As you know, Albany Day is an essential part of advancing the profession
of pharmacy in New York State, and the key to our future in this field. In
preparation for our visit on Tuesday April 12, 2011, we ask that you send a letter to your
representative concerning CDTM.
For those of you who are not aware, CDTM stands for Collaborative Drug Therapy Management. It is a bill that New York is trying to pass that would allow Registered Pharmacists, "pursuant to a written collaborative agreement with a physician, to review, evaluate, modify and implement drug therapy" as said HERE.
For those of you who are not aware, CDTM stands for Collaborative Drug Therapy Management. It is a bill that New York is trying to pass that would allow Registered Pharmacists, "pursuant to a written collaborative agreement with a physician, to review, evaluate, modify and implement drug therapy" as said HERE.
How to Write Letters to Your Representatives:
- You first need to look up the name of your NYS assembly representative by going to http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/. Type in your zip code in the “member search” box. The name of your assemblyman/woman will appear, together with your district. Click on the link. This will direct you to your representative’s page. Click on “contact,” the last link on the left sidebar, for information on where to mail your letter.
- Use the sample letter provided on the class website. Feel free to add any personal experiences. Please remember to use professional and respectful language.
- Proof read your letter, and make sure that everything is correct.
- Mail your letter to the address provided on the above websites. Please send the letter the city address, not the Albany office.
DatePlease use this as a guide to write your letter. We need everyone's help so we can finally pass this bill after many years of trying. It would be great to say that YOU helped pass this bill when you were a student in pharmacy school lobbying for a better future.
The Honorable assemblyman/woman
Address
City, NY Zip Code
My name is ____________ . I am a constituent and a student of pharmacy at the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy of Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. As a state(Assemblyman/woman), I am sure that your interest lies in benefiting the people of NY. I am thus turning to you to support S. 2985, the collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) bill.
As I am sure you are aware, S. 2985 would allow pharmacists, under protocol, to implement, modify, and manage drug regimens; order and evaluate laboratory tests, and perform routine patient monitoring in collaboration with doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Pharmacists would not prescribe independently; rather, they would work in collaboration with a patient’s health care provider to ensure optimum drug therapy management.
The six year Doctor of Pharmacy degree is an extensive, comprehensive education, which renders pharmacists the most qualified health care professionals to perform drug therapy management in collaboration with health care providers. Forty five other states have already recognized the benefits of pharmacists participating in such a way, and passed legislation to support pharmacists performing CDTM.
Furthermore, allowing pharmacists to participate with health care practitioners in collaborative drug therapy management is a cost saving measure that will ensure the safety of millions of New Yorkers.According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, adverse drug reactions are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Annual adverse drug reactions cost between $1.56 and $5.6 billion annually. Studies indicate that a pharmacist’s intervention can drastically decrease that cost by 1.7 million dollars per hospital per year, the mortality by one death per hospital per day, and the medication errors by 286 %. With the aging population these numbers will only increase unless S. 2985 allows pharmacists to help prevent the costs and casualties of medication mismanagement.
As my (assemblyman/woman), I trust that you will do everything in your power to ensure that health care is running in the safest and most cost-effective manner. I urge you to support the collaborative drug therapy management bill for the sake of your constituents and the people of New York.
Thank you for your tireless efforts in serving your constituents and representing us in Albany.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
