WSPA Pharmacy Podcast · WA State Pharmacy Assoc

March 27, 2024 Town Hall for Pharmacy Professionals

·42 min·4 clips

Jenny reveals the governor just signed a major pharmacy bill, sparking curiosity about its impact.

This episode is a town hall update from the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) regarding a recent legislative victory. Hosts Jenny Arnold and Didi provide an insider's perspective on the advocacy process. They emphasize the critical final steps required after a bill passes the legislature. The hosts celebrate the governor signing their bill into law on Monday, March 25, 2024. Jenny Arnold notes that while passage felt like a foregone conclusion, the outcome was never guaranteed until the signing. She references colleagues in other states who faced unexpected gubernatorial vetoes despite prior assurances. The WSPA team worked to preserve what they describe as the bill's most aggressive provisions until the last moment. Didi details the post-session advocacy required with the governor's office after the bill cleared the House and Senate. The association engaged with the governor's policy staff, including a healthcare-specific staffer named Molly Boris. They provided information and facilitated meetings to secure support. The WSPA also obtained a supportive letter from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) to bolster their case. A key insight is that legislative success requires continuous work even after a bill passes both legislative chambers. The hosts reveal that advocacy efforts with the executive branch are a separate, crucial phase. They stress that gubernatorial support can never be assumed, citing direct examples of last-minute reversals elsewhere. The involvement of a specific staffer, Molly Boris, highlights the targeted nature of this final lobbying push. Securing an endorsement from a national organization like NCPA is presented as a valuable tactic. The celebration is tempered by a clear understanding of the fragile and multi-stage nature of the political process. The tone is professional, celebratory, and educational, offering a behind-the-scenes look at association advocacy. The style is conversational and direct, derived from a recorded member update call. Pharmacy professionals in Washington state, especially WSPA members, would find this episode directly relevant and informative. Listeners uninterested in state-level pharmacy policy or legislative strategy might skip it.

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