The Italian-American Pharmacists Society
Meeting Minutes
September 17th, 2009 8:30pm

ACTION ITEMS                

1. CE Presentation: Medication Errors presented by John J. Faragon, PharmD.
                           

2. Secretary Report : Minutes have been approved &  posted on the website.

3. Treasurer Report : There was an Executive Board Meeting held prior to the meeting
                         Our finances were reviewed & discussed - all accounts are in the black.     

4. Introduction of New Members : Dan Molino made a motion to introduce our speaker  
                         as an new honorary member. The motion was passed & accepted.
 
5. Committee Reports
            A. Membership : 83 paid members. There is a new membership form for 2010      coming out, it should be available shortly.
            B. Newsletter :It is starting to come together for the Fall season. Fran Gatto is       asking for new entries to be submitted ASAP. Some new ideas were brought to           the floor; ISM updates.. anything would be helpful.
            C. Board of Pharmacy  : --A law was passed, we may store records electronically.
            Our computers can store logs and accept emails, they do not have to be reduced
             to writing (only upon request). The Board of Pharmacy will be holding a meeting
            on September 29 and 30, there will be a Q & A available. Frequently asked
            question-- Can I throw out my records?

              --Your computer must have the ability to make a signature. This is a
                  Board of Pharmacy rule, this does not apply to Medicare/Medicaid. They   
                  have their own set of rules.  Private Insurance should comply unless written
                  contract says different.                               
             Pharmacists must make a difference to extend our right to immunize. We  as
             Pharmacists  must participate in the process to extend local practice.
             It must be a collaborative agreement. The Department of Health should realize
             the importance of Pharmacy.                 
           
          --  There is a flood of Flu vaccine coming to the market. Be aware of who you are
               dealing with when acquiring the flu vaccine. A pharmacist should make sure it 
                is a legitimate manufacturer who is distributing the Flu vaccine. The FDA has
                a website for approved flu vaccine and where to get it. A pedigree should be
                attached.     

         --  Also being discussed in Albany is if a student fails Part 3 of the Pharmacy
              exam they will have the option to go into a residency program. Upon
              demonstrating proficiency & satisfying the requirement, they will become
              licensed.  A resolution is in the works.

Legislative Report:
            September 26, 2009, the day of the First Data Lawsuit will be in effect. This will  lower the price of Brand name drugs and Branded generic drugs, AWP - 4% more than what it is (actually Pharmacy will lose even more money).
Charles, Ray, Joseph, and others worked with Jeff  Klein to pass this bill : Senate bill 6146. It will change AWP - 161/4% to WAC + 4.7%. Last thursday, a session was held in our favor. We won the Senate, but it is important to remember we must go through the Assembly and Executive branch as well. This is extremely difficult to do.
We are asking all pharmacists to call their local Assemblyperson and fight for Pharmacy.
Medco issued a statement maintaining neutrality in pharmacy for New York State Employees, they will honor the old AWP for the time being. It is important to realize that our Bill does not add to the deficit of the state. We are now at $2.1 billion dollar deficit.
Assemblywoman Destito is working on an identical bill to Jeff Klein. Assembly bill # 9139.
Pharmacists are hoping for a Deficit Reduction Proposal, a meeting commence as early as Sept. 23.
The result of this lawsuit states we are enriched by Medi-span increase of AWP in 2000.
If you call refer to Senate bill 6146 or the Destito bill for pharmacy reimbursement.
We need overwhelming support to force the Governor to sign it if it passes.
Some useful information is available on the PSSNY website. Go to PSSNY.org, the left side column click on Legislative info DOH refuses AWP rollback. (Cap Wiz) local Senator, Assemblyperson and the Governor. It would really ensure results, if you followed up with a phone call, to confirm receipt of the email but also to say thank you for the consideration.
OMIG wants to make sure prescriber is the last person to hit the button on a e-prescription.
It should not be the prescriber's assistant. OMIG has stated if a prescriber does not send an rx, it is not valid.

Coming Oct 1, 2009, if a pharmacy bills more than $10,000 a week, a compliance program must be in effect. CD rom for compliance programs due out next week, cost $195.00.

Medicare :   New programs are due out soon. MemberHealth will not be coming back in January.

Old Business  : Christmas Party-- Thursday December 3rd, 2009.
                        Dinner Dance March 20, 2010.

 New Business:  Several positions open for 2010. 3 positions on the Executive Board, third Vice President, and Secretary. All other positions will respectively move up. Anthony Ciarletta chose Ray Macioci to chair the Nominating Committee. Tentative nominations will be discussed at the next meeting.

Good and Welfare :

Craig Burridge’s  father passed away. The IPS will be sending flowers and a message of condolence.

Stephanie Guzman got engaged and set a date for May 2010.

Anthony and Linda Ciarletta are expecting their third child in January.

The meeting was adjourned.
Next CE meeting will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2009

Minutes taken by Germaine Celentano & prepared by Linda Ciarletta.

*MEETING ADJOURNED