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A I D T O G O V E R N M E N T – T H E P R O F E S S I O N – T H E P U B L I C – 1 9 0 4 T O 2 0 0 3

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N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F B O A R D S O F P H A R M A C Y

30Open Positions on NABP ExecutiveCommittee Announced

39

44NABP’s Examination CommitteeMembers

NABP recently spoke out

against a proposed bill that

would fine drug companies up

to $1 million for obeying

federal and state laws that

protect consumers from

illegally imported non-Food

and Drug Administration

(FDA)-approved medications

from Canada. The Association

said that legislation that

penalizes entities for obeying

the law severely compromises

the health and safety of

American seniors and all

other patients obtaining

drugs illegally.

United States legislators met

on February 27, 2003, to

discuss the bill, called “Preserv-

ing Access to Safe, Affordable

NABP Urges Enforcement of US Drug Laws; New Bill Supporting DrugImportation Threatens Patient Safety

Canadian Medicines Act of

2003” (HR 847), which was

proposed as a result of recent

decisions by drug manufactur-

ers to not sell prescription

drugs to Canadian pharmacies

and wholesalers if those drugs

are, in turn, sold to American

patients. In anticipation of this

meeting, NABP sent a letter to

FDA Commissioner Mark B.

McClellan and US Department

of Health and Human Services

Secretary Tommy G. Thompson

supporting enforcement of

current laws and safeguards and

citing the dangers of illegal drug

importation.

“Allowing unlicensed practitio-

ners to dispense non-FDA

approved medicines without

regard for patient health and

safety sets a dangerous prece-

dent that puts Americans at

risk,” says Carmen A. Catizone,

NABP executive director/

secretary. “We should ensure

that Americans have appropri-

ate access to affordable medi-

cines from within the

protections of the health care

system in the United States –

not by sending them to pur-

chase medicines from across

the border, but by Congress

passing a Medicare prescription

drug benefit plan.”

NABP’s view is shared by its

member boards and the FDA,

(continued on page 38)

3699th Annual Meeting: Wide Array ofOptional Programming and Events at

Annual Meeting

States Increase Access to EmergencyContraception Through Pharmacists

NABP has received an excellent

registration response for the

recently announced Foreign

Pharmacy Graduate Equiva-

lency Examination® (FPGEE®)

that will be administered as a

paper-and-pencil exam on

Saturday, June 21, 2003, in

four United States locations:

Dallas, TX; New York, NY;

Paper-and-Pencil FPGEE to be Administered in JuneNorthlake (Chicago area), IL;

and Oakland, CA. Further

FPGEE dates and locations are

yet to be determined.

For more information on the

FPGEE administration and to

review frequently asked ques-

tions, please visit the

Association’s Web site at

www.nabp.net.

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R30

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The NABP Newsletter(ISSN 0027-5700) is published 10 timesa year by the National Association of

Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to educate,to inform, and to communicate the

objectives and programs of theAssociation and its 68 member boards of

pharmacy to the profession and thepublic. The opinions and views

expressed in this publication do notnecessarily reflect the official views,opinions, or policies of NABP or any

board unless expressly so stated. Thesubscription rate is $35 per year.

National Association ofBoards of Pharmacy700 Busse Highway

Park Ridge, Illinois 60068 847/698-6227www.nabp.net

custserv@nabp.net

Carmen A. CatizoneExecutive Director/Secretary

Reneeta “Rene” RenganathanEditorial Manager

© 2003 National Association of Boards ofPharmacy. All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced in any mannerwithout the written permission of the Executive

Director/Secretary of the National Association ofBoards of Pharmacy.

With NABP’s 99th Annual

Meeting, May 3-7, 2003, at the

Philadelphia Marriott Hotel in

Philadelphia, PA, less than a

month away, NABP’s delegates

will soon be charged with one of

their most important responsi-

bilities – the election of the

officers and members to the

NABP Executive Committee.

The positions open for election

will depend, however, on the

results of this year’s vote to

amend the NABP Constitution

and Bylaws. The amendment,

submitted by the Nevada State

Board of Pharmacy and read at

NABP’s 98th Annual Meeting in

Phoenix last year, provides for

an expansion of the Executive

Committee from 10 to 14

members (10 member and four

officer positions), with the

member positions consisting of

one pharmacist member from

each of the eight districts, one

at-large pharmacist member,

and one at-large public member.

If the Nevada amendment does

not pass, delegates will be asked

to fill two Executive Committee

member positions and two

officer positions, president-elect

and treasurer, for NABP’s 2003-

2004 Executive Committee. Two

of the four openings must be

filled by candidates from

Districts VI and VII.

Should the Nevada amendment

pass, six member positions and

the two officer positions men-

tioned above will be open.

Pharmacist member positions

for Districts II, IV, VI, and VII,

the at-large pharmacist member

position, and the at-large public

member position will all be up

for vote. To allow for evenly

staggered elections, the District

Open Positions on NABP Executive Committee AnnouncedII position will be a one-year

term and the District IV posi-

tion will be a two-year term,

while the other four member

positions will be three-year

terms. Other member positions

may open should any sitting

members decide to run for

officer positions.

The Election ProcessOn Sunday morning, May 4, the

members of the Nominating

Committee will meet to review

their responsibilities for the

2003-2004 term. Then, at the

First Business Session on

Sunday afternoon, May 4, the

Nevada amendment will be

voted upon. Based on the

results of that vote, the chair-

man of the Nominating Com-

mittee will announce the open

positions and the names of

those individuals who had

submitted a current resume or

curriculum vitae and letter of

interest by noon, Saturday, May

3. NABP President John A.

Fiacco will then accept nomina-

tions from the floor and permit

seconding speeches. Each

candidate may have up to two

seconding speeches, each of

which may last no longer than

two minutes. Immediately

following the First Business

Session, the Nominating

Committee will set a time to

interview each candidate.

Candidate InterviewsBeginning at 8 AM on Monday,

May 5, the Nominating Com-

mittee will interview all candi-

dates for the Executive

Committee’s open positions.

Committee members will first

review any written information

concerning the candidate’s

qualifications and past service

to NABP. During the 10- to 20-

minute interview, questions

may be asked by any member of

the Nominating Committee and

may address the candidate’s

background, positions on

certain issues, reasons for

seeking office, and whether or

not the candidate can devote

adequate time and resources to

the position.

Slating of CandidatesUnder the current procedures,

the Nominating Committee

may only slate those candi-

dates who, in their opinion, are

best qualified to fill the open

positions. The slate of candi-

dates will be presented to the

delegates during the Annual

Meeting’s Second Business

31M A R C H 2 0 0 3

Session at 11:45 AM on Mon-

day, May 5. A “Meet the

Candidates” session will be

held later that afternoon from

2:30 to 3:30 PM to allow NABP

members the opportunity to

discuss issues of concern with

contenders for office.

ElectionVoting will take place during

the Fourth Business Session on

Tuesday, May 6, from 3:15 to

4:45 PM. The election will be

conducted by written ballot and

counted by three tellers ap-

pointed by the president.

Candidates, whether opposed or

unopposed, must receive a

majority of the delegate votes

present in order to be elected to

office. If more than two candi-

dates are slated for office, the

candidate(s) receiving the fewest

votes will be eliminated from

subsequent ballots under

procedures described by the

president. The results of the

election will be announced

immediately and an installation

ceremony will be conducted for

the new officers and members of

the 2003-2004 Executive

Committee. Members assume

their terms immediately

following the Annual Meeting.

Current CommitteeS. Patricia “Tris” McSherry,

chairman of the New Mexico

Board of Pharmacy, will be

finishing her first full term with

five years on the EC. Tris was

elected to the EC in 1998 to

complete the final two years of

the unexpired term of Drexel

Douglas. Also completing his

term will be Kevin E. Kinkade,

executive director of the

Missouri Board of Pharmacy,

who was appointed by the

Executive Committee in Janu-

ary to fill the remaining term of

B. Belaire Bourg, Jr, who passed

away on January 3, 2003.

