Summer 2026 Issue

THE LEADING VOICE FOR THE MISSOURI PHARMACIST

Summer 2026

THE POWER OF OUR VOICE

From the stories that shape our communities to the voices that reach the State Capitol, pharmacy advocacy matters.

Explore our 2026 legislative session recap, hear why the next generation is stepping up,and see why your voice is essential as we look ahead to 2027. Contact your legislators and let’s make 2027 our year!

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AMPLIFY PATIENT FIRST. PHARMACY FORWARD.

You are here to serve, McKesson is here to amplify.

At McKesson, our core belief is that the patient comes first.

Pharmacists are the healthcare providers that patients see most often. We are committed to protecting and elevating the profession, ensuring pharmacists can continue providing critical services to meet each patient’s needs.

Use Your Voice!

• Get active with your state association • Contact your elected officials Download your guide to advocacy here

• Meet your elected officials or give them a tour of your pharmacy

© 2025 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. All other products mentioned may be trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ISMC-4178304-0525

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS Missouri Pharmacist Magazine | Summer Issue

MPA Staff

Ron Fitzwater, MBA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer Robyn Silvey, CMP, MBA, Chief Operating Officer Annie Eisenbeis, PharmD, MBA, Director of Practice Development Henrio Thelemaque, Director of Government Affairs Sarah Mengwasser, Director of Communications Lauren Eichelberger, Membership Coordinator Drew Oestreich, Pharmacy Provider Relations Carson Von Alst, PharmD, MBA, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Board of Directors

President – Roxane Took, PharmD, BCACP SSM St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO President Elect – Pawel Sierbinski, PharmD, BCACP Gateway Apothecary, St. Louis, MO Treasurer – Erica Mahn, PharmD, BC-ADM Alps Pharmacy, Springfield, MO Secretary – Caleb Witt, PharmD Pharmax Pharmacy, Leadington, MO Immediate Past President – Kendall Guthrie, PharmD, BCACP UMKC School of Pharmacy, Kansas City, MO

2025-2026 MPA Outgoing President: Roxane Took pg. 4

The House Thats Built Me pg. 5

Legislatative Update Pgs. 8

Contact Your Legislators TODAY! Pg. 18

84 85 88 818

Members At Large

Laura Butkievich, PharmD, MHA, BCPS, BCACP, FASHP University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, MO Lacy Epperson, PharmD ACCESS Family Care, Joplin, MO Laura Kingsley, PharmD Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy, Ashland, MO Laura Butkievich, PharmD, MHA, BCPS, BCACP, FASHP University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, MO Taylor Mize, PharmD Mize Drug Wellness & Compounding, Garden City, MO

Missouri Pharmacy Association | 211 East Capitol Avenue | Jefferson City, MO 65101 Phone: (573) 636-7522 | Fax: (573) 636-7485 | morx.com MISSION: The Missouri Pharmacy Association promotes and protects the role of pharmacists as the medication expert in patient care relationships, and as an integral part of the health care team.

Missouri Pharmacist is sent to MPA members, non-member pharmacists, pharmacy educators, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy students in Missouri. All views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the writer and are not necessarily the official position of the Missouri Pharmacy Association. Missouri Pharmacist is owned and published by the Missouri Pharmacy Association.

To advertise or for editorial inquiries email Sarah Mengwasser at sarah@morx.com

Ex-Officio Members

Russell Melchert, PhD, RPh UMKC School of Pharmacy, Kansas City, MO Terri Warholak, PhD, RPh, CPHQ, FAPhA St. Louis College of Pharmacy at University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO

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Expanding Our Reach: Advancing Pharmacy Practice in Missouri ROXANE TOOK

PharmD, BCACP, SSM St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO

“As we look forward to the year ahead, I am confident in the future of MPA and the continued progress of pharmacy in Missouri.”

W

hile many of us had a summer filled with vacations, travel, and time to recharge, the Missouri Pharmacy Association staff and leadership were getting geared up for the next 2026-2027 session.

The MPA Board met at the beginning of June to develop a plan for the next year and discuss the annual meeting at the marvelous Margaritaville at the Lake of the Ozarks.

