APhA Policy Manual

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).
2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.
3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.
4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.
5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.
2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.
3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.
4. APhA affirms that the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.
5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.
6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in opioid-associated emergencies, drug diversion, and substance use disorders.
2. APhA supports recognition of pharmacists as the health care providers who must exercise professional judgment in the assessment of a patient’s conditions to fulfill corresponding responsibility for the use of controlled substances and other medications with the potential for misuse and/or diversion.
3. APhA supports pharmacists’ access to and use of prescription monitoring programs to identify and prevent drug misuse and/or diversion.
4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies that permit pharmacists to independently prescribe opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.
5. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in selecting appropriate therapy and dosing and initiating and providing education about the proper use of opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.

APhA advocates for pharmacists’ independent prescriptive authority of medications indicated for opioid use disorders (MOUDs) and other substance use disorders to expand patient access to treatment.

APhA supports a system of equal opportunity with the same terms, conditions, and prices available for all pharmacies.

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in opioid-associated emergencies, drug diversion, and substance use disorders.
2. APhA supports recognition of pharmacists as the health care providers who must exercise professional judgment in the assessment of a patient’s conditions to fulfill corresponding responsibility for the use of controlled substances and other medications with the potential for misuse and/or diversion.
3. APhA supports pharmacists’ access to and use of prescription monitoring programs to identify and prevent drug misuse and/or diversion.
4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies that permit pharmacists to independently prescribe opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.
5. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in selecting appropriate therapy and dosing and initiating and providing education about the proper use of opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.

1. APhA supports the expansion of patient access to diabetes education, support, and prevention, including but not limited to the National Diabetes Prevention Program or DSMES.
2. APhA calls upon public and private payers to expand reimbursement for pharmacist-based services as providers of diabetes education, support, and prevention regardless of practice setting.
3. APhA advocates for campaigns focused on increased community wellness awareness and health benefits for diabetes education, support, and prevention.

1. APhA supports a vigorous long-term program for the recruitment of a diverse population of student pharmacists into the pharmacy profession.
2. APhA encourages the development and regular updating of comprehensive recruitment materials, directed toward diversity and inclusion, that address such issues as pharmacy career opportunities, financial aid, and educational prerequisites, and that highlight professional diverse role models.
3. APhA encourages national, state, and local association; schools; students; and industry to create a network of pharmacists who would serve as role models for a diverse population of student pharmacists.
4. APhA supports the development of guidelines that assist schools of pharmacy in implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives into student pharmacist recruitment programs.

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.
2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.
3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.
4. APhA affirms that the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.
5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.
6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

1. APhA supports culturally sensitive outreach efforts to increase mutual understanding of the risks and other issues of using prescription medications without a prescription order or using unapproved products.
2. APhA supports expanding culturally competent health care services in all communities.

1. Recognizing the diverse patient population served by our profession and the impact of cultural diversity on patient safety and medication use outcomes, APhA encourages pharmacists to continually strive to achieve and develop cultural awareness, sensitivity, and cultural competence.
2. APhA shall facilitate access to resources that assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in achieving and maintaining cultural competence relevant to their practice.

1. APhA encourages the development and use of a system for billing of medication therapy management (MTM) services that: (a) includes a standardized data set for transmission of billing claims, (b) utilizes a standardized process that is consistent with claim billing by other health care providers, and (c) utilizes a billing platform that is accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. APhA supports the pharmacist’s or pharmacy’s choice of a documentation system that allows for transmission of any MTM billing claim and interfaces with the billing platform used by the insurer or payer.
3. APhA encourages pharmacists to use the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for billing of MTM services.
4. APhA supports efforts to further develop CPT codes for billing of pharmacists’ services, through the work of the Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC) and Pharmacy e-HIT Collaborative.

The American Pharmacist Association (APhA) encourages collaboration with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and other public health organizations to increase pharmacists’ participation in initiatives designed to meet global, national, regional, state, local, and community health goals.

