outcomes. If pharmacists can prove they save ACOs money and improve patient care, this is what we will be doing as a profession to enhance the value of care. It is not spelled out that pharmacists will be reimbursed for all these services, so we need to get used to thinking creatively to accomplish this.”
Beyond NIH As a researcher, Larrat is familiar with searching for funds. Through the fellowship, he learned of diverse research that goes on through federally initiated programs outside of grants from the National Institutes of Health and other familiar government agencies. “There are many other pockets of funds that are
28
academic Pharmacy now Jan/Feb/Mar 2012
available if you go looking for them,” he said. One area Larrat mentioned that offers funding for many healthcare initiatives is the Department of Defense. “The Department spends a lot of money providing healthcare to soldiers, retirees and families, and is responsible for treating many different disease states. There are many opportunities for research dollars for both applied and bench research.”
Open to Anything; Experiencing Everything Transitioning from academia to Capitol Hill is no easy task. “When you leave a structured environment of a college of pharmacy and are dropped into an alien environment like Congress, you have to be open to anything and get involved in everything,” Larrat commented. While enjoying his year as a Fellow, Larrat was able to attend site visits to the Department of Defense, meet Nobel laureates and celebrities, and take advantage of the many social events the city of Washington, D.C. had to offer. “One transition to get used to was working with a much younger crowd on the Hill as opposed to academia. My fellowship mentor was only 32 years old.” Larrat believes his experience holds tremendous potential for what he can accomplish back in Rhode Island. “Federal experience gives a greater appreciation for what goes on at the state level,” Larrat noted. He hopes to use his experience on Capitol Hill and translate it to opportunities to affect health policy in Rhode Island. “I have built an amazing network and a better understanding of how the system works to educate pharmacists on how they can be better advocates as pharmacists and educators.” Larrat advises not to shy away from such opportunities in Washington because it requires a yearlong commitment away from home. “The benefits to devoting the use of your time to this experience are huge for you and your profession. If you have the opportunity, just do it,” he urges. For more information on the AACP/AAAS Congressional Fellowship program, please visit the program information page on www.aacp.org under Career Development, then AACP Scholarin-Residence. Justin J. Balint is a fourth-year student at Wilkes University who is completing an APPE at AACP.