We had some great continuing education, meaningful networking opportunities, and reconnected with colleagues from across the state. One of my favorite parts of the meeting is always the Saturday night gala. Pharmacists, technicians, and students across the state were be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the profession and patient care. I was excited to hear Pawel Sierbinski, your new president, share his visions and hopes for the upcoming year.

When thinking about the MPA Annual meeting, I can’t help but reflect on this past year and how quickly it’s flown by. It feels like just yesterday that I was preparing my presidential speech for last year’s annual meeting. Since then, our MPA board, staff, and members have worked tirelessly to advance the profession through meaningful legislative efforts and development of clinical opportunities through CPESN. One of the most significant accomplishments this year has been the

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development of Senate Bill 878 by the MPA Practice Committee. This legislation represents an important step forward for pharmacy practice in Missouri and honestly was the biggest health care bill that was passed this year. This legislation enables the Missouri Board of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Board of Healing Arts, to establish joint rules to allow pharmacists to order and administer FDA-approved vaccines (approved after January 1, 2026) to patients seven and older.

Additionally, this bill also allows pharmacists to prescribe essential medical devices- such as spacers, nebulizer machines, nebulizer tubing, and diabetic supplies, pursuant to rules set by Missouri Board of Pharmacy and the Board of Healing Arts. This is exciting because this further expands the practice of pharmacy.

Pharmacists are seen as accessible, trusted healthcare providers and one of the few nonphysician providers that have prescriptive authority.

Last, this bill will allow nonprofit pharmacies to ship prescriptions to disasteraffected states/territories under waived compliance by Missouri Board of Pharmacy.

This flexibility ensures that patients can continue to receive essential medications during times of crisis.

So, what’s to come for the future? Well, while it’s great that we have increased what pharmacists can do, we need to be reimbursed appropriately. My hope is that we can work

together with pharmacists across the state to develop legislation to reform the practices of pharmacy benefit managers and ensure fair reimbursement for the clinical services that we provide. I believe that many of the grants and projects through MPA help support that pharmacists can provide a vast array of highquality clinical services to help improve health outcomes in the state of Missouri.

Finally, this year also marks a time of transition for the association. We are preparing to celebrate the retirement after 24 years of dedicated leadership as CEO of MPA, while also welcoming a new leader to guide the organization forward. Ron’s legacy is one of unwavering commitment to advocacy, professional advancement and member engagement. His impact will be felt for years to come, and we are deeply grateful for his service. At the same time, this transition presents an exciting opportunity to build upon that strong foundation and continue driving the profession forward.

As we look forward to the year ahead, I am confident in the future of MPA and the continued progress of pharmacy in Missouri.

I am especially thankful for the MPA Board, staff and members whose dedication, collaboration and passion have made this year truly unforgettable.

The House That Built Me RON FITZWATER

MBA, CAE, CEO, Missouri Pharmacy Association

A

s I have written in an earlier article, country music was the predominant music that played in our house when I was growing up.

I listened to all the old classics. Since we didn’t have Apple Music, or Spotify, or iTunes – we had to listen the old-fashioned way, on vinyl records. I think our neighbor across the street owned every country record ever made. Even though I ventured into rock music as I got into high school and college, I still followed country music. Today, the “new country” has sort of driven me back to classic rock – but there are a few current artists that I enjoy.

One of them is Miranda Lambert. I enjoy her music because not only is she a singer, but she also writes a lot of the songs she records and performs. As I sat down to write this article, one of her songs kept coming to mind – “The House That Built Me.” When I pulled up the lyrics and began to go back through them, it became apparent that they didn’t really express all of what I wanted to say in this article. But the overall theme of the song did. The theme that kept coming to my mind as I thought about the song was a slight twist to it by focusing on “The Association That Built Me.” My twenty-four plus years here at the Missouri Pharmacy Association have been such an incredible period in my life. In many respects, I hate to see it end. It has been a fun journey. I don’t often quote the Bible in my articles, but I think the passage from Ecclesiastes 3 - “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” probably sums it up the best. The time is right.

The “association” at 211 East Capitol Avenue in Jefferson City, MO (the Missouri Pharmacy Association and all the people involved in it) have been the “house” that helped build me.

As I brought my experiences, background, association knowledge, connections, etc. to the job, the experiences that I have been a part of here have helped to develop me into the association professional I am today.

