FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 9, 2002 |
CONTACT:
HRSA PRESS OFFICE
301-443-3376 |
HHS Funds Support Center to Help Safety Net Providers
Delivery High-Quality Pharmacy Care
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced a $993,392 contract
with the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) to help safety net
health care providers deliver high-quality pharmacy services for uninsured
and underserved Americans.
Community health centers, AIDS drug assistance programs and other community
health projects supported by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration
will be able to obtain pharmacy advice and technical assistance from
the new Pharmacy Services Support Center in Washington, D.C. The support
center contract was awarded for one year with four one-year options.
“Top-flight pharmacy care is a critical component of the President’s
initiative to strengthen the health care safety net for those most in
need,” Secretary Thompson said. “Pharmacy services must keep pace as
the services provided by health centers expand over the next five years.
This contract will help health centers and others provide affordable
prescription drugs and more comprehensive pharmacy services to their
patients.”
The American Pharmaceutical Association is the largest professional
association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA’s 50,000 members
include practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, students,
pharmacy technicians, and others. The association is a leader in providing
professional information and education for pharmacists and is an advocate
for improved health through the provision of comprehensive pharmaceutical
care.
Additionally, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
and other national pharmacy associations will participate in the contract
to ensure that the new center is equipped to provide the latest information
on pharmacy practice.
Services provided by the Pharmacy Services Support Center will include:
- helping HRSA’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) conduct policy and
pharmacoeconomic analyses on effective pharmacy practice and program
needs of HRSA grantees;
- providing information, evaluation, and recommendations to community
health networks and community service organizations concerning innovative
approaches in all practice settings for affordable, quality pharmaceutical
services, including the effective use of the 340B drug pricing program;
and
- recruiting and managing a pharmacy consultant pool that will be
available to provide on-site technical assistance to health centers
and other safety net providers.
For more information about the Pharmacy Services Support Center, visit
OPA’s web site at http://www.bphc.hrsa.gov/opa
and click on "What's New."
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Note: All HRSA press releases, fact sheets and other
press materials are available at
http://newsroom.hrsa.gov
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