1. APhA supports education for pharmacists and student pharmacists to address issues of pain management, palliative care, appropriate use of opioid reversal agents in opioid-associated emergencies, drug diversion, and substance use disorders.
2. APhA supports recognition of pharmacists as the health care providers who must exercise professional judgment in the assessment of a patient’s conditions to fulfill corresponding responsibility for the use of controlled substances and other medications with the potential for misuse and/or diversion.
3. APhA supports pharmacists’ access to and use of prescription monitoring programs to identify and prevent drug misuse and/or diversion.
4. APhA supports the development and implementation of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies that permit pharmacists to independently prescribe opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.
5. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in selecting appropriate therapy and dosing and initiating and providing education about the proper use of opioid reversal agents to prevent deaths due to opioid-associated emergencies.

1. APhA encourages the development and use of a system for billing of medication therapy management (MTM) services that: (a) includes a standardized data set for transmission of billing claims, (b) utilizes a standardized process that is consistent with claim billing by other health care providers, and (c) utilizes a billing platform that is accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. APhA supports the pharmacist’s or pharmacy’s choice of a documentation system that allows for transmission of any MTM billing claim and interfaces with the billing platform used by the insurer or payer.
3. APhA encourages pharmacists to use the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for billing of MTM services.
4. APhA supports efforts to further develop CPT codes for billing of pharmacists’ services, through the work of the Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC) and Pharmacy e-HIT Collaborative.

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).
2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.
3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.
4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.
5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

1. APhA requests that state boards of pharmacy and legislative bodies regulate pharmacy practice using a standard of care regulatory model similar to other health professions’ regulatory models, thereby allowing pharmacists to practice at the level consistent with their individual education, training, experience, and practice setting.
2. To support implementation of a standard of care regulatory model, APhA reaffirms 2002 policy that encourages states to provide pharmacy boards with the following: (a) adequate resources; (b) independent authority, including autonomy from other agencies; and (c) assistance in meeting their mission to protect the public health and safety of consumers.
3. APhA encourages NABP as well as state and national pharmacy associations to support and collaborate with state boards of pharmacy in adopting and implementing a standard of care regulatory model.
4. APhA and other pharmacy stakeholders should provide educational programs, information, and resources regarding the standard of care regulatory model and its impact on pharmacy practice.

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.
2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.
3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.
4. APhA affirms that the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.
5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.
6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

APhA affirms that the mission of pharmacy is to serve society as the profession responsible for the appropriate use of medications, devices, and services to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.

APhA supports the rights and responsibilities of individual pharmacists to determine their inventory and dispensing practices based on patient need, practice economics, practice security, and professional judgment.

1. APhA encourages the development and use of a system for billing of medication therapy management (MTM) services that: (a) includes a standardized data set for transmission of billing claims, (b) utilizes a standardized process that is consistent with claim billing by other health care providers, and (c) utilizes a billing platform that is accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. APhA supports the pharmacist’s or pharmacy’s choice of a documentation system that allows for transmission of any MTM billing claim and interfaces with the billing platform used by the insurer or payer.
3. APhA encourages pharmacists to use the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for billing of MTM services.
4. APhA supports efforts to further develop CPT codes for billing of pharmacists’ services, through the work of the Pharmacist Services Technical Advisory Coalition (PSTAC) and Pharmacy e-HIT Collaborative.

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).
2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.
3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.
4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.
5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

1. APhA supports the expansion of patient access to diabetes education, support, and prevention, including but not limited to the National Diabetes Prevention Program or DSMES.
2. APhA calls upon public and private payers to expand reimbursement for pharmacist-based services as providers of diabetes education, support, and prevention regardless of practice setting.
3. APhA advocates for campaigns focused on increased community wellness awareness and health benefits for diabetes education, support, and prevention.

APhA opposes retroactive direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees and supports initiatives to prohibit such fees on pharmacies.

1. APhA supports the study of economic, scientific, and social issues related to health care, particularly pharmaceutical services.
2. APhA urges the federal government to establish funding mechanisms for objective research to assess the impact of public policy on the health care system, particularly pharmaceutical services.
3. APhA urges that all federally-funded research addressing public policy pertaining to pharmaceutical services incorporate input from the pharmacy profession.

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).
2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.
3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.
4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.
5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).