“The “association” at 211 East Capitol Avenue in Jefferson City, MO (MPA and all the people involved in it) have been the “house” that helped build me.”

First were the leadership teams that I have had the privilege of working with over these past two decades plus. Twenty-five presidents and unique boards, hundreds of committee members, etc. plus, so many other volunteers who were all focused on building and growing the pharmacy profession in our state, that they are hard to number. We have tackled some fun and exciting issues, and we have been faced with some difficult problems and challenges as well. Each of these individuals and teams have helped to shape my professional

experience and my ability to provide guidance and advice to our leadership teams as we worked through these situations throughout the years.

The second group is the staff members that I have had the privilege of working with. We have been blessed with many tremendously talented professionals on our staff over the years. My job was to blend them together as a staff as well as with the leaders discussed above to try to build a complete team to address the needs of Missouri pharmacists, and to try to anticipate the future needs of the profession so we could help sustain the critical role of pharmacists in the health care system.

I can confidently say that we currently have an amazing team of staff professionals who are equipped to address the many challenges that are faced by pharmacists today. Collectively, they are the best team I have worked with at MPA. The third group are the professionals who work in other state and national pharmacy organizations, schools of pharmacy, funding and sponsorship organizations, etc. Again, each of these professionals have helped to build my professional background and career.

All these individuals and organizations have combined into “the association that built me.” I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure at the Missouri Pharmacy Association. I came into a strong association with a solid history or service and commitment to pharmacists. I am confident that my predecessor will find an even stronger organization and will work to take MPA to even higher levels of service and commitment to our members and the patients they serve.

Thank you. It has been a privilege to serve as the CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association.

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2026 Legislative Session HENRIO THELEMAQUE

MPA Governmental Consultant

I

t was anticipated that the 2026 legislative session would not be very productive, especially following the abrupt conclusion of the 2025 session and the decision to hold two special sessions. However, after mild stalling by Senate Democrats at the start of the year, the 2026 session returned to seminormal operations, featuring fewer late-night filibusters and resulting in the passage of over 100 pieces of legislation.

At the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, Senate Democrats filibustered the gubernatorial appointments with the intention of slowing the legislative process down. Many Senators believed that there needed to be greater oversight of Senate proceedings and a restoration of the Senate's integrity following the last several years.

The stalling lasted until the beginning of February, when a deal was struck to revise the Senate rules, including: • Changes to Senate Rule 52 to require Senate bills returning from the House with amendments to wait a day before the Senate can take them up for passage; and • Modifications to Senate Rule 84 that would require a motion for the previous question to be signed by 18 Senators (an increase from 10).

Both alterations to Senate proceedings were completed with the goal of restoring the “free and fair debate” nature of the Senate.

The cooperation seen in the General Assembly this session comes as members face a large shift with almost 1/3 of Senate seats up for grabs in the upcoming August and November elections. While members of the General Assembly are preparing for reelection, Governor Kehoe settled into his second year as head of the Executive Branch. During the final days of the session, Governor Kehoe called a press conference to celebrate this years legislative wins. This included his highest priority, the passage of HJR 173, a measure that would phase out the state income tax if approved by voters this

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August. While the session is never without its challenges, the General Assembly passed 83 non-budget bills, a significant increase from the 51 passed in 2025 and the 28 passed in 2024.

Legislative Priorities Vaccination Authority - Passed In previous years, MPA successfully passed legislation that allowed pharmacists to administer vaccines approved as of January 1, 2023.

One of MPA’s priorities for 2026 was to expand the list of approved vaccines, through a more streamlined process, rather than a set limitation date.

By working with legislators on both sides of the aisle, the language was successfully amended onto three bills that were truly agreed and finally passed. These pieces of legislation include: • SB 878, the original and main pharmacy scope expansion bill, was filed by Senator Travis Fitzwater. The initial bill included provisions relating to durable medical equipment and CLIA wave testing. After passing through the Senate, the bill was heard in the Health and Mental Health Committee. At this time, the vaccine language was successfully added to the bill. SB 878 was third read in the House and was truly agreed and finally passed by the Senate during the beginning of the final of session.

