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House of Delegates-1977
House of Delegates-1977
Summary of APhA House of Delegates Policy Decisions
The following table summarizes the policy recommendations adopted, rejected and/or referred by the House of Delegates during the
124th APhA Annua l Meeting in New York . For background information on each recommendation , refer to the page citations noted next to
the subject area of each recommendation .
SUBJECT AREA
RECOMMENDATION
ACTION
Utilization of Fluorinated Hydrocarbons in Aerosol Products for Medicinal Use (see page 446)
1. The Assoc iation supports legislative or regulatory actions banning the non-essential use of fluorinated hydrocarbons; however, the Association recognizes the essential role played by fluorinated hydrocarbons in some medicinal aerosols and supports the selective exempt ion of medicinal aerosols where equivalent alternative dosage forms are not available .
Adopted
Prescription Drug Advertising (see page 448)
1. Policy Decisions 63-1 , 63-2 , 69-1, and 71 -21 on Prescription Drug Adv~rtising are rescinded , and any interpretation that these or any other APhA policy statement prohibits or discourages the dissemination of price information to patients, by advertising or by any other means, is disclaimed. 2. Advertisements about prescription drugs provided to patients, including prescription drug prices, should not encourage or induce the obtaining or use of drugs in excess of a patient's therapeutic requirements .
Adopted
(ContiClUed on next page)
Vol. NS 17, No.7, July 1977
411
(Summary of Polley Decisions . .. Continued)
f
SUBJECT AREA
RECOM MEN DATION
ACTION
Mail Order Pharmaceutical Service (see page 449)
1. The Association opposes mail order pharmaceutical service when a) such service fails to communicate complete, professionally indicated information regarding therapy at a time when such i'nformation best satisfies the health care needs of the patient; b) such service denies a patient "freedom of choice" for pharmaceutical service; and c) such service fails to provide for emergency and acute, as well as chr'onic needs. '
Rejected
Polygraph Tests (see page 450)
1. Polygraph tests should not be used as a means of pre-employment screening in pharmacies. 2. Polygraph tests should not be used in pharmacies for routine "security" checking of employees. 3. Polygraph tests should not be used in pharmacies in the course of investigations for cause. .
Adopted
National Health Insurance (see page 451)
1. A National Health Insurance pharmaceutical service benefit must include acceptable methods for ensuring equitable reimbursement to pharmacists for products and services which are to be provided under the program. 2. Reimbursement to pharmacists for dispensed medication and devices under a National Health Insurance, plan should be based on professional fees for professional services plus reimbursement for the actual cost of any drug product or device provided. 3. A National Health Insurance pharmaceutical service benefit must optimize administrative efficiency and minimize administrative costs.
Adopted
"Maximum Allowable Cost" Regulations and Guidelines Policy (see page 452) '
1. The American Pharmaceutical Association supports only those governmentoperated or financed third-party prescription programs which ensure that participating pharmacists receive individualized, equitable compensation for professional services and reimbursement for products provided under the program. 2. The American Pharmaceutical Association regards "equitable compensation" under any government-operated or financed third-party prescription programs as requiring payments equivalent to a participating pharmacist's prevailing charges to the self-paying public for comparable services and products plus additional, documented direct and indirect costs which are generated by participation in the program. 3. The American Pharmaceutical Association supports those government-operated or financed third-party prescription programs which base compensation for professional services on professional fees and reimbursement for products provided on actual cost, with the provision of a specific exception to this policy in those instances when equity in professional compensation cannot otherwise be attained.
Adopted
Uniform Designation for Pharmacists (see -page 454)
1. The profession of pharmacy should establish and use a uniform designation to identify an individual as a pharmacist. 2. The profession should adopt and use the designation "Pharmacist" following an individual's name as the uniform designation identifying that individual as a pharmacist. 3. The abbreviation ';Pharm" should be the proper uniform abbreviation for the designation "Pharmacist"; that abbreviation to be used at each individual's discretion. 4. At the discretbn of individual pharmacists, earned academic degrees or state licensure designation may be indicpted following the uniform designation.
