For Immediate Release                                                                            Contact:  Mark Riley

February 21, 2006                                                                                  Executive Vice President

                                                                                                               501-372-5250

Long-term Care Facility Residents Assured Right to Choose Pharmacy

Little Rock, Arkansas - During the implementation of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program or Medicare Part D, several long-term care (LTC) facilities across Arkansas were and have been contracting with one pharmacy to provide pharmacy services.  Therefore, many residents of these facilities were and are being denied their freedom to choose a pharmacy provider.  On February 7, 2006, Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe issued an opinion stating that the implementation of Medicare Part D does not affect the freedom of a LTC facility resident to choose a preferred pharmacy.

“Attorney General Beebe's opinion clearly protects Arkansas’ senior citizens,” says Mark Riley, executive vice president of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA).  “Pharmacists hold their patients’ health in the highest esteem and understand the medicinal needs of their patients.  Interference of that relationship can be detrimental to the patient’s health.”

APA strongly encourages families of LTC facility residents to investigate as to whether or not the facility is safeguarding their residents’ freedom of choice.  Arkansas law guarantees this freedom.  However, family members need to be aware that they may be required to formally request for their pharmacy of choice to be used.

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) was founded in 1882 as the professional association for the profession of pharmacy in Arkansas.  The Association represents over 2,000 members consisting of pharmacists, pharmacy students and members of the industry who support the objectives of the Association.  Members are kept abreast of pertinent healthcare issues and trends through the quarterly journal, newsletters and the APA web page.  APA also provides its members with opportunities for professional growth through continuing education programs, District Meetings and an Annual State Convention.  Legislative advocacy at both the state and federal levels are another important focus of APA.  Overall, the Arkansas Pharmacists Association strives to enhance the practice of pharmacy and to improve public health through rational cost-effective drug therapy and outcomes-oriented drug therapy management.

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