The Italian-American Pharmacists Society of the State of New York
Meeting Minutes
6/15/2006 8:30 pm

ACTION ITEMS

CE Presentation: “Folic Acid and B Vitamins: A Review of Systems” was presented by Kelly Masters and sponsored by Upsher Smith for 0.1 CEU.

Minutes: Minutes were approved and have been posted on website. 

Treasurer Report: Account is the black and has been reviewed by chairman of board.

Introduction of New Members: Mario and Chris Marino of Cardinal Health

Committee Reports:

• Membership Committee: 165 paid members.  Dues paid in duplicate will be applied to 2007.
• Newsletter Committee:  Fran reports that the next edition is in print and will contain pictures from the dance.
• CE Committee: There will be CE in Sept. Topic TBD.
• Legislative Report:
• The placement of Pseudoephedrine behind the counter has been postponed until 9/30/06.
•   Pharmacists should maintain a log of physicians that are noncompliant with the new official prescriptions. 
• Apply for NPI # on line now. 
• Medicaid now has a preferred drug list for PPI, ACE/ARB and physicians are required to obtain a prior authorization number to prescribe the non-preferred agents.  Medicaid cuts may be restored.  Effective 7/1, brand name drugs will be reimbursed AWP-13.25% from Medicaid.  More being planned to combat these cuts. 
• There is an effort to stop the practice of insurance companies to make the use of mail-order services mandatory.   1199 still has mandatory mail-order benefit. 
• AARP is trying to create a drug discount card.  Rebates from use of these cards come off your profit. 
• There is an AARP watchdog group checking to make sure that signs are posted informing patients that they can request the price list. Remember that once per year a new list is created. 
• Expect much of the same for 2007 with Medicare.  Member Health and Aetna will not be benchmark plans and other plans may not participate causing members to be auto assigned to new PDP.  Expect changes to the Medicare formularies.  Medicaid provides wrap around coverage for dual eligible Medicare members for: antipsychotics, antidepressants, ARB’s and immunosuppressant transplant agents.
• PSSNY Report:  There will be a Western theme at the convention this year and Joe will be a delegate.  Another delegate is needed. There will be 8hr CE on 6/22.  IPS is sponsoring a table at the casino night.  There were a record setting number of ballots this year.  Special thanks to those who voted for Joe and Mike. 
• Scholarship Committee:  Stephanie Guzman (member & scholarship recipient) suggested the following to promote the organization to students: speak at leadership lectures during Pharmacy Week, attend Organizations Day, monthly email to students (to those that sign up), and welcome party for graduates.
• Dinner Dance Committee: Save the date – 3/24/07.  There is a call for nomination for the honoree.  Criteria will be available and posted on website by end of year.  Cardinal will once again sponsor “Alive and Kickin’” for the entertainment.

Old Business:

• Klondike Boat Ride: Dinner cruise around NYC will be departing from New Rochelle on 9/23. Nonrefundable cost is $60 per person and includes trip, food and entertainment.  Send money to Ray ASAP to reserve a seat.  Arrive at 6:30pm. Boat departs promptly rain or shine and will return by 12 midnight.

New Business:

• DC-37 changes are effective 7/1; Express Scripts will no longer be the pharmacy carrier the union.  This change eliminates dc37’s mandatory mail order.  Please be aware that any prior authorizations that were put into effect with Express Scripts prior to 7/1 may not carry over to Innoviant.  This is a huge positive for community pharmacy.

Good and Welfare:
Happy Fathers Day to all!

Prepared 8/10/06 by:
Lisa Anzisi