NACDS: Pharmacist Services Crucial to Success of Important “Rural Health Transformation Program”

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is emphasizing the critical connection between pharmacies and rural health, and this alignment is essential to the success of the new "Rural Health Transformation Program" - the details of which the Trump Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today.

NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson issued the following statement:

"NACDS applauds the launch of the critically important Rural Health Transformation Program. Pharmacies can help this initiative go five-for-five in its strategic goals: 'Make rural America healthy again'; 'sustainable access'; 'workforce development'; 'innovative care'; and 'tech innovation.' We look forward to continuing to work with Governors and their state teams, with CMS, and with the Trump Administration toward the success of this program.

"The reality is that pharmacies today are the most accessible - and among the most trusted - healthcare destinations. They are the face of neighborhood healthcare, certainly in rural America - well positioned to extend the reach of preventive and chronic care as well as bridge gaps for behavioral health. Still, pharmacists remain underutilized in the healthcare delivery system. This underuse holds back progress for the health and wellness of Americans, and it jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of pharmacies whose value and future rely on providing services.

"Recent polling shows how highly Americans value their pharmacy relationships: 83 percent of Americans would be concerned if their local pharmacy were to close, which is the same percentage expressing concern about their primary care physician closing and within two points of the level of concern about the nearest hospital. Rural healthcare settings such as clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals are foundational to the health of their communities. When community providers are supported, the entire rural healthcare system is strengthened.

"Almost all Americans - 97% - feel it is important for steps to be taken to reduce the rate of pharmacy closures in the U.S. That speaks volumes about what pharmacists do today to serve their communities and the potential for pharmacists to make an even greater impact if leveraged appropriately through the Rural Health Transformation Program."