Political advocacy is a core professional responsibility for pharmacists who are dedicated to advancing patient care and the future of the profession. While not always seen as a traditional role, understanding health policy and advocating for change is a crucial skill, drawing on the principles taught in courses on Pharmacy Law and Ethics and public health. This quiz will test your knowledge on the key advocacy issues facing pharmacy, such as provider status and PBM reform, and the methods pharmacists can use to make their voices heard.
1. Political advocacy in pharmacy is best described as:
- a. The act of running for political office.
- b. The process of influencing public policy and resource allocation decisions on behalf of the pharmacy profession and patient health.
- c. A marketing strategy for a pharmacy.
- d. The process of dispensing medications.
Answer: b. The process of influencing public policy and resource allocation decisions on behalf of the pharmacy profession and patient health.
2. The long-standing, primary national advocacy goal for the pharmacy profession has been to achieve:
- a. The ability to compound all medications.
- b. Exemption from all federal laws.
- c. “Provider Status” under the Social Security Act.
- d. Higher reimbursement rates for brand-name drugs only.
Answer: c. “Provider Status” under the Social Security Act.
3. What is the main benefit of pharmacists achieving “provider status” at the federal level?
- a. It would allow pharmacists to prescribe all medications.
- b. It would enable pharmacists to be recognized as healthcare providers and bill Medicare Part B for clinical services.
- c. It would give pharmacists a higher salary automatically.
- d. It would eliminate the need for pharmacy technicians.
Answer: b. It would enable pharmacists to be recognized as healthcare providers and bill Medicare Part B for clinical services.
4. A pharmacist writing a letter or calling their state representative to discuss a pending bill is an example of:
- a. A Political Action Committee (PAC).
- b. Lobbying.
- c. Grassroots advocacy.
- d. A violation of the law.
Answer: c. Grassroots advocacy.
5. Which of the following is a key role of national pharmacy organizations like APhA and ASHP?
- a. To set the prices of drugs.
- b. To represent the interests of the profession and advocate on its behalf at the federal level.
- c. To issue pharmacy licenses.
- d. To conduct inspections of pharmacies.
Answer: b. To represent the interests of the profession and advocate on its behalf at the federal level.
6. The course “Principles of Pharmacy Law and Ethics” provides the foundational knowledge for understanding the policies pharmacists seek to change.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
7. “Scope of practice” for pharmacists is primarily determined at what level of government?
- a. Federal
- b. State
- c. City
- d. County
Answer: b. State
8. Advocating for laws that increase patient access to naloxone is an example of a pharmacist’s role in:
- a. Promoting public health.
- b. Increasing pharmacy profits.
- c. Managing inventory.
- d. Compounding.
Answer: a. Promoting public health.
9. A Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) is an entity that:
- a. Represents the interests of community pharmacies.
- b. Manufactures medications.
- c. Acts as an intermediary between insurance companies, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers.
- d. Is a government regulatory body.
Answer: c. Acts as an intermediary between insurance companies, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers.
10. Advocacy efforts aimed at PBM reform often focus on:
- a. Increasing the complexity of contracts.
- b. Promoting transparency in pricing and eliminating retroactive DIR fees.
- c. Decreasing access to generic medications.
- d. Making it harder for patients to get their prescriptions.
Answer: b. Promoting transparency in pricing and eliminating retroactive DIR fees.
11. Recognizing the pharmacist’s role in promoting public health is a key objective of the community pharmacy IPPE.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
12. A Political Action Committee (PAC) associated with a pharmacy organization primarily serves to:
- a. Write legislation.
- b. Provide continuing education.
- c. Pool campaign contributions from members to support political candidates who are friendly to pharmacy issues.
- d. Lobby legislators directly.
Answer: c. Pool campaign contributions from members to support political candidates who are friendly to pharmacy issues.
13. When meeting with a legislator or their staff, the most effective strategy is to:
- a. Be confrontational and demand action.
