The Texas Pharmacy Business Council is endorsing Gov. Rick Perry for re-election. TPBC represents more than 1,700 independent community pharmacists and small business owners who employ more than 19,000 Texans.
“Gov. Perry has a clear record of assuring patient access to independent community pharmacies,” said TPBC Chair Bruce Rogers, RPh, of Victoria. “Beginning as a state representative from the rural West Texas town of Haskell and continuing while serving as our lieutenant governor and governor, he has demonstrated his understanding of the important role community pharmacists play in the delivery of quality health care, especially in rural Texas.
“Independent community pharmacy is the face of small business,” Rogers said. “Gov. Perry’s commitment to fostering a strong business climate in Texas is keeping us strong through the sluggish national economy. He also has consistently made quality appointments to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.”
TPBC Executive Director Richard Beck, RPh notes that during the past legislative session, Gov. Perry supported and signed into law SB704, precedent-setting legislation mandating transparency in state contracts with pharmacy benefit managers. It allows state agencies to discuss with each other the details of their PBM contracts and merits of individual PBM proposals and quality of service.
“It is particularly important that this legislation also grants the state full auditing rights to ascertain whether the PBM is delivering on its promises,” Beck said.
The law also increases access to the pharmacy of their choice for active and retired state employees and teachers.
“We hope Congress will make the same demands in the health care reform currently being debated,” Beck said. “Transparency in PBM contracts is equally important in business and other non-government prescription drug benefit programs.”
TPBC is a collaboration between the independent pharmacy buying cooperative American Pharmacies and the Academy of Independent Pharmacists-Texas. It is dedicated to ensuring access to quality pharmacy services and preserving the independent pharmacy profession. www.TxRxCouncil.org
Contacts:
Texas Pharmacy Business Council
Richard Beck, 512-992-1219
Cell:
210-912-1325
rbeck@TxRxCouncil.org
www.TxRxCouncil.org