COVID-19 has up-ended established work practice across industries, resulting in major changes and creating new flexibilities and opportunities. Hospitals and health systems are ground zero for some of the biggest shifts, particularly the rapid transition to telehealth and the embrace of new technology. In this podcast, we talk through one of the most beneficial new flexibilities to emerge during the pandemic – virtual supervision of pharmacists’ services. We’ll discuss why virtual supervision is helpful for our members, how it intersects with other important regulatory flexibilities and advocacy priorities, what we’re doing to ensure virtual supervision becomes permanent, and how members can help advocate for that change.
SPEAKERS
Jillanne Schulte Wall is the Senior Director of Health & Regulatory Policy for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in Bethesda, MD. She serves as ASHP’s primary liaison to federal regulatory agencies and, in conjunction with other members of the Government Relations team, develops and communicates of ASHP’s positions on federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance related to the profession of pharmacy. Additionally, Jillanne works closely with stakeholders in pharmacy, medicine, manufacturing, and patient advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues of importance to ASHP members. Prior to joining ASHP, Jillanne was the Director of Regulatory Affairs for the American Pharmacists Association in Washington, D.C. She began her career as a healthcare attorney at Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP in Washington, DC, where she advised healthcare clients on corporate, regulatory, and transactional issues, with a particular emphasis on optimizing performance after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Tom Kraus is Vice President for Government Relations at ASHP. He is a graduate of University of Michigan (BS Biology), Georgetown University Law Center (Doctor Of Law), and The Johns Hopkins University (MHS, Health Policy).
Tom previously served as the Chief of Staff and Associate Commissioner for Legislation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He was also a senior policy advisor to Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. Tom Harkin on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where he served as Deputy Staff Director for Health.
TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES
ASHP is requesting that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) make the current temporary regulatory flexibility permanent, allowing physicians to provide direct supervision of clinical staff virtually, using real-time audio/video technology.
Please take a moment to review ASHP's draft sign-on letter. We ask that you talk with your C-suite and government relations team in your health system about signing on to the letter advocating for this permanent change.
- The draft sign-on letter can be reviewed here.
- Your organization can sign onto the letter through the link found here.