Stakeholders participate in regional White House forum on health care reform

At Monday's White House forum on health care reform held in Los Angeles, the discussion concerning how to fix our broken health care system and cover the 47 million Americans (6.8 million Californians) who are uninsured underscored the need for action now.

Governor Schwarzenegger put forth three elements that he felt the President's plan should embrace, including: universal coverage, personal responsibility and prevention. Pharmacists are uniquely qualified to help and stand at the ready.

In attendance for the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) was Past President, Brian Komoto, owner of Komoto's Pharmacy in Delano, California, and Lynn Rolston, Chief Executive Officer of CPhA. "During the forum we heard stories from several patients, whose access to health care was compromised for one reason or another, resulting in tragic consequences. These stories highlighted the many facets of the problem. While coverage is important, earlier prevention would have been helpful as well. Preventative care models should be a major component of the new reform along with the need for patient accountability and education," Komoto stated. "This is something pharmacists have been advocating for years."

Pharmacists have been key in the promotion of community care and healthy living. They have helped reduce California smoking rates to one of the lowest in the nation, second only to Utah, through smoking cessation reminders and programs. In addition, pharmacists provide immunization clinics and other health management programs, such as hypertension and diabetes. As patients visit their pharmacies each month, pharmacists consult with them and keep them on track with their treatment plans. "In diabetes management, the success of the program isn't just the methods used to educate, track and manage the patient, it is more about empowering patients to make sure they understand what causes them to go off track and also to make sure they know someone is watching/reminding them that we are there to help them," Komoto explains.

"For healthcare reform to become a reality in 2009, we have 100 days to formulate our plan," stated White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes. The California Pharmacists Association urges all Californians to submit their ideas, concerns and questions to the health care reform teams either through the Governor's website www.gov.ca.gov or the President's website, www.healthreform.gov to join in crafting solutions now. We can no longer delay better care for our citizens.

California will be working with the rest of the nation to find solutions to the problems of health care access and affordable coverage for all. "The opportunity for pharmacy to participate in the regional health forum is extremely important," states Lynn Rolston. "Adding millions of new patients to the health system will create a tremendous workload burden that physicians cannot manage alone. It will be crucial that other providers of care step up to help, and pharmacists have special expertise in medication management and can add supportive services at an easily accessible location for all."

The California Pharmacists Association is the largest state pharmacy association in the nation, and the professional society representing all pharmacists in California. The mission of the Association is to act as the leader in advocating the role of the pharmacist as an essential provider of health care, and to support pharmacists in providing optimal patient care.

For more information about CPhA, please visit our website at www.cpha.com.