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Lee lobbies Congress to protect access to customized medications
More than 400 pharmacists from across the nation descended upon Washington, D.C., earlier this month to lobby Members of Congress to protect access to customized, compounded medicines for patients who need them. One of the pharmacists who made the trip was Pam Lee, RPh, of Grand Care Pharmacy in Chickasha. While meeting with various elected officials and their staff, Lee and her colleagues discussed the value of pharmacy compounding. Pharmacy compounding is a pharmacy practice that enables doctors to prescribe customized pharmaceutical treatments for patients when one-size-fits-all manufactured products are inappropriate. While pharmacy compounding is regulated by state boards of pharmacy, pharmaceutical manufacturers are pushing for onerous, federal restrictions that would restrict patients’ access to needed medications.
“This trip gave us a chance to have our voices heard by members of Congress,” said Lee. ”We may not have an army of lobbyists like the pharmaceutical giants, but we do help millions of patients every year, and that gives us a pretty loud voice on Capitol Hill.”
Grand Care Pharmacy serves a large number of patients in Chickasha and surrounding area. Many of its patients take compounded medications prepared specifically for them at the direction of their physician.
The trip to Washington, D.C., dubbed Compounders on Capitol Hill, was the 13th annual trip coordinated by the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP). It was Lee’s first time joining the group.
Lee’s visit to Congress came at a particularly critical time for her business, and similar compounding pharmacies across the country. Last September, a federal district court judge issued a ruling confirming that, because of their customized nature, compounded preparations are exempt from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new drug approval process. The ruling contradicts the baseless arguments of big pharmaceutical manufacturers, concerned that compounding pharmacies are eating into their profits. In fact, compounded medications account for not much more than one percent of prescriptions filled annually in the U.S.
In the wake of this pro-compounding ruling, drug manufacturers have lobbied Congress extensively to create onerous new federal restrictions that would have dire consequences for patients who are prescribed compounded medicines.
Millions of Americans have conditions that off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all pharmaceuticals cannot meet. For them, customized, compounded medicines”” prescribed by physicians and prepared by licensed, trained pharmacists - are the only way to better health.
“In light of a recent federal court ruling confirming that pharmacists may legally prepare doctor-prescribed compounded medications, critics backed by drug manufacturers claim that pharmacy compounding is unregulated. This year, we exposed this myth to members of Congress and demonstrated that pharmacy compounding is highly regulated. We also emphasized that our standards of practice continue to be developed and enhanced in order to ensure quality.
“We asked Congress to reach out to pharmacists when they are confronted with legislation to restrict access to compounded medications that is offered by critics backed by drug manufacturers. We also invited members of Congress to visit a compounding pharmacy in their district to see firsthand how we make a difference each and every day to further the health of our patients.” said L.D. King, executive director of IACP.
“This is an important step for compounding pharmacies like ours. We fill an important void for patients whose needs can’t be met by manufactured medicines. They rely on us and I simply don’t know where they would get the medicines they need if we couldn’t compound anymore” said, Pam Lee of Grand Care Pharmacy.
Grand Care Pharmacy will celebrate its fifth anniversary in September. They are located at the corner of 16th & Grand across from Campus Corner. Pam and her staff are dedicated to exceptional customer service and always strive to take the extra step for their customers. While their compounding area is steadily growing, they are also a full service retail pharmacy offering deliveries in the Chickasha city limits.
Currently their compounded medications cover a wide range of specialties including Pediatric, Hospice, Veterinary and Hormone Therapy. Pam Lee, owner, offers Hormone Therapy consulting in conjunction with the compounded hormone medications. She also provides consultations on pain management with local area hospices. Pam and her staff look forward to assisting you with all your pharmaceutical needs.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
