ADVOCACY UPDATE

YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT:

What Pharmacy PAC Is Doing for You

BY BRIAN SAPITA, government affairs director, Michigan Pharmacists Association

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Pharmacy Political Action Committee (PAC) is essential to the continuation of the pharmacy profession. It allows MPA to be the unified voice of pharmacy before the Michigan Legislature. When legislators see MPA CEO Mark Glasper or MPA Director of Government Affairs Brian Sapita enter their office, they know we are there to speak to them about pharmacy –whether it’s the challenges of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) our independent members are facing or perhaps a hospital issue such as white bagging. Either way, the legislator knows who we are and what we are passionate about, and that is largely due to the Pharmacy PAC. We were the only pharmacy group in the room when negotiations were going on around the increased Medicaid reimbursement and when the PBM reform bill was being discussed. Legislators look to MPA, an association they know and trust, not an out-of-state group who might be attempting to cash in on MPA’s success.

This year, MPA is fighting PBMs and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), which works on behalf of PBMs, to get our PBM Reform bill passed. In order to do this, MPA’s PAC is in need of contributions. If MPA can get an ROI of $969 per dollar on an increased Medicaid dispensing fee, just imagine what your $100 donation will be able to help us do when it comes to combating PBMs and direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees.

Many ask, “What does the PAC actually do?” To be clear, MPA has two PACs. The first is a normal Political Action Committee, which we use to donate to pro-pharmacy legislators who help us move legislation through the process. The second PAC is an advocacy fund, which means the money donated to this PAC cannot be given to a legislator or campaign. Instead, it must be used on advocacy actions, such as our Pharmacy Day at the Capitol (PDAC), the Law and Policy Symposium or some of the functions at MPA’s Annual Committee and Exposition (ACE). Our Pharmacy PAC donated $11,350 during the state’s fiscal year 2019-2020.

Because we were supporting our friends in the Capitol, they were able to appropriate $11 million to independent pharmacies through the state’s budget process; that is a return of $969 on every dollar spent.

It is unfortunate, but a fact, that money and the appropriate distribution of money in our political system is necessary to create opportunities and build relationships that allow MPA to present pharmacists’ positions on issues that affect our profession. Simply stated, we need more pharmacists to make a financial commitment to the PAC. It is the responsibility of every pharmacist to support the pharmacy profession with your time, talent or treasure. Please do not believe that if you don’t support pharmacy, others will do it for you. Pharmacy is a wonderful profession with a variety of opportunities for all of us. We need your financial help to maintain the vibrancy and stability of our profession. Please consider making a donation to either of our PACs to help advance the profession of pharmacy by contacting MPA Director of Government Affairs Brian Sapita at 517-377-0254 or visiting www.MichiganPharmacists.org/pharmacypac/contribute.