Dean of School of Pharmacy Heads to the Hill

Dean Ried and Congressman Zeldin in Washington, DC

Dr. L. Douglas Ried, Dean of Stony Brook University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS) recently visited Washington, DC, to advocate for the School’s federal legislative priorities. Dean Ried met with Congressman Lee Zeldin and the health policy staff of Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, Congressman Peter King and Congressman Tom Suozzi.

Legislative priorities discussed included the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, which would enable Medicare beneficiaries access to pharmacist-provided services under Medicare Part B by amending the Social Security Act. These services would be reimbursable under Medicare Part B if they are provided in medically underserved communities and consistent with state scope of practice laws.

The Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Drug Spending Act was also discussed during the meetings. If enacted, this bill would prohibit retroactive direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees on pharmacies and support prospective, transparent disclosure to pharmacies, employers and consumers, of all fee structures, performance-based network payments and penalties, and network participation requirements for any pharmacy benefit administrator.

“The legislative priorities discussed with the Long Island Congressional Delegation provide financial stability to pharmacies in the community and improve patients’ access to primary care, including monitoring the effectiveness of patients’ medications, identification and reducing adverse effects of medications, and medication therapy management through improved adherence and reducing overmedication,” said Dean Ried.

Stony Brook SPPS’s vision is to prepare student and practicing pharmacists who provide patient-focused pharmacist care as members of collaborative health care teams and who seek leadership opportunities to innovate in all areas of pharmacy practice. The School conducts an excellent educational program for its students, contributes to scientific knowledge through its active programs in research, and actively participates in community service through its programs in continuing education.