“The pandemic has been a tale of two realities for us,” says Emily Zadvorny, a clinical pharmacist and the executive director of the Colorado Pharmacists Society. (She also teaches at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy.) Although pharmacists were busy during the early days of the pandemic—especially since they were often the only health care provider open—Zadvorny says the industry has experienced its own “surge” over the past three to four months during the vaccination rollout.
“Across the country, pharmacists have delivered millions of vaccines on top of what pharmacists and techs do every day,” Zadvorny says. While that has engendered a lot of pride across the professional community, pharmacy workers in many settings are also experiencing severe burnout.
Opinion: A State Prescription Drug Affordability Board Puts Pharmacies, Access to Medication at Risk
Posted: April 15, 2021
Executive Director Emily Zadvorny shares an opinion piece in The Denver Post. Read an excerpt below and click on the button to read the whole article!
"Many Coloradans struggle to pay for their prescription drugs. Sixty-six percent of all adults in the United State use prescription drugs; use is higher for older adults and patients with chronic conditions. While medications are vital to improving health, medications may be extremely costly.
Advances in technology and new drug therapies have contributed to the increased cost of health care. As a pharmacist, I see the impact of drug costs on patients first-hand. While I applaud the Colorado legislature for taking on the issue of drug affordability, I have serious concerns about aspects of Senate Bill 175, which creates the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board. This bill is intended to cap the price of certain high-cost drugs, but it may severely limit medication access for Coloradans."
