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Local pharmacist takes message to Congress

by jmaloni
Mon, May 30th 2011 07:00 am

Like many of his colleagues, Stephen Giroux headed to Washington this week with an important message for members of Congress about the importance of supporting independent pharmacies and creating local jobs.

Giroux, who owns several independent pharmacies in Western New York, including the Summit Park Pharmacy at Wheatfield, Middleport Family Health Center and Transit Hill Pharmacy in Depew, is a member and past president of the National Community Pharmacists Association. This was his 30th consecutive legislative conference.

From May 23 to 25, representatives from the NCPA gathered in the nation's capital for their 43rd annual National Legislation and Government Affairs Conference.

Their message to these government officials echoed their concerns about pharmacy benefit managers, who they argue are coercing or requiring patients to utilize mail order pharmacies for their prescriptions. These and other practices are hurting their industry and even forcing some independent pharmacies to close.

"We need our elected officials to support policies that treat local pharmacies fairly and empower pharmacists to play an even greater role in our health care system," Giroux said.

Also attending the conference was local pharmacist Rachel Giroux.

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