The 89th Iowa General Assembly began this week with legislators returning to the Iowa State Capitol and Governor Kim Reynolds giving her Condition of the State address. 

Governor Reynolds thanked healthcare workers, including pharmacists, for stepping up to save lives during the pandemic. She also committed to ensuring Iowa's mental health system is fully funded, as well as building out broadband to support telehealth throughout the state.  

This week also begins IPA's legislative advocacy efforts at the capitol. IPA has introduced a strong legislative platform this year and will be supporting legislation to increase access to pharmacist-provided immunizations, statewide protocols for testing and treatment, and updated authority for collaborative practice agreements. With the recent victory for pharmacy in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Rutledge v. PCMA, IPA will seek to pass legislation that ensures Iowa can effectively regulate detrimental PBM practices.  

We strongly encourage all of our members to reach out to your elected officials and introduce yourself as a resource on pharmacy and healthcare issues. If you do not know who your legislators are, use the legislator finder tool. IPA's virtual Legislative Day (January 27) is also a great opportunity to hear from legislators and experts on the issues impacting pharmacy. You, and your relationship with your legislators, is the profession's most important advocacy asset. 

Each week throughout the session, IPA will provide updates in the #1 section of the TOP 5 e-newsletter. IPA also provides a bill tracker, listing all bills IPA is following on behalf of our members. If you are interested in taking on a greater role in pharmacy advocacy this year, consider signing up for IPA's Champion Advocate initiative. In addition, watch your inbox for Advocacy Alerts from IPA asking you to take part in a grassroots effort on particular legislation, telling you who to contact and what you need to say. These grassroots efforts are critical to our advocacy efforts.