Legislative season is upon us.

Legislative season is upon us.  This week we attended many more meetings with our legislators representing our MPhA members throughout the state.  Since the budget was released this week, it was very focused on the deficit and other fiscal concerns.  Although the legislators are extremely supportive of the role of the pharmacist in improving health care, the one question that is always brought up with regards to all current pharmacy issues is “will this cost us anything?”  It is always refreshing to inform them that pharmacists have actually been proven to provide savings through services provided.

I was also able to attend the MTM Academy Meeting this week.  As a new practitioner in the MTM community, it was invigorating to see practitioners working together through their association to further provide resources and opportunities for education and experience regarding MTM through MPhA.  I realize the role professional association membership plays in professional development, but it was still great to see the members themselves working to ensure the needs of the entire membership are being met. 

Signing Out

Just wrapping up my last week here at MPhA, looking back I have had quite an eventful five weeks.  In the last five weeks I have organized two events, MidWinter and Legislative Day, with the MPhA staff.  I have called all of the representatives (27) and senators (13) on the Health and Human Services Committees.  We have successfully scheduled meetings with all but 5 legislatores so far and have gone to 28 meetings.  I have been able to see how an idea can make its way to the capitol by way of a bill and hopefully make its way into legislation to lead to positive changes in our profession.  By far the legislative session has been the biggest part of this rotation which has really opened my eyes to what goes into making decisions about laws.  As I have said every week…take a few minutes to reach out to your legislators and let them know you are in their district, it does not take much but could really help you and the profession.