Sections 1, 2 and 4 adopted; Section 3 tabled.
State Board Inspection of Pharmacies (see page 456)
1. Necessary steps, which may include legislation, should be taken at the state level to ensure that all non-criminal inspections of pharmacies are under the direct control of each state board of pharmacy. 2. The Association recommends that the various state boards of pharmacy should require at least a BS degree in Pharmacy and licensure as a minimum qualification for employment of pharmacy inspectors and require individuals employed as pharmacy inspectors to regularly update their knowledge of pharmacy practice. 3. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy should be responsible for development of uniform guidelines and standards for non-criminal inspections of pharmacies. .
Adopted
Definition of Pharmacy Practice (see page 457)
1. Pharmacy practice is defined as the application of a scientific body of knowledge to a patient-oriented health service that assures safety and efficacy in drug and drugrelated therapy through procuring, storing, prescribing, compounding, dispensing, delivering, administering, and use of drugs and related articles.
Referred to the appropriate Policy Committee.
Roles in Health Care for Pharmacists (see page 459)
1. The Association supports legislative and judicial actions that permit pharmacists to perform those functions consistent with the Association's definition of pharmacy practice necessary to fulfill their professional responsibilities to the patients they serve.
Referred to the appropriate Policy Committee.
Licensure of Graduates of Foreign Colleges of Pharmacy (see page 459)
1. The Association supports the adoption of a uniform system of evaluation that permits objective determination of the educational qualifications of graduates of foreign colleges of pharmacy who wish to qualify for state licensure examinations.
Adopted
412
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical ASSOCiation
SUBJECT AREA
RECOMMENDATION
ACTION
Degrees in Pharmacy (see page 461)
1. The Assoc iation endorses a single professional'degree in pharmacy. 2. The single degree in pharmacy should be a professional doctoral degree. 3. The educational program leading to a single professional dootoral degree in pharmacy shou ld be pharmacy practice oriented . 4. The educational program leading to a single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should enable a pharmacist to qualify for licensure examination upon graduation and to practice immediately upon successful completion of the licensure examination. 5. The development of standards for the curricu la leading to the single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should involve input from various segments of the profession.
Adopted
Individual Professional Judgment (see page 463)
1. Each pharmacist; regardless of place or style of practice, must be free to exercise individual professional judgment and must have complete authority for those individual professional responsibilities assumed. 2. In cases where group decisions by pharmacists regarding professional matters are indicated, the decision-making process should ensure the opportunity for input by all pharmacists affected by the decisions.
Adopted
Communication of Prescription Drug-Related Information to Patients
1. Patients have Jhe right to be informed participants in decisions related to their personal health care. 2. Pharmacists have a professional obligation to contribute to the 'education of patients to help achieve optimal drug therapy. . 3. Pharmacists shou ld provide drug-related information to their patients by verbal consultations , by written or printed material, or any other means or combination of means that is best su ited to an individual patient's needs for specific information. 4. Judgments regarding the content of prescription drug-related information provided to the patient and the manner of communication should be made jointly by the prescriber and the pharmacist being fully cognizant of the patient's right to know. 5. Any legislative or regulatory actions mandating communication of drug-related information to patients should provide the prescriber and pharmacist discretion to make professional judgment,s regarding the content and r:nanner of cor:nmunication .
Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 adopted; Section 4 referred to appropriate Policy Committee.
· .. that House of Delegates Rule No. 3, New Business, be amended to include the language ... "Any matter of new business which will result in the modification of existing Association policy or the adoption of new Association policy will require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present a'nd voting for adoption."
Defeated
· .. that Chapter I, Meetings, Article VIII, Rules of Order, be amended to include the language .. . "Rules adopted by the House which are parliamentary in nature and not in conflict with these Bylaws may be adopted or amended upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present and voting. " .