Having concluded his appoint-

ment as a member of the

Louisiana Board of Pharmacy

since 1984, Bourg would have

left his Executive Committee

member position vacant after

finishing a three-year term in

May. Donna M. Horn, secretary

of the Massachusetts Board of

Registration in Pharmacy, will

be completing a one-year term

as treasurer after having

completed two three-year terms

as a member of the Executive

Committee. Richard K. “Mick”

Markuson, executive director of

the Idaho Board of Pharmacy,

will be leaving the Executive

Committee after having served

this year as NABP chairman,

one-year terms as president-

elect and president, and one

three-year term as a member of

the Executive Committee.

The following individuals will

hold office in 2003-2004

without election:

� Chairman: John A. Fiacco,

member, New York Board of

Pharmacy, District II

� President: Donna S. Wall,

member, Indiana Board of

Pharmacy, District IV

� Member: Howard C. Ander-

son, Jr, executive director,

North Dakota State Board

of Pharmacy, District V

(third and final year of his

first term)

� Member: Dennis K.

McAllister, vice president,

Arizona State Board of

Pharmacy, District VIII

(third and final year of his

first term)

� Member: Michael A. Moné,

executive director, Ken-

tucky Board of Pharmacy,

District III (second year of

his first term)

� Member: Charles R. Young,

executive director, Massa-

chusetts Board of Registra-

tion in Pharmacy, District I

(second year of his first term)

For More InformationAny member or executive officer

of a board of pharmacy in an

active member state is eligible

to run for a position on the

Executive Committee. Interested

candidates should forward to

the office of NABP Executive

Director/Secretary Carmen A.

Catizone a letter of interest

explaining why they are inter-

ested in serving on the Execu-

tive Committee and a current

resume or curriculum vitae.

Participation on the Executive

Committee does require ad-

equate time and attention.

Candidates should be certain

they are able to devote sufficient

resources before deciding to run

for office.

For additional information

about the nominating process,

election procedures, and the

responsibilities of an Executive

Committee member or officer,

contact the executive director/

secretary at NABP Headquarters

at ceo@nabp.net. In order to be

presented to the Nominating

Committee at its first meeting,

these materials must be submit-

ted to the executive director/

secretary no later than noon,

Saturday, May 3, 2003.

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R32

LegalBriefs

Applicants for

licensure in

pharmacy and

practicing

pharmacists

are required to

be of “good

moral charac-

ter” by virtually every pharmacy

practice act of the 50 states.

Boards operating under typical

statutory language may refuse

to issue or may suspend, revoke,

or restrict a license of a phar-

macist who engages in “unpro-

fessional conduct,” is

“incapacitated” to the extent

that he or she is not capable of

practicing the profession, or is

guilty of an act involving “moral

turpitude” or “gross incompe-

tence.” Boards are required to

interpret these broadly defined

statutory terms in determining

eligibility for licensure or as

grounds for disciplining recalci-

trant practicing professionals.

What is “good moral charac-

ter,” “gross incompetence,” or

“moral turpitude”? What

constitutes “unprofessional

conduct” or a condition that

prevents the pharmacist from

safely practicing the profes-

sion? Are these terms so broad

and vague as to subject them

to attack under the due process

clauses of state and federal

constitutions? The answer is

yes, and lawyers have, on many

occasions, raised the defense of

vagueness. The more important

question is whether or not

these terms are so vague as to

be constitutionally unsound.

What Is the Meaning of This?By John F. Atkinson, JD A licensed physician in New

York was charged with 11

counts of professional miscon-

duct for his care of five separate

patients based on consensual

sexual relationships with three

of the patients and alleged

“gross negligence” and “gross

misconduct” with the other two.

He was also charged with

“moral unfitness” to properly

practice the medical profession.

After a formal hearing, the New

York State Board for Profes-

sional Medical Conduct revoked

the physician’s license pursuant

to its interpretation of the

statutory terms quoted above.

The statute involved defines

“professional misconduct” as

conduct that evidences moral

unfitness to practice medicine.

The physician argued that this

term and its definition are

constitutionally vague. An

argument of this nature is

based upon the contention that

the accused does not have

adequate notice of what con-

duct is impermissible and,

because of this vagueness, the

individual is being denied his

constitutional right to due

process. Due process is guaran-

teed to the citizens of several

states pursuant to the Four-

teenth Amendment of the United

States Constitution, as reinforced

in many state constitutional

provisions.

The Appellate Division of the

Supreme Court of New York, like

the courts in so many US

jurisdictions, found that the

statutory language of the nature

included in New York’s medical

practice act, while not describ-

ing proper or improper conduct

in minute detail, provides

sufficient warning concerning

the manner in which the

medical profession should be

practiced. It found that the term

“moral unfitness” encompasses

misconduct of a sexual nature

and that such language “. . .

gives fair notice to a person of

ordinary intellect of the nature

of the proscribed conduct. . . .”

The physician also contended

that he was denied due process

when the hearing officer

prohibited him from question-

ing one of the patients con-

cerning her psychological

medical records. The court

ruled that while the patient

testified as to her sexual

relationship with the physi-

cian, this testimony did not

constitute a waiver of the

privilege existing between her

and her therapist. The court

also confirmed that admission

of hearsay evidence in an

administrative hearing was not

a denial of due process and that

such evidence could be taken

into consideration to support

substantiating evidence.

The court rejected the

physician’s contention that the

decision of the Board was not

supported by substantial

evidence. While the record

contained conflicting testimony,

the court recognized the respon-

sibility of the Board to measure

the demeanor of the witnesses

and to determine their credibil-

ity in making its decision.

(continued on next page)

33M A R C H 2 0 0 3

NABP Comments on Recent Wall Street Journal Article for ABC News

Attorney John F. Atkinson is a

partner in the law firm of

Atkinson & Atkinson, counsel

for NABP.

Boards may wish to consider

the advisability of further

defining statutory terms such

as “unprofessional conduct”

through its rule-making

authority to help ensure that

the professional has appro-

priate notice of what consti-

tutes impermissible conduct.

This is a matter that should

be discussed with board

counsel. Professionals such

as pharmacists, however, will

be held to a standard of

knowledge based on their

professionalism and not

necessarily as “persons of

ordinary intellect.” The court

will expect pharmacists to

have a familiarity with those

standards of practice appli-

cable to the profession of

pharmacy and to conduct

themselves in compliance

with the broad statutory

terms discussed above.

St. Lucia v Novello, 284

A.d.2nd 591, 726 N.Y.S. 2nd

488 (June 7, 2001)

LegalBriefs

NABP Executive Director/

Secretary Carmen A. Catizone

recently commented on the

March 12, 2003 Wall Street

Journal article “The FDA Begins

Cracking Down On Cheaper

Drugs From Canada” for ABC

News’ World News Tonight.

Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) has issued a warning to

companies and organizations

that aid American citizens in

illegally purchasing drugs from

Canada stating that, under the

federal Food, Drug, and Cos-

metic Act, they may be violating

civil and even criminal law.

According to the Wall Street

Journal, the recent sharp

increase in cross-border drug

trade has led FDA to prepare to

take enforcement action against

these third parties.

Catizone’s comments to ABC

News were as follows:

ABC News: What is your

reaction to this decision by

the FDA?

CAC: NABP supports the

actions of the FDA. We agree

that US [United States] patients

must have access to affordable

medications. However, that is

not the issue with the importa-

tion of Canadian medications.

The issue is allowing non-FDA

approved medications into the

US medication distribution

system (an illegal activity), thus

compromising the integrity of

the system and opening the

door for unregulated entities to

corrupt and perhaps sabotage

the system . . . .It endangers the

health and safety of US citizens;

. . .the FDA must be given the

political support and resources

needed to enforce the law.

ABC: What impact do you think

it will have on patients?

CAC: Unless the FDA obtains

the support it needs to confis-

cate packages on the border

and take legal action against

the health plans and facilitator

operations here in the US,

patients will be minimally

impacted . . . .Consumers are

purchasing medications from

Canadian pharmacies in record

numbers and without any

concern for the integrity of the

medications. Those actions are

a strong statement about the

situation and how consumers

view Canadian medications,

the current pricing system for

medications, and the US

oversight system.

ABC: Do you think that patients

who buy these drugs through

online groups should have to

worry about breaking a law or

do you expect this to be focused

primarily against health plans?