• SB 1233, a licensure bill filed by Senator Curtis Trent. Upon reaching the house, the bill quickly expanded into an omnibus licensure bill. At this time, the vaccine language was successfully added to the House Committee substitute which was third read and passed by the House in April. The Senate concurred with the changes made by the House, and the Bill was truly agreed and finally passed during the first half of May. • HB 2372, an omnibus healthcare bill filed by Representative Tara Peters. This Bill received significant support in the House, as it included several pieces of popular legislation from previous years.

During the perfection of the Bill, Representative Bennie Cook filed an amendment to HB 2372 that included the vaccine language as well as

“Your passion and stories allow MPA to be the voice for all Missouri pharmacies. With session over, we ask that you continue to educate your legislators on your work within your communities. As we gear up for the 2027 legislative session, it is crucial that pharmacy plays a role in setting the agenda for the healthcare battles that will take place in the State Capitol.”

other scope measures found in SB 878. The amendment was approved by the House. The Bill faced a difficult path in the Senate, as several Senators began to filibuster attempts to pass omnibus bills. Despite these attempts, HB 2372 was later truly agreed and finally passed by the Senate during the final week of session.

Scope Expansion – Passed MPA’s top priority for 2026 was to build on previous scope expansion that passed in 2023. This year, Senator Travis Fitzwater filed SB 878, a scope expansion bill that would remove the requirement for a statewide standing order to administer CLIA wave tests and would authorize pharmacists to prescribe and dispense durable medical equipment for at home usage. SB 878 received a hearing early into the legislative session. During the hearing, there was concerns relating to the language regarding durable medical equipment. To ensure the success of the Bill, the language was amended to permit pharmacists to prescribe certain types of medical equipment based on FDA classifications and the approval of the Board of Healing Arts and Board of Pharmacy.

After several hours of negotiations, the Bill was successfully perfected on the Senate floor. During the perfection of the bill, Senator Tracy McCreery added an amendment that authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to allow pharmacies to dispense medications during a declared emergency. Senator Joe Nicola also added an amendment that would allow for the over-the-counter sale of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine upon FDA authorization for over-the-counter dispensing as well as FDA approval of a warning label.

Upon reaching the House, the Bill was passed out of the Health and Mental Health with a House Committee Substitute that added provisions relating to pharmacists vaccine authority, the dispensing of pseudoephedrine and language relating to 340B drugs. It was expected that provisions from SB 984 relating to PBM audits would be added to SB 878 when the Bill reached the House floor. However,

these attempts failed due to a growing number of opponents. SB 878 was third read in the House and was truly agreed and finally passed by the Senate during the beginning days of the last week of session.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers – Did not Pass A top priority for MPA was working to pass true comprehensive PBM reform. Four PBM-related bills were filed during the 2026 session. SB 968 (Senator Travis Fitzwater) and HB 1975 (Representative Bennie Cook) included anti-steering language and required PBMs to reimburse pharmacies according to NADAC and MAC. SB 984 (Senator Jill Carter) and HB 1850 (Representative John Hewkin) created provisions to limit how and when PBMs could audit pharmacies, as well as requiring that PBM follow Federal law.

The Bills faced early opposition from PBMs, insurance companies, and labor organizations. To move the legislation forward, a deal was reached with insurance companies and PBMs that allowed the Bills to be passed out of Committee under SB 984 & 968 and HB 1850 & 1975.

Towards the end of session, provisions from SB 984 were added to HB 2372, a healthcare omnibus bill. However, during the final days of session, the PBM language was removed from the bill.

Looking Ahead Governor Kehoe has until July 14 to sign or veto legislation that was passed during the 2026 legislative session.

MPA would like to take this time to thank our members for their continuous support throughout the 2026 legislative session.

Your passion and stories allow MPA to be the voice for all Missouri pharmacies. With session over, we ask that you continue to educate your legislators on your work within your communities. As we gear up for the 2027 legislative session, it is crucial that pharmacy plays a role in setting the agenda for the healthcare battles that will take place in the State Capitol.

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Advocacy For The Whole Profession KAREN SEE & KATIE SEE

UMKC PharmD Candidates 2027

“Even if we all plan to practice in different areas of pharmacy, we still have a reason to care about the future of the profession.”

A

A group of UMKC Students, along with Karen and Katie, at 2026 Legislative Day.

s student pharmacists, it can be easy to think advocacy only applies to certain areas of pharmacy or certain student organizations. This year, we wanted to help make advocacy feel like something for the whole student body.