Defeated
· . . that ' the APhA immediately establish an ad hoc committee to review activities of other associations in this area with a goal toward redefining affiliation after a thorough analysis of all alternatives ... that this ad hoc committee .review the entire spectrum of affil iation from the mandatory membership requirement to the provision of state services and . . . that this committee submit a written report with recommendations to the Board of Trustees of APhA and to the general membership prior to the 1978 convention .
Defeated
· .. that the APhA provide, upon request of any member, an informational do-it-yourself kit to' assist such member to individually negotiate a fee revision with a thirdparty provider.
Referred to the Board of Trustees
· . . that the APhA propose and support the development of an educational mechanism which will enable current baccalaureates in pharmacy to attain a professi,onal doctoral degree:
Referred to the appropriate Policy Committee
(see page 465)
House of Delegates Rule NO.3 (see page 417)
Chapter I, Meetings, Article VIII , Rules of Order (see page 417)
Study of Affiliation (see page 417)
Do-It-Yourself Kit for Third-Party Fee Revisions (see page 418)
Professional Doctoral Degree for p'harmacy (see page 418)
Student Representation on APhA Board of Trustees (see page 418)
"Maximum Allowable Cost" Regulations and Guidelines Policy (see pages 412 and 420)
Vol. NS 17, No.7, July 1977
, . . . that the APhA Board of Trustees be directed to initiate and implement all necessary Bylaws Changes and ' organizational revision required for the addition of a student, without voting privileges, to the APhA Board of Trustees and ... that the APhA Board of Trustees include in its report to the 1978 House of Delegates' any progress taken on this resolution .
Defeated
· .. that the following be added to Whole N.-umbered Section F, " Maximum Allowable Cost" Regu lations and Guidelines Policy of the Report of the Comm ittee on Public Affairs: " The APhA supports those government-operated or financed third-party prescription programs which base audits of a pharmacist's prevailing charges upon a pharmacist's current, written pricing policy and a comparison of the partiCipating pharmacist 's charges in the public and private sectors under the pricing policy, with the pricing policy and related records of a pharmacist to be treated as confidential records except for auditing and related purposes." '"
Defeated
413
Summary of APhA House of Delegates Policy Decisions
The following table summarizes the policy recommendations adopted, rejected and/or referred by the House of Delegates during the
124th APhA Annua l Meeting in New York . For background information on each recommendation , refer to the page citations noted next to
the subject area of each recommendation .
SUBJECT AREA
RECOMMENDATION
ACTION
Utilization of Fluorinated Hydrocarbons in Aerosol Products for Medicinal Use (see page 446)
1. The Assoc iation supports legislative or regulatory actions banning the non-essential use of fluorinated hydrocarbons; however, the Association recognizes the essential role played by fluorinated hydrocarbons in some medicinal aerosols and supports the selective exempt ion of medicinal aerosols where equivalent alternative dosage forms are not available .
Adopted
Prescription Drug Advertising (see page 448)
1. Policy Decisions 63-1 , 63-2 , 69-1, and 71 -21 on Prescription Drug Adv~rtising are rescinded , and any interpretation that these or any other APhA policy statement prohibits or discourages the dissemination of price information to patients, by advertising or by any other means, is disclaimed. 2. Advertisements about prescription drugs provided to patients, including prescription drug prices, should not encourage or induce the obtaining or use of drugs in excess of a patient's therapeutic requirements .
Adopted
(ContiClUed on next page)
Vol. NS 17, No.7, July 1977
411
(Summary of Polley Decisions . .. Continued)
f
SUBJECT AREA
RECOM MEN DATION
ACTION
Mail Order Pharmaceutical Service (see page 449)
1. The Association opposes mail order pharmaceutical service when a) such service fails to communicate complete, professionally indicated information regarding therapy at a time when such i'nformation best satisfies the health care needs of the patient; b) such service denies a patient "freedom of choice" for pharmaceutical service; and c) such service fails to provide for emergency and acute, as well as chr'onic needs. '
Rejected
Polygraph Tests (see page 450)
1. Polygraph tests should not be used as a means of pre-employment screening in pharmacies. 2. Polygraph tests should not be used in pharmacies for routine "security" checking of employees. 3. Polygraph tests should not be used in pharmacies in the course of investigations for cause. .