CAC: Patients’ number one

concern should be their health

and safety and the dangers they

are imposing upon themselves

in ordering and receiving

medications from pharmacies

or non-pharmacies that they

know little about and are not

regulated by US authorities

. . . Prescription medications are

products that are regulated to

protect the patient from harm

and the dangers of inappropri-

ate use. . . Enforcement efforts

should also be immediately

aimed at the insurers (health

plans) and facilitators (store

front operations that fax or

send prescriptions to Canadian

pharmacies for a middleman

percentage of the fee).

For more information about

NABP’s stance on illegal cross-

border drug trade, see the

article “NABP Urges Enforce-

ment of US Drug Laws; New

Bill Supporting Drug Importa-

tion Threatens Patient Safety”

on the front page of this

Newsletter.

(continued from previous page)

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R34

The importation of drugs is an

increasing concern for many

state pharmacy boards, as

more patients seek the cost

savings achieved by purchasing

drugs from Canada. But what

many American patients may

fail to realize is that their

safety is at risk – and that the

practice is illegal.

Further testing the bounds of

drug importation is the case of

a Canadian doctor operating

an office in the United States.

While most drug imports are

obtained through Internet

purchases, patients in

Bloomington, MN, can now

purchase Canadian drugs

through Dr Craig Hildahl, who

has set up an office at the

famed Mall of America. Here he

examines American patients

and sends any necessary

prescriptions to be filled to

Canadian pharmacies. Hildahl

lives and practices medicine in

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,

but is also licensed to practice

medicine in Minnesota.

According to David E.

Holmstrom, executive director

of the Minnesota Board of

Pharmacy, the doctor is not

violating Minnesota state law.

However, he said, it could be

argued that Hildahl is facilitat-

ing patients’ and Canadian

pharmacies’ violation of the US

federal Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act.

“This doctor is unique because

he has licensure in both

Canada and Minnesota, so his

prescriptions are valid for

Canadian Doctor Prescribing at Mall of Americafilling in Canada,” Holmstrom

explains. “However, in most

situations, prescriptions are

written by physicians in the US

and, in order to be valid for

filling, are rewritten or coun-

tersigned by Canadian doctors.

Unfortunately, quite a few

Canadian doctors are willing to

rewrite prescriptions without a

legitimate doctor-patient

relationship.” Prescriptions

obtained over the Internet

through Canadian pharmacies

are invalid because they are

written by Canadian doctors

and there is no legitimate

doctor-patient relationship.

While the situation involving

Dr Hildahl may not be illegal

and no action has been taken

against the Canadian doctor,

Holmstrom sees ethical con-

cerns in the doctor’s actions.

And, despite Hildahl’s licen-

sure, Holmstrom says the

doctor’s patients are putting

themselves at the same risk as

other patients who are

getting their drugs from

Canada through other un-

regulated sources.

Patients trying to legitimize

their illegal purchase of drugs

from Canada, or other coun-

tries, may cite Food and Drug

Administration’s (FDA) “per-

sonal use” policy, which gives

FDA discretion to allow the

personal importation of

unapproved drugs. However,

this allowance is rarely used

correctly, as patients are

purchasing drugs already

available in the US. Safety

risks patients are exposing

themselves to when importing

drugs, according to FDA, deal

not only with the mixing and

make-up of drugs, but also the

labeling, storage, and trans-

port of drugs.

Though drug importation is a

popular solution, especially for

senior citizens, in the quest to

save money on prescription

drugs, attempts by lawmakers

to make the activity legal have

failed. In 2000, Congress

passed a law that would have

allowed prescription drugs

manufactured in the US and

exported to certain foreign

countries to be re-imported.

Implementation of the law,

however, was dependant on the

secretary of the US Health and

Human Services Department

determining that these drugs

would be safe for consumers.

Ultimately, Secretary Tommy G.

Thompson stated that he could

not guarantee public safety and

the law became defunct.

Safety risks patients areexposing themselves towhen importing drugs,according to Food andDrug Administration,deal not only with themixing and make-up ofdrugs, but also thelabeling, storage, andtransport of drugs.

35M A R C H 2 0 0 3

NABP Participates with Pharmacy Associations in Discussionof Cross-border Drug TradeRepresentatives of NABP

recently attended two confer-

ences addressing the illegal

importation of drugs from

Canada into the United States.

The National Association of

Pharmacy Regulatory Authori-

ties (NAPRA) hosted a Stake-

holders’ Forum on February 21,

2003, and the National Associa-

tion of Chain Drug Stores, Inc

(NACDS), held its work group

meeting on March 6, 2003.

At the NAPRA meeting, held in

Ottawa, Canada, about 50

participants from organizations

including Canadian regulatory

boards; American and Cana-

dian pharmaceutical associa-

tions; and Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) partici-

pated in a dialogue about the

importation of Canadian

medications into the US.

Conducted in a question-and-

answer format, the meeting

identified issues, provided

facts, and determined “gaps in

understanding” that regulatory

authorities and related asso-

ciations may have concerning

cross-border drug trade.

Five areas identified at the

forum included supply of

pharmaceuticals; access to

health care providers; profes-

sional standards of practice;

professional regulation and

public protection related to the

international sale of prescrip-

tion drugs; and legislation,

enforcement, and product

warranties relating to interna-

tional distribution of prescrip-

tion drugs.

NACDS conducted a forum to

gather information and

discuss possible solutions for

the importation of Canadian

medications. Solutions to the

problem of illegal drug impor-

tation were discussed with

representatives from the

regulatory organizations and

the retail drug industry.

Present at this meeting were

representatives from US Drug

Enforcement Agency (DEA), the

US Customs Service, and FDA.

Each year, an estimated three

million people illegally carry

medications across Canadian

and Mexican borders into the

US. In a border survey con-

ducted on January 6, 2001, the

US Customs Service and FDA

inspected passenger vehicles

crossing the Canadian border

over a period of eight hours at

three ports of entry in New York,

Michigan, and Washington. Of

the 10,374 passenger vehicles

and 58 buses crossing the

border during this time period,

33 passenger vehicles were

detained with 35 persons

carrying 47 containers of

medications. The most common

reasons passengers cited for

carrying medications across the

border were that the products

were available without a

prescription and cost less than

those available in the US. While

most of the drugs were pain

medications such as acetami-

nophen/caffeine/codeine

combination medications, other

substances included herbal

products not available in the US

and tobramycin/dexametha-

sone, fexofenadine, and

flunarizine HCl (a calcium

channel blocker).

For more information on

NABP’s position on drug

importation, see “NABP Urges

Enforcement of US Drug Laws;

New Bill Supporting Drug

Importation Threatens Patient

Safety” on the front page of this

Newsletter.

The NABP Executive Commit-

tee recently released a

position paper outlining the

scope of the problem with the

illegal importation of unap-

proved medications from

foreign sources and reviewing

the legal basis for states to

initiate actions against

pharmacists and pharmacies

involved in, and abetting,

these activities. The position

paper is groundbreaking in its

careful review of the current

NABP Releases Position Paper on ForeignDrug Importation

situation, documentation of

the current actions by the

states and Food and Drug

Administration, and state-

ment of NABP’s position.

The NABP Position Paper on

the Importation of Foreign

Prescription Drugs is avail-

able on the NABP Web site at

www.nabp.net, or copies can

be obtained from NABP’s

professional affairs manager,

by calling 847/698-6227.

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R36

NABP has added extra optional

programming to this year’s 99th

Annual Meeting, May 3-7,

2003, at the Philadelphia

Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia,

PA. Meeting attendees can

participate in special programs

such as the Disease State

Management examination

(DSM), the American Council

on Pharmaceutical Education

(ACPE) Discussion Update on

Accreditation Equivalency, or

the Meet the Candidates

Session. As in prior years,

NABP will offer the Public

Board Member Session and the

New Member Seminar.

Optional ProgrammingAnnual Meeting attendees will

have the opportunity to attend

optional programs during the

meeting. On Saturday, May 3,

are both the Public Board

Member Session and the New

Member Seminar. First, the

Public Board Member Session,

from 1 to 2:30 PM, will discuss

the role of public and con-

sumer members on the state

boards. Current issues de-

manding their consideration

and support available through

NABP will also be discussed.

