URI pharmacy student lobbies Congress for lower drug costs, greater patient access

March 20, 2024
URI Doctor of Pharmacy student Alexander Vose attended RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, during which he lobbied Congress along with his partner for the week, Marjorie Deslauriers from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
URI Doctor of Pharmacy student Alexander Vose attended RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, during which he lobbied Congress along with his partner for the week, Marjorie Deslauriers from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Alexander Vose joined colleagues from around the country in Washington, D.C. for RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill

A University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy student recently experienced first-hand how Congress works, learned how to discuss pharmaceutical issues with government representatives, and helped lobby Congress for lower drug costs and greater access for patients.

Third-year Doctor of Pharmacy student Alexander Vose attended Congressional sessions and met with Rhode Island’s representatives and senators as well as those from around the country as part of the recent RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill, organized by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. The event aims to train student pharmacists to become the next generation of pharmacy advocates, beginning with “U” Academy, which provides students a half-day of training to learn about Congress and how to discuss key pharmacy issues to influence policy outcomes. Students then join CEOs, practicing pharmacists, state association leaders, and other pro-patient, pro-pharmacy advocates to lobby on the Hill.

URI pharmacy student Alexander Vose, second from right, meeta with his team of fellow pharmaceutical professionals to prepare their presentations to Congress members during RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill.
URI pharmacy student Alexander Vose, second from right, meeta with his team of fellow pharmaceutical professionals to prepare their presentations to Congress members during RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill.

“I took Dean Orr and Dean LaPlante’s Pharmacy Leadership and Advocacy class last spring and was able to learn about legislation and how it affects pharmacy, and specifically heard from Dean Larrat about his experience on Capitol Hill,” Vose said. “When on the Hill for this event, I found myself looking back on these experiences and was able to use the knowledge I gained from that class at this event.”

Vose put his knowledge to use during a discussion with representatives about Pharmacy Benefit Managers, third-party companies that function as intermediaries between insurance providers and pharmacies. Vose said the for-profit companies drive up copays for patients, leading to non-adherence to their medications, and ultimately making it harder to manage their care. The group recommended Congress provide regulation over PBMs and ban spread pricing, a process by which PBMs charge significantly more to payers like Medicare than they give to pharmacies.

U.S. Capitol
U.S. Capitol

“We spoke about how PBMs do not adequately compensate community pharmacies for the services they provide, causing losses on prescriptions that are filled,” Vose said. “This causes many smaller pharmacies to close and puts a further burden on those that remain open and must take on more patients. Many PBMs also force patients to fill at certain pharmacies or receive mail orders, which allows them only to receive medication rather than direct patient care. We asked for actionable steps to help consumers.”

The group also addressed the bipartisan Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, a COVID-era ruling that allowed pharmacists to test for common illnesses such as COVID and influenza, and to provide treatment and vaccines. However, pharmacies are currently unable to bill Medicare Part B to provide these services to seniors, which Vose’s team asked Congress members to change. 

“This event was very impactful to me. I will take this experience with me into my future career,” Vose said, adding he plans to become an ambulatory care pharmacist. “I hope to be able to see my patients able to use medications that are most efficacious to them without having to worry about barriers from insurance with the reformation of PBMs, which is definitely on the horizon from what I have seen during my time on Capitol Hill. Seeing so many others in the profession all coming together and advocating for legislation that will have a large impact on our profession was inspiring to me.”