As a part of APhA’s commitment to serve every pharmacist and all of pharmacy, we have advocated for issues impacting you and your practice in your state. I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Michael Murphy who serves as APhA’s advisor for state government affairs.

Washington, DC – The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) released cybersecurity recommendations today for urgent policy changes to better secure the pharmacy ecosystem and patient safety. The recommendations were submitted as Statements for the Record to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for the congressional hearings taking place today on the Change Healthcare cyberattack.

Most people who smoke don’t quit on their initial attempt. What’s the best course of action, then, if an initial smoking cessation attempt fails? Results from a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network found that for individuals who did not quit after being treated with varenicline, increasing the dosage enhanced abstinence. For nonabstainers who were initially treated with combination nicotine replacement therapy, a dosage increase or a switch to varenicline enhanced abstinence.

Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee signed legislation that expands pharmacists’ scope of practice in the state. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on May 1.