David Swankin, president and

chief executive officer of the

Citizen Advocacy Center, will

participate as a special guest

during this session.

Recently appointed board

members or those attending

their first NABP Annual

Meeting will not want to miss

the New Member Seminar. This

session, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM,

Wide Array of Optional Programming and Events at Annual Meetingwill offer an in-

depth look at the

Association’s

programs, the

Annual Meeting

continuing

education

programs,

special events,

issues of confi-

dentiality and

conflict of

interest that

may confront

board members, and the

parliamentary procedures that

will be followed during the

meeting’s business sessions.

The New Member Seminar is

led by members of the NABP

Executive Committee, staff,

and counsel.

New to this year’s Annual

Meeting are the ACPE Discus-

sion Update on Accreditation

Equivalency and the Meet the

Candidates Session, which are

both on Monday, May 5. From

1:30 to 2:30 PM, on Monday, an

ACPE representative will lead a

discussion on the standards of

accreditation equivalency. The

recent accreditation of the

College of Pharmacy at Leba-

non American University and

ACPE’s recognition of the

accreditation decisions of the

Canadian Council for Accredi-

tation of Pharmacy Programs

with respect to professional

programs leading to a bacca-

laureate degree in pharmacy

will be considered. Later on

that same day, from 2:30 to

3:30 PM is the Meet the Candi-

dates Session, where meeting

attendees can converse with

candidates for the 2003-2004

EC and learn more about them

before the election of the EC

officers and members.

DSM Examination inPhiladelphiaOn Monday, May 5, from 1:30

to 5 PM, Annual Meeting

participants will have the

opportunity to sit for one of

the four National Institute for

Standards in Pharmacist

Credentialing (NISPC) Disease

State Management (DSM)

examinations. Pharmacists can

earn a credential in anticoagu-

lation, asthma, diabetes, or

dyslipidemia from NISPC. NABP

will offer all four examinations

in a paper-and-pencil format to

pharmacists attending the

Annual Meeting. The cost of the

DSM examination and creden-

tial is $250 per examination.

Please circle the examination

you wish to take on the Annual

Meeting registration form

inserted into this Newsletter.

Advance registration is neces-

sary to sit for an examination.

(continued on page 38)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will be one of thestops on NABP’s Optional Spouse/Guest Tour.

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99th Annual Meeting

37M A R C H 2 0 0 3

May 3-7, 2003 Philadelphia Marriott Hotel Philadelphia, PAFriday, May 23 - 5 PMRegistration Desk Open

Saturday, May 37 AM - 7 PMRegistration Desk Open

1 - 2:30 PMPublic Board Member Session(Subject to advance registration of at least 10public members.)

1 - 5 PMEducational Presentation Area/Poster Session

1 - 5 PMHospitality Suite Open

2:30 - 4:30 PMNew Member Seminar

7 - 9 PMPresident’s Welcoming Reception(Buffet dinner will be served.)

Sunday, May 47:30 AM - 4:30 PMRegistration Desk Open

8 - 9 AMContinental Breakfast

8:30 AM - noonMeeting of the Nominating CommitteeMeeting of the Committee on Resolutions

8 AM - noonEducational Presentation Area/Poster Session

1 - 1:15 PMWelcoming Remarks

1:15 - 2 PMKeynote AddressGeneral Henry Hugh SheltonSponsored by Abbott Laboratories

2 - 2:30 PMRefreshment Break

2:30 - 5 PMFirst Business Session

Monday, May 57 - 11:30 AMRegistration Desk Open

7 - 8 AMNABP/USP BreakfastSponsored by the United StatesPharmacopeia, Inc

8 - 11:30 AMMeeting of the Committee on Resolutions

8 - 9:30 AMExecutive Officer and Board MemberProgrammingHIPAA Security IssuesSponsored by Merck & Co, IncProgram #: 205-000-03-005-L03(0.15 CEUs – 1.5 contact hours)Patrick Gavin, Ateb, Inc

Compliance Officer ProgrammingReturn and Reuse of Medications in Long-term Care SettingsProgram #: 205-000-03-006-L03(0.15 CEUs – 1.5 contact hours)Robert Nobs, EXP PharmaceuticalServices

Pharmacy Practice ProgrammingSubstance Abuse Treatment: Part IProgram #: 205-000-03-007-L01(0.15 CEUs – 1.5 contact hours)Laura McNicholas, clinical assistantprofessor, Department of Psychiatry,University of Pennsylvania TreatmentResearch Center

Nicholas Reuter, Office of Pharmacologyand Alternative Therapies, Center forSubstance Abuse Treatment

Tony Tommasello, RPh, PhD, director,Office of Substance Abuse Studies,University of Maryland School ofPharmacy

9:30 - 9:45 AMRefreshment Break

9:45 - 11:45 AMExecutive Officer and Board MemberProgrammingMedication Error Data ReviewSponsored by AstraZenecaPharmaceuticals GroupProgram #: 205-000-03-008-L04(0.2 CEUs – 2.0 contact hours)Allen J. Vaida, executive director of theInstitute for Safe Medication Practices

Diane Cousins, RPh, vice president ofthe Center for the Advancement of PatientSafety, US Pharmacopeia

Compliance Officer ProgrammingRegulation of Listed ChemicalsSponsored by Medco Health Solutions, IncProgram #: 205-000-03-009-L03(0.2 CEUs – 2.0 contact hours)Scott Collier, BA, chief, Chemical ControlSection, Office of Diversion Control, USDrug Enforcement AdministrationPharmacy Practice ProgrammingSubstance Abuse Treatment: Part IIProgram #: 205-000-03-010-L03(0.2 CEUs – 2.0 contact hours)Tony Tommasello, RPh, PhDNicholas ReuterLaura McNicholas

11:45 AM - 12:30 PMSecond Business Session

12:30 - 3 PMMeeting of the Nominating Committee

2 - 3 PMACPE Discussion Update on AccreditationEquivalency

1:30 - 5 PMDisease State Management ExamAdminstration

99th Annual Meeting Program

4 - 5 PM

Third Business Session

Tuesday, May 66:30 - 7:30 AMFun Run/WalkSponsored by Pfizer US Pharmaceuticals

7:30 - 9 AM

Continental Breakfast

8 - 9 AMMeet the Candidates Session

8 AM - 5 PMRegistration Desk Open

9 AM - noonOptional Spouse/Guest TourThe Physick House and Philadelphia Museumof Art Highlights Tour

9 - 10:30 AMJoint CE ProgrammingContinuing Professional DevelopmentSponsored by Eli Lilly & CoProgram #: 205-000-03-011-L04(0.15 CEUs – 1.5 contact hours)Peter H. Vlasses, PharmD, BCPS,executive director, American Council onPharmaceutical Education

Avery L. Spunt, NABP CompetencyAssessment Director

David Swankin, President and ChiefExecutive Officer, Citizen Advocacy Center

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Open Mike Session

11:30 AM - 1:30 PMLunch Break

1:30 - 3:00 PMJoint CE ProgrammingTop Recent Regulatory CasesSponsored by Walgreen CompanyProgram #: 205-000-03-012-L03(0.15 CEUs – 1.5 contact hours)Dale J. Atkinson, Atkinson & Atkinson

3 - 3:15 PM

Refreshment Break

3:15 - 4:45 PM

Fourth Business Session

7 - 11:30 PM

Annual Awards Dinner

Wednesday, May 77:30 - 8 AM

Continental Breakfast

8 - 11:30 AM

Final Business Session

10 AMRefreshment Break

NABP and the NABP Foundation are approved by the American Council onPharmaceutical Education (ACPE) as providers of continuing pharmaceuticaleducation. ACPE Provider Number: 205. Participants may earn up to 6.5 hours ofACPE-approved continuing education credit from NABP. Participants in continuingpharmaceutical education programs will receive credit by completing a “Certificate of

Continuing Pharmaceutical Education Participation” and submitting it to the NABP office. Avalidated Certificate will be sent as proof of participation within approximately six weeks. Fullattendance and completion of a program evaluation form for each session are required to receivecontinuing pharmaceutical education credit and a Certificate of Participation.