Katie served as the UMKC APhA-ASP Policy Vice President, and Karen served as the UMKC NCPA-MPA Liaison. With these roles, it would have been easy for Katie to mainly focus on APhA students and for Karen to mainly focus on NCPA students. Instead, we wanted to work together and reach beyond just our own organizations.

We always talk about needing more collaboration between student organizations, and it definitely helps when your twin sister happens to be in the other policy-centered role. Our goal was to help students see that pharmacy advocacy affects all of us, no matter where we plan to practice.

A big part of our focus this year was making advocacy feel more approachable. We worked together to share information with students, promote MPA Legislative Day and Annual Meeting, and encourage classmates to attend even if they had never been involved before. We also wanted students to understand why these issues matter before they got to the Capitol, so advocacy felt less intimidating and more meaningful.

Topics like PBM reform may seem to affect only community pharmacy, but they impact the profession as a whole. These issues matter to us as future pharmacists and as patients too. Pharmacy advocacy is not just about one practice setting. It is about protecting

10 Missouri PHARMACIST | Summer 2026

patient care and making sure pharmacists continue to have a voice.

This year, UMKC student attendance increased by over 25% at MPA Legislative Day and 50% at MPA Annual Meeting. These events are some of the best networking opportunities students have. They give students the chance to meet pharmacists, pharmacy leaders, legislators, and other students from across the state. Being part of these events helped students see pharmacy outside of the classroom and understand why it is important to be involved.

We also organized and hosted our Love Letters to Legislators event. Participation increased by more than 70%, with 133 students participating in 2025-2026 compared to 77 students in 2024-2025.

Students wrote letters about pharmacy issues and patient care, and we mailed them to legislators across the state. Some students, including us, received handwritten responses from legislators. That was encouraging because it showed that student voices are noticed and that these efforts can make an impact.

Overall, this year showed us that advocacy is stronger when student leaders work together. Instead of keeping advocacy limited to one organization or one practice interest, we were able to bring more students into the conversation. Even if we all plan to practice in different areas of pharmacy, we still have a reason to care about the future of the profession. We are grateful for the opportunities MPA has given us to learn, advocate, network, and help more students get involved.

White Coats, Strong Voices: Advocating For The Future of Pharmacy SOPHIE EASTHAM LATTA

STLCOP PharmD Candidate 2027

“Advocacy is not just something reserved for the future when I am a licensed pharmacist, but it is something I can actively participate in right now.”

L

egislative Day is an opportunity for pharmacists and student pharmacists to join together to advocate for our profession, but this became much more than that to me.

Walking into the Missouri Capitol, surrounded by my fellow student pharmacists in our white coats, was a reminder that our voices matter. It showed me that we are already helping to shape the future of healthcare for our state.

Preparation for the day began long before we arrived in Jefferson City. As student leaders with the Missouri Pharmacy Association student organization at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP),

our executive board spent months organizing our walk-by clinic, coordinating supplies, preparing educational materials, and discussing the legislative process with our student body. We worked very hard to make this the best experience for students. We held Legislative Day prep sessions to help students with talking points for legislators, what legislation we were strongly advocating for, and how a bill becomes a law. Preparing for Legislative Day reminded us that advocacy requires strong teamwork, communication, and a shared goal of improving patient care.

One of the most memorable parts of the day was our student-

STLCOP Students at 2026 Legislative Day.

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led Walk-By Clinic. Throughout our time at the Capitol, student pharmacists provided blood pressure and blood glucose screenings while speaking with legislators and capitol visitors about the vital role pharmacists play in the healthcare system. Dr. Catherine Gilmore, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at STLCOP, reflected on her experience at the Walk-by Clinic, “we were able to screen 30 different patients and make 45 total interventions in our less than 3 hours we were in the Rotunda. Watching our students engage with legislators to educate them about adherence, disease prevention,

“What stood out to me was how engaged legislators and visitors were during our conversations.

Many stopped to ask questions about pharmacy practice and the education that student pharmacists receive. It was encouraging to see genuine interest in our profession and it was a reminder that advocacy can begin with a simple conversation.” and what a pharmacist can do was a truly wonderful experience.