Adopted
National Health Insurance (see page 451)
1. A National Health Insurance pharmaceutical service benefit must include acceptable methods for ensuring equitable reimbursement to pharmacists for products and services which are to be provided under the program. 2. Reimbursement to pharmacists for dispensed medication and devices under a National Health Insurance, plan should be based on professional fees for professional services plus reimbursement for the actual cost of any drug product or device provided. 3. A National Health Insurance pharmaceutical service benefit must optimize administrative efficiency and minimize administrative costs.
Adopted
"Maximum Allowable Cost" Regulations and Guidelines Policy (see page 452) '
1. The American Pharmaceutical Association supports only those governmentoperated or financed third-party prescription programs which ensure that participating pharmacists receive individualized, equitable compensation for professional services and reimbursement for products provided under the program. 2. The American Pharmaceutical Association regards "equitable compensation" under any government-operated or financed third-party prescription programs as requiring payments equivalent to a participating pharmacist's prevailing charges to the self-paying public for comparable services and products plus additional, documented direct and indirect costs which are generated by participation in the program. 3. The American Pharmaceutical Association supports those government-operated or financed third-party prescription programs which base compensation for professional services on professional fees and reimbursement for products provided on actual cost, with the provision of a specific exception to this policy in those instances when equity in professional compensation cannot otherwise be attained.
Adopted
Uniform Designation for Pharmacists (see -page 454)
1. The profession of pharmacy should establish and use a uniform designation to identify an individual as a pharmacist. 2. The profession should adopt and use the designation "Pharmacist" following an individual's name as the uniform designation identifying that individual as a pharmacist. 3. The abbreviation ';Pharm" should be the proper uniform abbreviation for the designation "Pharmacist"; that abbreviation to be used at each individual's discretion. 4. At the discretbn of individual pharmacists, earned academic degrees or state licensure designation may be indicpted following the uniform designation.
Sections 1, 2 and 4 adopted; Section 3 tabled.
State Board Inspection of Pharmacies (see page 456)
1. Necessary steps, which may include legislation, should be taken at the state level to ensure that all non-criminal inspections of pharmacies are under the direct control of each state board of pharmacy. 2. The Association recommends that the various state boards of pharmacy should require at least a BS degree in Pharmacy and licensure as a minimum qualification for employment of pharmacy inspectors and require individuals employed as pharmacy inspectors to regularly update their knowledge of pharmacy practice. 3. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy should be responsible for development of uniform guidelines and standards for non-criminal inspections of pharmacies. .
Adopted
Definition of Pharmacy Practice (see page 457)
1. Pharmacy practice is defined as the application of a scientific body of knowledge to a patient-oriented health service that assures safety and efficacy in drug and drugrelated therapy through procuring, storing, prescribing, compounding, dispensing, delivering, administering, and use of drugs and related articles.
Referred to the appropriate Policy Committee.
Roles in Health Care for Pharmacists (see page 459)
1. The Association supports legislative and judicial actions that permit pharmacists to perform those functions consistent with the Association's definition of pharmacy practice necessary to fulfill their professional responsibilities to the patients they serve.
Referred to the appropriate Policy Committee.
Licensure of Graduates of Foreign Colleges of Pharmacy (see page 459)
1. The Association supports the adoption of a uniform system of evaluation that permits objective determination of the educational qualifications of graduates of foreign colleges of pharmacy who wish to qualify for state licensure examinations.
Adopted
412
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical ASSOCiation
SUBJECT AREA
RECOMMENDATION
ACTION
Degrees in Pharmacy (see page 461)
1. The Assoc iation endorses a single professional'degree in pharmacy. 2. The single degree in pharmacy should be a professional doctoral degree. 3. The educational program leading to a single professional dootoral degree in pharmacy shou ld be pharmacy practice oriented . 4. The educational program leading to a single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should enable a pharmacist to qualify for licensure examination upon graduation and to practice immediately upon successful completion of the licensure examination. 5. The development of standards for the curricu la leading to the single professional doctoral degree in pharmacy should involve input from various segments of the profession.