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R38

Entertaining EventsAnnual Meeting attendees’

spouses and guests will have

the opportunity to visit the

Physick House and Philadel-

phia Museum of Art during this

year’s optional spouse/guest

tour on Tuesday, May 6, from

9 AM to noon. The first stop of

the tour takes visitors to the

Physick House, located in the

delightfully restored Society

Hill neighborhood among its

many mansions, “trinity”

houses, churches and taverns,

cemeteries and gardens, and

the open market for the south

side of town. Architecture

enthusiasts will enjoy the tour

of this unique free-standing

Federal-style house, which also

includes an interesting collec-

tion of medical instruments

designed by Dr Phillip Syng

Physick, many with a peculiar

resemblance to those used

today. Then on to the second

stop of the tour, the Philadel-

phia Museum of Art that was

built in a striking neoclassical

design and founded in 1876.

The museum contains some of

the most important collections

in the United States including

an impressive Asian Art

exhibit. In addition to its

excellent art collection, the

museum contains a number of

rooms representing different

architectural periods including

a medieval cloister, a Japanese

teahouse, a Chinese throne

room, a Hindu temple, and the

ballroom of an 18th century

home from Philadelphia’s

Society Hill. Lastly, attendees

will experience the “new” art of

Philadelphia while taking a

driving tour of the “Champs

Elysees of America,” the

Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Participants will hear commen-

tary on the many examples of

public art, a by-product of the

oldest One Percent Rule in the

country. The drive also passes

by many of the architectural

treasures of the city, beautiful

city squares, and several

examples of Philadelphia’s

Mural Art Program. Sites

include the statue of

Copernicus, Swan Fountain,

the Free Library of Philadel-

phia, and the Rodin Museum.

Looking for a way to jump-

start your day before a full

slate of educational program-

ming? On Tuesday, May 6,

from 6:30 to 7:30 AM, Annual

Meeting participants and their

guests will have an opportu-

nity to join one of NABP’s

fitness experts on either a run

or a slower-paced jog through

historical Philadelphia. Each

guide will be sensitive to the

group’s fitness level and

desired intensity. This will give

meeting attendees and guests

the chance to see downtown

Philadelphia up close and

personal. NABP’s walking

guide will point out interesting

sights, architecture, and

public art highlights.

Advance registration is re-

quired for the spouse/guest

tour. Due to space limitation

for the spouse/guest tour,

registrants are urged to sign

up by April 17.

For more information

about the 99th Annual

Meeting, please call NABP at

847/698-6227. Information

and registration forms may

also be found on NABP’s Web

site at www.nabp.net.

Wide Array of Optional Programming and Events (continued from page 36)

which advises consumers on

its Web site, www.fda.gov/oc/

buyonline/faqs.html#faq1:

Patients who buy prescrip-

tion drugs from Web sites

operating outside the law

are at increased risk of

suffering life-threatening

adverse events, such as

side effects from inappro-

priately prescribed

medications, dangerous

drug interactions, con-

taminated drugs, and

impure or unknown

ingredients found in

unapproved drugs.

While NABP recognizes

consumers’ need for affordable

medications, the Association

believes that existing laws and

regulations prohibiting drug

importation need to be obeyed

and enforced to allow safe and

regulated supply of drugs and

medications. Continuation

and expansion of cross-border

Internet trade of medicines

opens up American patients

to being preyed upon by those

who would take full advantage

of the lack of regulatory

enforcement.

NABP Urges Enforcement of US Drug Laws(continued from page 29)

39M A R C H 2 0 0 3

Unintended pregnancies exact

a high cost – on individuals,

who may not be emotionally,

financially, or physically

prepared for pregnancy or

parenthood; on society, which

must deal with the impact of

teen mothers, impoverished

families, or neglected children;

and on governments, which

bear financial responsibility

through social services,

Medicaid, and a myriad of

other programs.

Of course, reducing unintended

pregnancies, through sex

education and increased access

to contraception, has been a

public policy goal for some

time. Recently, however, some

states have begun to focus on

the role of emergency contra-

ception (EC), particularly birth

control hormones taken in pill

form within a short time after

sexual intercourse has taken

place. This effort has begun to

put pharmacists, in particular,

on the front line by authorizing

them to prescribe and dispense

– meaning pharmacists can

decide without consultation

with a doctor to dispense EC

on a case-by-case basis.

Emergency ContraceptionPromoting access to EC has

become attractive to state and

provincial governments for both

public health and economic

reasons. According to statistics

gathered by the state of Wash-

ington in conjunction with its

pilot program, nearly half of all

pregnancies each year in that

state were unplanned. Of those,

nearly half were terminated by

induced abortion. With Medic-

aid footing many of the hospi-

States Increase Access to Emergency Contraception Through Pharmaciststalization and medical costs for

the health issues that arise in

conjunction with pregnancy,

costs to government programs

may be substantial.

Food and Drug

Administration

(FDA) announced

in 1997 that

combined oral

contraceptives –

often referred to

as “the morning-

after pill” – could be used as a

safe and effective form of

emergency contraception.

Within two years, FDA had

approved two formulations for

that purpose. Both essentially

provide high dosages of birth

control pill hormones and

reduce the risk of pregnancy by

up to 89% if taken within 72

hours of intercourse.

Although proponents of

emergency contraception cite

benefits and a relatively simple

mechanism for achieving it,

two large issues remain. The

first is letting women know

that EC is available, and how

it works. While most women

have heard of a “morning-after

pill,” they might not think of it

for themselves in case of

contraception failure; or, if

they do, may be unaware of the

72-hour window. The second is

providing easy access to EC

when it is needed. Of those

who have heard of it, obtaining

the pills within the specified 72

hours may pose problems.

Traditionally, a woman’s

physician would prescribe EC

for her upon request. However,

practitioners are often unavail-

able on nights, weekends, or

holidays. Even family planning

clinics, such as Planned

Parenthood®, while able to

provide advice or information,

may not be able to write a

prescription unless a physician

is on staff and available at the

moment in

question.

Emergency

rooms may

not provide

EC to

individuals

who have not previously been

a patient at their facility, or,

when they do, costs can be

prohibitive.

In one survey performed in

Hawaii by the Healthy Moth-

ers, Healthy Babies Coalition

of Hawaii, facilities and

organizations ranging from

family planning providers and

emergency rooms to pregnancy

counseling centers and sex

abuse treatment centers were

contacted by a caller ostensibly

in need of emergency contra-

ception. More than half the

family planning providers and

90% of the emergency rooms

were unable to provide emer-

gency contraception within a

72-hour period. None of the

other facilities and organiza-

tions surveyed were able to

provide access within the

necessary window.

Pharmacists, however, are

easily accessible resources,

often available 24 hours a day,

seven days a week, and provide

service at a much lower cost

than a hospital emergency

room. In theory, a public

education campaign to make

women aware of EC and a

(continued on page 40)

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R40

program allowing qualified

pharmacists to prescribe and

dispense EC would combine to

dramatically reduce unwanted

pregnancies and their associ-

ated costs to individuals,

society, the health care system,

and governments.

How EC PharmacyPrograms Can WorkIn most cases, including in

Washington, California, and

Alaska, and in legislation

proposed this spring in Hawaii,

prescribing authority for

pharmacists is accomplished

through collaborative practice

agreements (collaborative

agreements are currently on

the books in at least 31 states),

with specific language pertain-

ing to EC often added to the

law. In British Columbia,

Canada, an existing collabora-

tive practice provision in theory

would have permitted an EC

program, but, in reality,

liability issues prevented it

from being used. Instead, the

provincial government passed

legislation granting pharma-

cists independent prescribing

authority for the purposes of

providing EC.

Once permitted to prescribe

EC, the next step is training.

Pharmacists complete emer-

gency contraceptive-specific

continuing education (CE)

courses to maximize the

benefits of the program. In

California, for example, such

CE must include training on

sensitive communications,

quality assurance, referral to

additional services, and

documentation. Providing EC

States Increase Access to EC Through Pharmacistsmay be seen not only as an

avenue to preventing unwanted

pregnancies, but also to

integrating recipients into the

health care system by referral

to physicians, and family

planning resources.

