Sustaining the Pharmacy Access That Patients Expect

89%

Pharmacists Most Accessible Healthcare Destinations

say it is “very easy” or “somewhat easy” to access pharmacies – ranking their accessibility the highest among healthcare destinations tested (others tested include doctors, emergency rooms, nurses, primary care physicians, specialist physicians).

Pharmacists Most Accessible Healthcare Destinations

89%

say it is “very easy” or “somewhat easy” to access pharmacies – ranking their accessibility the highest among healthcare destinations tested (others tested include doctors, emergency rooms, nurses, primary care physicians, specialist physicians).

Morning Consult conducted this poll between September 9-11, 2023, among a national sample of 2,202 U.S. adults. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of U.S. adults based on gender, age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage points.

3-Part Post-Pandemic Access Plan

NACDS is advocating proactively to apply lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and to sustain access to pharmacy services that patients expect and rely upon.

  • NACDS urged an extension of the pharmacy access made possible through the “PREP Act.” The Biden Administration has taken action to accomplish most of this.

  • NACDS is urging states to use the time of the PREP Act extension to codify PREP Act pharmacy access for their residents.

  • NACDS is urging the U.S. Congress to pass and enact Medicare legislation, H.R. 1770, that will help seniors access pharmacy services authorized by states.

Drilling Down: The Remaining Two Steps

Federal Medicare Legislation (H.R. 1770/S. 2477)

The Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act will help sustain access to testing, treatment, and vaccination services for seniors.

State Actions

Former CDC official and NACDS: States should continue “PREP Act” pharmacy access proven effective during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Videos & Public Service Announcements 2020-2021

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, NACDS developed videos and public service announcements to showcase the dedicated work of NACDS Member Companies and their teams, resilience of the their suppliers, and the role of pharmacy teams in administering COVID-19 vaccines to protect patients nationwide.

Posted On: March 2021 – Also Available in Spanish

Posted on: January 2021 – Also Available in Spanish

Posted on: April 2020

Pandemic Lessons Learned

See NACDS reports issued throughout the pandemic, which helped to inform the pandemic response and which will help to shape future preparedness.

Pharmacy’s COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination Insights Featured in NACDS Report

Pharmacy’s Impact on Value-Based Care Can Advance The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation

Report Shows How to Leverage Pharmacies Against Health Inequities

Pre-Pandemic Work

Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, NACDS was working to improve patients’ healthcare outcomes by enhancing pharmacy access. See the work that helped to pave the way for pandemic solutions – and beyond.

NACDS Literature Program

Chronic disease prevention and treatment, policy recommendations

Inmar DIR White Paper