These legislators had a first-hand look at what a pharmacist can do and the value we provide, right in their workplace!” Many visitors were surprised to find out that pharmacists were the most accessible healthcare providers and can provide a wide range of services beyond just dispensing medications. Conversations like these created opportunities to highlight the importance of pharmacists in healthcare and how we improve patient outcomes through preventative care, medication counseling, chronic disease management, and public health initiatives. What stood out to me was how engaged legislators and visitors were during our conversations.

Many stopped to ask questions about pharmacy practice and the education that student pharmacists receive. It was encouraging to see genuine interest in our profession and it was a reminder that advocacy can begin with a simple conversation.

Legislative Day also provided an opportunity to meet directly with legislators to discuss important issues affecting pharmacy practice in Missouri. As a student pharmacist, it can feel like policy decisions are distant from our everyday experiences in the classroom or on rotations. However, speaking with legislators helped us bridge this gap. It allowed us to explain how pharmacists improve access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas in Missouri and why expanding pharmacist services will benefit all Missourians. This allowed us to highlight how important our profession is and remind ourselves that these laws will affect how we our practice in the future.

Beyond advocacy itself, Legislative Day reinforced the importance of professional involvement and leadership in students. Seeing pharmacists, faculty, and students come together with a common goal demonstrated the strength and impact we can have as a 12 Missouri PHARMACIST | Summer 2026

collective. It was inspiring to work alongside other individuals with the same passion for advancing the profession.

For me personally, Legislative Day and MPA have allowed me to strengthen my confidence as a student pharmacist and future healthcare professional. It reminded me that even as a student, I already can contribute meaningful ideas, advocate for my future patients, and represent our profession in important conversations.

Advocacy is not just something reserved for the future when I am a licensed pharmacist, but it is something I can actively participate in right now.

As I reflect on this experience, I am excited about the future of Legislative Day and the continued involvement of student pharmacists. I hope more students will want to become more involved with MPA and advocacy, whether it is by speaking with legislators, volunteering at the Walk-By Clinic, or becoming more involved in our student chapter. Looking ahead to next year, STLCOP student chapter president Abby Baxter reflected on the impact of advocacy and service within the profession, “pharmacists are one of the most valuable assets to our community and I am so thankful to get to support our profession while inspiring student pharmacists alike. I am looking forward to going back to Capitol next year and continuing to make a difference.” Baxter’s enthusiasm reflects the commitment of student pharmacists across Missouri to advance the profession through advocacy, education, and community engagement. Experiences like Legislative Day demonstrate that pharmacy extends beyond the classroom and behind the counter, and it includes leadership, service, and a responsibility to shape the future of healthcare. Legislative Day reminded me that pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals and as students, we have an important role in continuing this legacy. By advocating for patients and the profession today, we are helping to build a stronger future for pharmacy tomorrow.

LEGISLATIVE DAY 2026 AT A GLANCE Patient Care Impact Results Patients Encountered 30 Total Clinical Interventions 45 Blood Pressure Screenings 20 Blood Glucose Screenings 25

Operation Heart: Blood Pressure Screenings

Finding Patients Average BP Existing Hypertension 6 153/80 mmHg Controlled BP (<130/80 mmHg) 1 Uncontrolled BP (>130/80 mmHg) 5 Severe Hypertension (>180/120 mmHg) 1 No History of Hypertension Normal BP (<120/80 mmHg) Elevated BP (>120/80 mmHg) Hypertensive Readings (>130/80 mmHg)

14 3 2 9

113/74 mmHg 124/73 mmHg 145/89 mmHg

Operation Diabetes: Blood Glucose Screenings

Finding Patients Average Blood Glucose History of Type 2 Diabetes 2 At Goal 1 94 mg/dL Above Goal & Non-Adherent 1 341 mg/dL No History of Diabetes Fasting Patients Non-fasting Patients

23 3 20

110 mg/dL 115 mg/dL

Interventions Provided • Blood Pressure Education • Blood Glucose Education • A1c Counseling • Medication Education • Diet & Nutrition Counseling • Referral for Follow-Up Care

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2026

LEGISLATIVE DAY United for the future of pharmacy

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LEGISLATIVE DAY One profession. One powerful voice. March 3 1, 2027

SAVE THE DATE. LET’S MAKE 2027 PHARMACY’S YEAR! Legislative Day 2027 is an important opportunity for all Missouri pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students, and supporters to come together and make our voices heard. Our profession plays a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities, and it is up to us to advocate for the future of pharmacy in Missouri. Your voice matters, and when we stand together, we have a stronger impact on the decisions that affect our profession and our patients. We encourage everyone to attend Legislative Day 2027, meet with legislators, share your experiences, and show the strength and importance of Missouri pharmacy!