Of course, merely increasing

access to EC through pharma-

cist involvement is not the

complete answer. In the

Washington program, which

has served as a model for other

interested states, the idea was

to form an alliance between

many parties and attack the

issue on various fronts. A

marketing campaign, coordina-

tion with relevant groups in

the community, and collabora-

tion with practitioners all form

integral parts of a successful

program. Changing provider

practices to encourage coun-

seling on EC and providing

prescriptions in advance of a

need is also important.

Accessible EC:Documented ResultsMany EC programs are rela-

tively new, so detailed data and

analyses are not yet available.

In British Columbia, for

example, where authority to

provide EC through pharma-

cists went into effect in Decem-

ber 2000, comprehensive data

from the program’s first two

years are still being processed.

But some information seems

clear: Roughly half of the

province’s pharmacists have

received EC training, and

about 20 women per day

approach pharmacists to

request EC. Those pharmacies

near city emergency rooms, for

example, that inform ER

personnel of the pharmacists’

availability to provide emer-

gency contraception, are

particularly busy. This would

indicate, notes Brenda

Osgood, deputy registrar of

the College of Pharmacists of

British Columbia, that the

EC program is serving a need;

and, given the increased

response with increased

exposure, perhaps a great

unmet need. The next chal-

lenge, therefore, and one for

which public funds are often

lacking, is to launch a public

education campaign.

Washington, with one of the

first EC programs in North

America, compiled evidence of

the impact EC programs can

make. In the first 16 months of

the state’s program, nearly

12,000 patients were seen,

most within 24 hours of

intercourse. Forty-two percent

of visits took place during

evenings, weekends, or holi-

days. The state saw a 60-fold

increase in the amount of

emergency contraception

dispensed, and it is estimated

that a minimum of 700 abor-

tions were averted. Pharmacists

were able to refer patients to

further contraception educa-

tion and medical care.

A Controversial Area?By its nature, EC can be

something of a controversial

topic, and boards (or legisla-

tors) may fear to take it on for

that reason. In particular,

detractors may fear that easier

access to EC encourages risk-

taking behavior or consider it a

form of abortion.

(continued from page 39)

41M A R C H 2 0 0 3

Proponents disagree with these

charges. In studies performed

in Scotland and San Francisco,

CA, researchers found that

women who had been provided

with EC in advance, along with

counseling as to its appropriate

use, decreased their likelihood

of unintended pregnancy, but

were not less likely to use

normal contraception than

women who were merely

counseled. Nor were they more

likely to use EC in the future.

EC advocates likewise empha-

size the mechanism by which

EC pills work. The burst of

birth-control hormones, they

note, will not disrupt an

existing pregnancy, which is

defined by both the National

Institutes of Health and the

American College of Obstetri-

cians and Gynecologists as

beginning when a fertilized egg

implants in the uterus. EC is

effective only in preventing

implantation; it cannot

terminate a pregnancy.

Boards that have instituted EC

programs report some public

concern (generally in the form

of phone calls) at the programs’

outset, but resistance seems to

die away relatively quickly.

This growing public acceptance,

combined with increasing

evidence that EC can help

sharply reduce unintended

pregnancies and their associ-

ated costs, likely means such

programs will continue to

increase in popularity.

The board of pharmacy’s role in

EC programs varies by state

and its customary role in

pharmacy regulation and

policy-making. In some states,

like Alaska, the board fulfills

mostly a record-keeping role,

tracking collaborative practice

agreements and continuing

education. Other boards, like

British Columbia’s, take a

more active role in working

with legislators to enact the

relevant regulations.

Through April 2004, the NABPNewsletter will feature the“NABP Centennial Capsule” thatwill highlight notable events inNABP’s 100-year history.

NABP Timeline1922 – NABP moves into its

first suite of offices at 130 N

Wells in Chicago’s “Loop”

business district. The Code of

Pharmaceutical Ethics was

adopted and the Model

Pharmacy Law was presented

and adopted.

1923 – One thousand two

hundred and eight reciprocal

applications were processed.

1924 – NABP approves the list of

approved colleges of pharmacy.

1925 – The Association ap-

proves a move to a requirement

of a three-year pharmacy

curriculum licensure.

1926 – NABP now consists of

47 active memberships and one

associate member (New York).

1927 – The boards of Califor-

nia, District of Columbia,

Delaware, and Wisconsin all

were successful in having laws

enacted that required college of

pharmacy graduation for

entrance to the licensing

exam for pharmacists.

1928 – NABP celebrated its

25th silver anniversary in

Portland, OR, at the Con-

gress Square Hotel.

1929 – Three more states,

Colorado, Kansas, and

Texas, all had prerequisite

laws, bringing the total in

1929 to 36.

1930 – The fee for reciprocal

licenses went up from $15 to

$25 effective January 1, 1930.

Join Us in 2004 for NABP’s 100th AnniversaryWhat: NABP’s 100th Annual Meeting and Centennial Celebration

Where: Fairmont Hotel, Chicago, ILWhen: April 24-28, 2004

NABP Centennial Capsule

NABP Headquarters1942-1975

The Chicago Temple Bldg77 W Washington, Chicago

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R42

Schering Laboratories recently

released its 24th annual

Schering Report, entitled The

Rx Files: Prescription for Safety.

Schering Report XXIV dis-

cusses patient safety from the

physicians, patients, pharma-

cists, and pharmacy techni-

cians’ viewpoint. The most

important discovery of the

study was that only 26% of

physicians, pharmacists, and

pharmacy technicians are

convinced that they have all

the information needed about

prescription medications, over-

the-counter (OTC) products,

vitamins, herbal products, and

nutritional supplements that

their patients are taking.

According to the data compiled,

this year’s report focused on the

issue of prescription drug safety

and explored “. . . safety issues

surrounding the ordering and

dispensing of prescription drugs

and identify[ing] potential areas

for further research.”

One hundred individuals were

surveyed throughout the

United States from the follow-

ing areas: physicians, pharma-

cists, pharmacy technicians,

and patients. Each individual

was asked for input on six

aspects of drug safety: patient

information, drug information,

communication of drug orders,

environmental factors, patient

education, and quality control

procedures/risk management.

Schering Report XXIV reminds

health care professionals of the

vital role pharmacists play, and

those in the industry can use

this report as a tool to improve

certain aspects of patient

safety and care.

New Schering Report Reveals Patient Safety is a Major Health Care ConcernThe FindingsAccording to The Rx Files,

“Obtaining complete informa-

tion about OTC drugs, vita-

mins, herbal products, and

nutritional supplements

should be a priority since they

may interact unfavorably with

prescription medications.”

Related to patient safety, the

report found that 61% of

primary care physicians and

68% of specialists do not use a

computerized system to check

for possible drug interactions

and contraindications. But

pharmacists tend to take

advantage of different technolo-

gies such as flagging of sound-

alike and look-alike drugs, in

order to promote prescription

drug safety. Practically all of the

pharmacists surveyed have

automatic flagging capabilities

for drug interactions and

allergic complications.

Even though pharmacy tech-

nology is increasing, electronic

prescribing has not caught on

as quickly as expected. Eighty-

seven percent of the physicians

surveyed stated that they “most

frequently” issue handwritten

prescriptions, even though this

method receives low safety

ratings from pharmacists and

pharmacy technicians.

“Approximately three billion

retail prescriptions were filled

in 2001, and that figure is

expected to catapult to four

billion by 2005,” the Schering

Report states.

According to a recent

Schering press release, “Six

out of 10 pharmacists

interviewed are filling more

prescriptions per working

hour than they did just one

year ago.” This increase in

dispensing is attributable to

population growth, an aging

population, and the avail-

ability of more medications

to treat complex conditions.

The growing pharmacist

shortage is a concern to

those physicians who par-

ticipated in the study. The

government predicts that by

2005 there will be a 40%

increase in prescription

volume and only a 4%

increase in pharmacists.

