Pharmacy Legislative Advocacy Invitational Day brings together students and legislators

This year’s PLAID Day welcomed Senators Edward Rath, Timothy Kennedy and Sean Ryan, along with Assembly Member Michael Norris and Joe Popiolkowski, Legislative Director to Assembly Member Karen McMahon, to take part in conversations with students on a variety of current health care topics. There were nearly 150 students in attendance including first-year pharmacy students and dental students from the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). 

The Long-Acting Injectables for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) bill authorizes pharmacists to administer injectable medications to patients for substance use disorder and mental health.

The Pharmacy Marketplace bill would authorize pharmacies to receive prescription drugs from other pharmacies outside of New York State that are not registered with the New York State Education Department, guaranteeing patient access to medications in the case of a public health emergency.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing authorizes pharmacists to perform clinical laboratory tests on patients to expedite health assessment, diagnosis, or treatment of disease.

“This event shows us, as students, the difference we can make by way of grassroots efforts,” says Autumn Spyhalsky, PharmD/MS’24, SPAWNY president. “This event provides the chance for our [first year pharmacy] students to engage in discussion with Senators and Assemblymembers where they're able to learn more on the details of our NYS pharmacy legislative priorities. It's essential that students take action and continue to feel passionate about pharmacy advocacy, so we can continue to advance our profession.”