ADVOCACY DOESN'T START AT THE CAPITOL...

SESSION’S OVER. ADVOCACY ISN’T. Your legislators are back home — now is the time to connect.

Invite them to your pharmacy. Give them a tour. Introduce your team.

Show them firsthand the challenges facing pharmacy and your patients.

Don’t just tell them. Show them.

Build the relationship now.

Make pharmacy’s voice heard in Jefferson City.

Find your Missouri legislators: senate.mo.gov

Missouri Pharmacy Association Awarded Department of Defense PRCRP Grant to Expand Colorectal Cancer Screening and Education Through Community Pharmacies Jefferson City, MO — August 13, 2026 — The Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) announced today that it has been awarded a Department of Defense (DoD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) grant to expand colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, education, and care coordination across Missouri’s community pharmacies. This award is in partnership with UMKC School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri, CPESN Missouri, and CPESN Community Health.

The PRCRP, part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), supports high impact cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship research that benefits the American public. This award recognizes Missouri’s community pharmacies as a scalable, accessible statewide infrastructure for delivering preventive cancer services to populations facing barriers such as rural isolation, limited access to care, and low health literacy.

A Statewide Pharmacy Led Strategy to Improve CRC Screening Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States and remains highly preventable through timely screening. Missouri is projected to see 3,010 new CRC cases and 1,260 deaths in 2025. Despite clear evidence supporting early detection, screening uptake remains suboptimal among average risk adults aged 45–75.

Through this PRCRP award, MPA will lead a two arm cluster randomized trial involving 100 pharmacies and 8,000 screening eligible adults. The initiative embeds CRC screening interventions directly into pharmacy workflows using pharmacy technicians trained as Community Health Workers (PT CHWs). The PT CHW model normalizes cancer prevention conversations, supports shared decision making, and strengthens continuity of care through medication synchronization workflows. This approach creates a replicable national blueprint for embedding preventive cancer care into pharmacies.

“Missouri’s pharmacy teams are uniquely positioned to close gaps in colorectal cancer screening,” said leadership from the Missouri

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Pharmacy Association. “This DoD PRCRP award recognizes the essential role pharmacies play in reaching patients where they are, reducing barriers to screening, and supporting early detection that saves lives.”

SPHERE: Technical Infrastructure Supporting Statewide CRC Screening This award strengthens Missouri’s statewide clinical infrastructure by integrating CRC screening workflows with SPHERE (System for Pharmacy Health Encounter Reporting and Evaluation), MPA’s secure, interoperable data platform designed to capture, normalize, and exchange pharmacy generated clinical information.

SPHERE will serve as the centralized data backbone for the CRC initiative. The platform enables structured clinical documentation for CRC education, referrals, and colonoscopy navigation. It supports interoperable data exchange with statewide health information systems and normalizes pharmacy generated clinical data for quality reporting and population level analysis, while its secure storage and audit controls align with federal data protection standards. By integrating CRC screening into SPHERE’s existing architecture, MPA ensures that preventive cancer services are supported by consistent documentation, reliable data pathways, and scalable statewide reporting. The platform also supports longitudinal patient engagement through traditional dispensing workflows, including medication synchronization, enabling pharmacies to maintain ongoing contact with patients overdue for screening.

About the Missouri Pharmacy Association The Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) is the statewide professional organization representing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy teams across all practice settings. MPA advances patient-centered care, rural health transformation, and the integration of pharmacy services into Missouri’s broader healthcare system.

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Built for What’s Next.

The future of independent pharmacy isn’t smaller.

It’s smarter.

Maximizing Medicare-patient effectiveness Year-round vaccination profits Real-time analytics Smarter inventory control Marketing support that drives traffic Operational insight that protects margin

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