In Schering Report XXIV, both

pharmacists and pharmacy

technicians take patient

counseling and education very

seriously and a majority of them

work in pharmacies with patient

counseling areas. In fact, on a

scale of one to ten (one being no

responsibility for patient

education, 10 being total

responsibility), both the phar-

macists and pharmacy techni-

cians’ responses averaged 9.3.

The report also found that 78%

of the physicians surveyed feel

that verbal and written counsel-

ing by a pharmacist is a positive

reinforcement of their own

educational efforts. When

getting a new prescription filled,

patients ask the pharmacist or

pharmacy technician questions

60% of the time; these ques-

tions are usually about possible

side effects and precautions

they should be aware of, and

possible drug interactions.

Of major importance among

physicians, pharmacists, and

pharmacy technicians is

compliance. According to the

(continued on next page)

43M A R C H 2 0 0 3

For the first time ever, NABP

will feature a poster session

at its 99th Annual Meeting,

May 3-7, 2003, at the Phila-

delphia Marriott Hotel in

Philadelphia, PA.

Displayed in the Educational

Presentation Area, these

posters will give boards of

pharmacy the opportunity to

share details on their best or

most interesting legislative

issues, policy development, or

disciplinary cases. Among

others, the topics that will be

displayed include such timely

and relevant issues as del-

egated dispensing, tele-

pharmacy, and labeling for

Hispanics along with a demo

of the Pre-NAPLEX™, or Pre-

North American Pharmacist

Licensure Examination.

Viewing hours will take place

in the Presentation Area from

NABP Offers ‘Hot Topics’ Poster Session, Educational PresentationArea Drawing at 99th Annual Meeting

1 to 5 PM on Saturday, May 3,

and 8 AM to noon on Sunday,

May 4.

Also new this year is the chance

to win prizes in the first Educa-

tional Presentation Area

Passport Drawing. Passports

will be included in the Annual

Meeting Registration Kits and

meeting attendees can have

them stamped at each booth in

the Educational Presentation

Area for a chance to win one of

three prizes. Prizes include

round-trip airfare for travel in

the continental United States,

provided by Options Travel; a

two-night Hyatt Hotel stay

anywhere in the US, Canada, or

the Caribbean; and a three-day

rental car from Avis Rent A Car,

also provided by Options Travel.

To be included in the drawing,

drop off your stamped passport

at the NABP Registration Desk

by 11:30 AM on Monday, May 5.

Winners of the drawing will be

announced at the Annual

Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May

6, at 7 PM. Winners need not be

present to win; participants may

submit only one entry.

The Pre-NAPLEX™, or Pre-

North American Pharmacist

Licensure Examination, will be

available via the NABP Web site

at www.nabp.net in April 2003.

The Pre-NAPLEX will also be

accessible through

www.pharmacist.com.

An Executive Committee

initiative, the Pre-NAPLEX

exam will have the same “look

and feel” of the NAPLEX. A

scoring estimate (or probabil-

ity) of how candidates will

perform on the NAPLEX will be

provided through the pre-exam.

NABP to Unveil Pre-NAPLEX Examinationin Mid-April

Comprised of 50 items, the pre-

exam will aid pharmacy

students and graduates in

assessing their ability, knowl-

edge, judgment, and skills that

an entry-level pharmacist is

expected to demonstrate. There

will be a fee for each attempt to

sit for the Pre-NAPLEX.

Detailed information will be

provided at a later date. For

more information now, please

contact NABP Headquarters

at 847/698-6227 or via e-mail

at custserv@nabp.net.

report, physicians estimated

that nearly 25% of their

patients who take prescrip-

tion drugs are placing

themselves in danger due to

a lack of compliance and not

following the physician’s

instructions when taking a

particular medication.

Even though every precau-

tion is taken, errors still

occur. The most common

errors physicians reported

among pharmacists and

pharmacy technicians was

the dispensing of the

incorrect amount or dosage

strength of a drug, providing

incorrect usage instructions

for the medication, and

giving the patient the wrong

medication. However, most

errors are being caught

before the prescriptions

leave the pharmacy because

of safeguards employed by

pharmacists and pharmacy

technicians.

To obtain a free copy of

Schering Report XXIV,

contact Schering PRN at

1-800/SCHERING, fax a

request to 1-800/FAX2PRN,

or visit Schering’s Web site

at www.sigprn.com.

Schering Report(continued from previous page)

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R44

The review committees for NABP’s competency

assessment programs are charged with safeguard-

ing the integrity and validity of the Association’s

examinations. These committees meet regularly to

review examination content and ensure that it

meets the specified competency statements. The

individuals listed below currently serve on NABP’s

examination committees. NABP’s Advisory

Committee on Examinations (ACE) oversees the

development and administration of all exam

programs, considers policy matters, develops long-

NABP’s Examination Committee Members

Advisory Committee on Examinations

Chair ................................. Lawrence H. MokhiberNew York Board of Pharmacy

Member ........................................... Carl W. AronLouisiana Board of Pharmacy

Member .................................... Stephen M. GrossDean/Professor, Arnold & Marie SchwartzCollege of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Member ................................................ Jeff LureyGeorgia State Board of Pharmacy

Member .................................... Kendall M. LynchTennessee Board of Pharmacy

Member ....................................... Harold B. SparrMassachusetts Board

of Registration in PharmacyMember ................................. Donald H. Williams

Washington State Board of PharmacyExecutive Committee Liaison ........ Donna S. Wall

Indiana Board of Pharmacy

DSM Examination Review Committee

Member ........................................... George AlexisMarshfield, MA

Member ............................................. Mary CoffeyHolly, NJ

Member ......................................... Susan CornellOrland Park, IL

Member ...................................Mark C. GranberryEdinburg, TX

Member ........................................Karen GunningSalt Lake City, UT

Member ........................................ Jill T. JohnsonLittle Rock, AR

Member ..................................... JaCinda L. JonesSt Louis, MO

range planning strategies, and recommends action

on specific issues to NABP’s Executive Committee.

Members of the North American Pharmacist

Licensure Examination™ (NAPLEX®), Multistate

Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®),

Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Exami-

nation® (FPGEE®) Review Committee, and the

Disease State Management (DSM) examination

review committees start their terms at the begin-

ning of the year, while members of ACE begin

their terms in the summer.

Member ........................................ W. Greg LeaderMonroe, LA

Member ....................................... James W. LewisNewark, DE

Member ....................................... Robert P. PaoneBraintree, MA

Member ................................. Deborah J. RandallDecatur, GA

Member ................................. Susan Spivey-MillerGainesville, FL

Member ............................................ David YoungSalt Lake City, UT

FPGEE Review Committee

Member ....................................... Louis N. Ace, JrLake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Member ..................................Charles BarfknechtUniversity of Iowa

Member ......................................... John H. BlockOregon State University

Member ...................................... Stephen L. DahlKansas City, MO

Member .................................. William R. GarnettVirginia Commonwealth University

Member ..................................... J. Keith GuilloryUniversity of Iowa

Member ........................................... Boka HadzijaUniversity of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Member ......................................... Monina LahozMassachusetts College of Pharmacy

and Health SciencesMember ........................................ Holly L. Mason

Purdue UniversityMember .......................................... Ralph Raasch

University of North Carolina – Chapel HillMember .................................... Timothy J. Smith

University of the Pacific

45M A R C H 2 0 0 3

Member .................................. Sr Margaret WrightArlington Heights, IL

Member ............................... Dale Eric Wurster, JrUniversity of Iowa

Member ......................................... David ZgarrickMidwestern University

MPJE Review Committee

Member ........................................Michelle AndollBaltimore, MD

Member .......................................... Rosalie BaranMichigan Department of Consumer

and Industry ServicesMember ................................. Cynthia A. Benning

Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining BoardMember .............................................. John Carlo

New York Board of PharmacyMember .......................................James D. Coffey

Massachusetts Board ofRegistration in Pharmacy

Member .............................Denise Frank PetersonPrinceton, MN

Member ...................................... Michael A. MonéKentucky Board of Pharmacy

Member ......................................... Jerry MontoyaNew Mexico Board of Pharmacy

Member ............................... Richard D. MorrisonWashington State Board of Pharmacy

Member ............................................ Steve MorseTexas State Board of Pharmacy