- b. Provide a concise, clear message, share a personal patient story, and present a specific “ask.”
- c. Discuss multiple, unrelated issues in one meeting.
- d. Assume they are an expert in pharmacy practice.
Answer: b. Provide a concise, clear message, share a personal patient story, and present a specific “ask.”
14. What is the purpose of a legislative day or “pharmacy day at the capitol”?
- a. To provide free health screenings to legislators.
- b. To bring a large group of pharmacists and student pharmacists together to meet with legislators and advocate for the profession.
- c. To hold a large continuing education event.
- d. To protest against the government.
Answer: b. To bring a large group of pharmacists and student pharmacists together to meet with legislators and advocate for the profession.
15. Collaborating with teams to develop policies and procedures is a key objective for student pharmacists in the hospital setting.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
16. Which federal agency is primarily responsible for regulating prescription drugs?
- a. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- b. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- c. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- d. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Answer: c. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
17. The development of a professional identity, as taught in the PPD courses, includes understanding one’s role as an advocate for the profession.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
18. Advocating for the expansion of pharmacist-led immunization authority is an example of trying to change:
- a. Federal law
- b. A drug’s indication
- c. The pharmacy’s scope of practice
- d. Insurance reimbursement
Answer: c. The pharmacy’s scope of practice
19. Why is a personal story often more effective than data alone when advocating to a legislator?
- a. It helps to create an emotional connection and illustrate the real-world impact of a policy.
- b. Legislators do not understand data.
- c. Stories are easier to remember than facts.
- d. Both a and c.
Answer: d. Both a and c.
20. The “Advocacy 101” reading is listed as a resource in the Patient Care 5 curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
21. A pharmacist collaborating with the local health department on a smoking cessation campaign is a form of:
- a. Political lobbying
- b. Public health advocacy
- c. A business partnership
- d. A conflict of interest
Answer: b. Public health advocacy
22. Which of the following is NOT a primary goal of pharmacy advocacy?
- a. To improve patient access to care.
- b. To ensure pharmacists are fairly compensated for their clinical services.
- c. To advance the scope and recognition of the pharmacy profession.
- d. To limit patient choice in pharmacies.
Answer: d. To limit patient choice in pharmacies.
23. The State Board of Pharmacy is primarily responsible for:
- a. Lobbying the federal government.
- b. Setting drug prices.
- c. Protecting the public by regulating the practice of pharmacy within the state.
- d. Representing pharmacists in labor disputes.
Answer: c. Protecting the public by regulating the practice of pharmacy within the state.
24. An active learning session on urological disorders is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
25. Staying informed about current healthcare legislation is a professional responsibility for pharmacists.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
26. The term “lobbyist” refers to:
- a. Any citizen who contacts their legislator.
- b. A person who is paid to advocate on behalf of a specific interest group.
- c. A member of a legislator’s staff.
- d. A type of pharmacy technician.
Answer: b. A person who is paid to advocate on behalf of a specific interest group.
27. A key to successful advocacy is:
- a. Working alone.
- b. Building coalitions with other healthcare organizations and patient advocacy groups.
- c. Only communicating via email.
- d. Arguing with legislators.
Answer: b. Building coalitions with other healthcare organizations and patient advocacy groups.
28. An active learning session on political advocacy is part of which course module?
- a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
- b. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
- c. Module 3: Women’s Health
- d. Module 6: Geriatrics
Answer: a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
29. The term “health policy” refers to:
- a. A hospital’s policy on employee health.
- b. The decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society.
- c. An insurance company’s list of covered benefits.
- d. A patient’s personal health goals.
Answer: b. The decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society.
30. The “Principles of Pharmacy Law and Ethics” is a core course in the curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
31. A pharmacist can become involved in advocacy by:
- a. Joining a state or national pharmacy organization.
- b. Responding to “call to action” alerts from these organizations.
