Kansas Common Sense: Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus Briefing

Statement

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of hosting a Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus briefing to educate lawmakers and their staffs on the important role pharmacists play in rural America. I serve as a co-chair of this caucus with Senator John Tester of Montana. The purpose of the Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus is to raise awareness and advocate for community pharmacy issues. Community pharmacists are a vital part of our nation's health care delivery system, and in many Kansas communities the local pharmacist is often a patient's most direct link to health care. Access to medications, health care supplies, and the counsel pharmacists provide is very important to the health and well-being of every American.

I invited Brian Caswell, R.Ph of Baxter Springs to speak at the briefing in order to better illustrate how pharmacists in rural communities care for patients by administering immunizations, and helping patients manage their medications and understand their health care choices. Brian is the past president of the Kansas Pharmacists Association and president of Wolkar Drug in Baxter Springs. Brian also told us about Kansas and Missouri pharmacists who worked together last year to provide emergency care and medications for those affected by the tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri. Thanks to Brian for sharing those inspiring stories and for sharing more about the important role of pharmacists in Kansas.

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