Member ...................................... Melvin N. RubinMaryland Board of Pharmacy

Member ................................... Charles W. SauerDarien, IL

Member ..................................... Alan M. ShepleyMount Vernon, IA

Member ....................................... John D. TaylorTallahassee, Florida

Ex-officio Member .......................... Denise CurryUS Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Arlington, VAEx-officio Member .............. Thomas J. McGinnis

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Rockland, MD

NAPLEX Review Committee

Member ..................................... Loyd V. Allen, JrEdmond, OK

Member ................................... Dyke F. AndersonLincoln, NE

Member ........................................ Christi CapersHermitage, TN

Member ........................................Rebecca ChaterNorth Carolina Board of Pharmacy

Member .............................Michael B. CockerhamLouisiana State University

Member .............................................. Betty DongUniversity of California – San Francisco

Member ................................... Thomas S. FosterUniversity of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy

Member ............................................ Darla GalloElkins Park, PA

Member ............................... W. Franklin GilmoreMontana Tech of the University of Montana

Member ............................... Robert P. HendersonSamford University, AL

Member ............................ William A. Hopkins, JrBig Canoe, GA

Member ................................... Tom M. HouchensLondon, KY

Member ............................... Arthur I. JacknowitzWest Virginia University

Member ......................................... William KehoeUniversity of the Pacific

Member ................................... Dennis D. KillionRed Oak, IA

Member ................................................ Jeff LureyGeorgia State Board of Pharmacy

Member ......................................... Susan C. LutzAltoona, IA

Member ............................................ Gene MartinPensacola, FL

Member ..................................Warren A. NarducciShenandoah, IA

Member .................................... David W. NewtonShenandoah University, VA

Member .............................. Stephen M. OuelletteOakland, ME

Member ......................................... Roy C. ParishLouisiana State Unversity

Member ........................................... David B. RollRockville, MD

Member ........................................Pamela P. RushIndependence, MO

Member ...................................... Eric F. ScheiderGastonia, NC

Member ................................... James A. SeaboldtThornton, CO

Member ............................................. Holly StromLos Angeles, CA

Member ........................................ John L. SzarekRoss University School of Medicine

Member ....................................... Andrea TassoneChicago, IL

Member ........................................ Neal F. WalkerUniversity Medical Center – Mesabi, MN

N A B P N E W S L E T T E R46

ComplianceNewsFlorida Board Fines RxNetwork $48,000The Florida Board of Phar-

macy met on March 6, 2003,

and approved a fine of

$48,000 against online

pharmacy Rx Network, LLC,

www.therxnetwork.com, of

South Florida, for dispensing

excessive quantities of

controlled substances.

Claiming that the Davie,

Florida-based Rx Network

endangered the public by selling

drugs to patients who are not

physically examined by their

prescribing doctors, the Board

issued an emergency suspension

order on June 3, 2002. Rx

Network immediately appealed

the action to the First District

Court of Appeals, which over-

turned the suspension allowing

the online pharmacy to con-

tinue operating.

When the case was brought to

trial in January 2003, the court

ruled that the Florida Board

had not presented sufficient

evidence to prove that Rx

Network was a threat to public

safety; it did recommend a

$24,000 fine and probation for

one year for dispensing exces-

sive quantities of controlled

substances. This suggestion was

based on a survey of 1,924

orders showing that the phar-

macy filled prescriptions for

excessive quantities of diet pills

24 times.

The Board has also called for

Rx Network’s pharmacy

manager to complete 12 hours

of continuing education

training and 50 hours of

community service. In addi-

tion, the online pharmacy will

be subject to regular state

inspections and was told to

pay $44,000 to cover costs of

the investigation that resulted

in proven charges.

GSK Acts to Help PreventCanadian Drug ImportsIn order to help combat the

importation of drugs from

Canada, GlaxoSmithKline

(GSK) announced it will not

supply pharmaceuticals to

Canadian companies that

export drugs to the United

States. Recently, the

company’s Canadian arm wrote

a letter to wholesalers and

Internet pharmacies stating

GSK would not provide drugs

for export, but would still

provide those companies with

an adequate supply of drugs for

Canadian patients.

Nancy Pekarec, GSK’s vice

president of corporate media

relations, explains that this

decision was made not only

because of safety concerns, but

also because the increased

trafficking of drugs to America

was creating a shortage of

drugs in Canada.

Organizations who oppose

GSK’s decision contend that

the company is using the ban

to increase profits. But,

Pekarec says, the illegally

imported drugs represent only

1% of the company’s sales.

“The amount of money made

from Americans purchasing

Canadian drugs is not terribly

financially critical,” Pekarec

adds. “We have made this

decision because of the safety

issues surrounding cross-

border trade. And as the

business grows, safety risks

will also increase.”

FactsSite of NABP’s Centennial Celebration

April 24-28, 2004

Chicago

It may not be the tallest of

Chicago’s downtown

skyscrapers, but it certainly

towers with charm. When the

architectural firm Skidmore,

Owings & Merrill began work

on the John Hancock Center in

the mid-1960s, the notion of

designing residential space atop

commercial space was absurd.

The design, which called for

huge X-shaped crossbeams,

worked, however, and today the

Hancock Center serves as a

1,127-foot

greeting card for

motorists heading

south from

Chicago’s North

Shore. While

millions visit the

Center’s

Observatory

every year, only

half of them can

enjoy the best

view – from the

window inside the Observatory’s

ladies’ room.(Source:

www.johnhancockcenterchicago.com.)

47M A R C H 2 0 0 3

Around theAssociationColorado Mourns theLoss of Kenneth SmithColorado State Board of

Pharmacy member Kenneth

Smith passed away in

January 2002.

New Administrator at theVermont BoardCarla Preston, former

Vermont Board of Pharmacy

administrator, has recently

been promoted to unit

administrator. Peggy Atkins

has been hired as the Board’s

new board administrator. Rita

Knapp has been promoted to

assistant director of the Board.

New Board Members� George L. Bowersox, RPh,

has replaced Leon R. Parker

as a board member of the

New Hampshire Board of

Pharmacy. His term runs

December 18, 2002, through

September 7, 2007.

� Bernie V. Foster has

replaced Marie Williams

as consumer board

member of the Oregon

State Board of Phar-

macy. His term runs

November 8, 2002,

through June 30, 2006.

� Arthur S. Mariano has

been appointed to the

Guam Board of Examin-

ers in Pharmacy. His term

runs September 2002

through February 2004.

NAPLEX/MPJE Item Writing WorkshopsTwenty-six participants attended the NAPLEX ItemWriting Workshop at the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, IL,on January 10-11, 2003. Pictured at right are (from left)Hal Ward, Bob Henderson, Mary Chavez, and Scott Stolte.

The MPJE Item Writing Workshop, held January10-12, 2003, at the Embassy Suites inRosemont, IL, had 18 participants workingtogether. Pictured left to right, are Gail Smith,Florida Board of Pharmacy; Elwin Goo, HawaiiState Board of Pharmacy; and John Taylor,Florida Board of Pharmacy.

Larry Klein (center), technical advisor for MPJEitem writing, assists Wyoming State Board ofPharmacy participants Jim Carder (left) andJennifer Nevins (right).

NABP Meeting DatesFriday-Sunday, April 25-27, 2003

FPGEE Item Writing Workshop

Hyatt Rosemont Hotel, Rosemont, IL

Friday, May 2, 2003Pre-convention Executive Committee MeetingPhiladelphia Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, PA

Saturday-Wednesday, May 3-7, 2003NABP’s 99th Annual MeetingPhiladelphia Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, PA

Wednesday, May 7, 2003Post-convention Executive Committee MeetingPhiladelphia Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, PA

Sunday-Tuesday, August 3-5, 2003District III MeetingWestin Savannah Harbor Hotel, Savannah, GA

Wednesday-Friday, August 6-8, 2003District V MeetingLied Conference Center, Nebraska City, NE

Sunday-Tuesday, September 14-16, 2003Fall Legislative ConferenceMayflower Hotel, Washington, DC

Saturday-Wednesday, April 24-28, 2004NABP’s 100th Annual Meeting and CentennialCelebration, Fairmont Hotel, Chicago, IL

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