Adopted
Individual Professional Judgment (see page 463)
1. Each pharmacist; regardless of place or style of practice, must be free to exercise individual professional judgment and must have complete authority for those individual professional responsibilities assumed. 2. In cases where group decisions by pharmacists regarding professional matters are indicated, the decision-making process should ensure the opportunity for input by all pharmacists affected by the decisions.
Adopted
Communication of Prescription Drug-Related Information to Patients
1. Patients have Jhe right to be informed participants in decisions related to their personal health care. 2. Pharmacists have a professional obligation to contribute to the 'education of patients to help achieve optimal drug therapy. . 3. Pharmacists shou ld provide drug-related information to their patients by verbal consultations , by written or printed material, or any other means or combination of means that is best su ited to an individual patient's needs for specific information. 4. Judgments regarding the content of prescription drug-related information provided to the patient and the manner of communication should be made jointly by the prescriber and the pharmacist being fully cognizant of the patient's right to know. 5. Any legislative or regulatory actions mandating communication of drug-related information to patients should provide the prescriber and pharmacist discretion to make professional judgment,s regarding the content and r:nanner of cor:nmunication .
Sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 adopted; Section 4 referred to appropriate Policy Committee.
· .. that House of Delegates Rule No. 3, New Business, be amended to include the language ... "Any matter of new business which will result in the modification of existing Association policy or the adoption of new Association policy will require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present a'nd voting for adoption."
Defeated
· .. that Chapter I, Meetings, Article VIII, Rules of Order, be amended to include the language .. . "Rules adopted by the House which are parliamentary in nature and not in conflict with these Bylaws may be adopted or amended upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present and voting. " .
Defeated
· . . that ' the APhA immediately establish an ad hoc committee to review activities of other associations in this area with a goal toward redefining affiliation after a thorough analysis of all alternatives ... that this ad hoc committee .review the entire spectrum of affil iation from the mandatory membership requirement to the provision of state services and . . . that this committee submit a written report with recommendations to the Board of Trustees of APhA and to the general membership prior to the 1978 convention .
Defeated
· .. that the APhA provide, upon request of any member, an informational do-it-yourself kit to' assist such member to individually negotiate a fee revision with a thirdparty provider.
Referred to the Board of Trustees
· . . that the APhA propose and support the development of an educational mechanism which will enable current baccalaureates in pharmacy to attain a professi,onal doctoral degree:
Referred to the appropriate Policy Committee
(see page 465)
House of Delegates Rule NO.3 (see page 417)
Chapter I, Meetings, Article VIII , Rules of Order (see page 417)
Study of Affiliation (see page 417)
Do-It-Yourself Kit for Third-Party Fee Revisions (see page 418)
Professional Doctoral Degree for p'harmacy (see page 418)
Student Representation on APhA Board of Trustees (see page 418)
"Maximum Allowable Cost" Regulations and Guidelines Policy (see pages 412 and 420)
Vol. NS 17, No.7, July 1977
, . . . that the APhA Board of Trustees be directed to initiate and implement all necessary Bylaws Changes and ' organizational revision required for the addition of a student, without voting privileges, to the APhA Board of Trustees and ... that the APhA Board of Trustees include in its report to the 1978 House of Delegates' any progress taken on this resolution .
Defeated
· .. that the following be added to Whole N.-umbered Section F, " Maximum Allowable Cost" Regu lations and Guidelines Policy of the Report of the Comm ittee on Public Affairs: " The APhA supports those government-operated or financed third-party prescription programs which base audits of a pharmacist's prevailing charges upon a pharmacist's current, written pricing policy and a comparison of the partiCipating pharmacist 's charges in the public and private sectors under the pricing policy, with the pricing policy and related records of a pharmacist to be treated as confidential records except for auditing and related purposes." '"
Defeated
413