- c. Donating to a pharmacy PAC.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
32. What is a “bill” in the legislative process?
- a. A proposed law that has been introduced but not yet passed.
- b. A law that has been passed and signed.
- c. An invoice for legislative services.
- d. A list of legislative priorities.
Answer: a. A proposed law that has been introduced but not yet passed.
33. The most effective advocacy often occurs at which level?
- a. International
- b. Federal
- c. State and local
- d. Within a single hospital department
Answer: c. State and local
34. A pharmacist developing a new policy for managing high-alert medications at their hospital is an example of:
- a. Political advocacy
- b. Institutional advocacy
- c. A medication error
- d. A research project
Answer: b. Institutional advocacy
35. A pharmacist’s expertise makes them a valuable resource for legislators on issues related to:
- a. Transportation policy.
- b. Medication safety, access, and cost.
- c. Agricultural policy.
- d. Foreign relations.
Answer: b. Medication safety, access, and cost.
36. A pharmacist’s “elevator pitch” for an advocacy issue should be:
- a. At least 15 minutes long.
- b. Highly technical and full of jargon.
- c. A concise and compelling summary of the issue and the desired action.
- d. A list of complaints about their job.
Answer: c. A concise and compelling summary of the issue and the desired action.
37. Understanding how a bill becomes a law is part of understanding political advocacy.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
38. The lecture “Political Advocacy” is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
39. When a pharmacist advocates for provider status, they are primarily seeking:
- a. A higher salary.
- b. Recognition for their clinical services to improve patient access and ensure payment for those services.
- c. The ability to own a pharmacy.
- d. The right to prescribe controlled substances.
Answer: b. Recognition for their clinical services to improve patient access and ensure payment for those services.
40. An active learning session covering political advocacy is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
41. The development of collaborative practice agreements is often a result of successful:
- a. Marketing.
- b. State-level legislative advocacy.
- c. Federal court cases.
- d. Hospital-only policies.
Answer: b. State-level legislative advocacy.
42. Which of the following is NOT a professional pharmacy organization involved in advocacy?
- a. American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
- b. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- c. National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
- d. American Medical Association (AMA)
Answer: d. American Medical Association (AMA)
43. A key part of advocacy is:
- a. Persistence and follow-up.
- b. A single phone call.
- c. Waiting for someone else to do it.
- d. Only getting involved during an election year.
Answer: a. Persistence and follow-up.
44. A pharmacist can serve as a key contact and resource for their local legislator on healthcare issues.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
45. Which of the following is a key component of effective advocacy?
- a. A clear and unified message from the profession.
- b. A strong grassroots network.
- c. Support from professional organizations.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
46. A “call to action” from a pharmacy organization is a request for:
- a. A financial donation.
- b. Members to contact their legislators about a specific, timely issue.
- c. Volunteers for a health fair.
- d. Submissions to the organization’s journal.
Answer: b. Members to contact their legislators about a specific, timely issue.
47. A pharmacist advocating for policies that address social determinants of health is engaging in:
- a. A conflict of interest.
- b. A public health issue.
- c. A purely political activity.
- d. A business venture.
Answer: b. A public health issue.
48. An active learning session on advocacy is part of which course module?
- a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
- b. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
- c. Module 4: Medication Safety
- d. Module 6: Geriatrics
Answer: a. Module 5: Urological Disorders
49. The overall management of the pharmacy profession’s future depends on:
- a. The actions of physicians.
- b. The active engagement of pharmacists in advocacy.
- c. The decisions of insurance companies alone.
- d. The public’s perception.
Answer: b. The active engagement of pharmacists in advocacy.
50. The ultimate goal of political advocacy in pharmacy is to:
- a. Advance the profession and improve patient access to care and overall public health.
- b. Increase the political power of pharmacists.
- c. Ensure pharmacists are the highest-paid healthcare professionals.
- d. Pass laws that make pharmacy practice easier.
Answer: a. Advance the profession and improve patient access to care and overall public health.