HDMA RECOGNIZES CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROSS (D-ARK.) WITH RX SAFETY AND HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP AWARD

Award Honors Public Officials Who Advocate for a Safe and Efficient Healthcare Supply Chain

Ann Berkey, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, McKesson; Representative Mike Ross (D-Ark.); John M. Gray, President and CEO, HDMA ; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McKesson Corporation.

ARLINGTON, Va., June 23, 2010 – The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) today honored Representative Mike Ross (D-Ark.) with its Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award. The award recognizes public officials for their leadership and commitment to public policies that support and promote the safe and efficient delivery of lifesaving medicines to patients nationwide.

Representative Ross has been a consistent supporter of proposals that ensure timely access to medicines for all Americans. He has led the charge to correct the average manufacturer price reimbursement metric, ensuring continued access to medication for Medicaid beneficiaries. Representative Ross also has a long track record of supporting policies to enhance safety and promote efficiency across the entire healthcare supply chain.

“Before coming to Congress, Representative Ross had a long career in the healthcare supply chain — with experience not only in the distribution industry but also as the owner of a pharmacy. He draws from a reservoir of supply chain expertise unmatched in the halls of Congress,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “His support of sensible reimbursement policies not only promotes the continued efficiency of the supply chain but guarantees that millions of Americans get the lifesaving, life-enhancing medications they need.”      

HDMA presents the Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award to honor and recognize federal and state public officials who:

• Introduce, support or author legislation, regulations or policies and champion technologies that further enhance supply chain security, patient safety, business efficiencies and defend the industry against policies that could compromise these or are otherwise harmful to the supply chain.
• Support fair and accurate reimbursement policies that ensure continuous patient access to lifesaving medicines at their pharmacy, physician’s office or other healthcare provider.
• Continually promote constructive discussion and ongoing collaboration between supply chain partners and government and endeavor to learn about the distribution industry through meetings, appearances, tours and other events.  

Further information is available on HDMA’s website, www.HealthcareDistribution.org.

About HDMA
HDMA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link in the healthcare system. Each business day, HDMA member companies ensure that more than nine million prescription medicines and healthcare products are safely delivered to more than 165,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, clinics and others nationwide. HDMA and its members work daily to provide value and contain costs, saving the nation’s healthcare system an estimated $32 billion per year.