Adopted
2017-14
RESOLUTION
Subject: Communication with Pharmacies
Submitted by: Greater Louisville Medical Society
Referred to: Reference Committee
WHEREAS, pharmaceutical prices have continually increased in the last few years, with
projections of drug spending increasing by an average of 7.3 percent per year; and
WHEREAS, many of our patients in the state of KY have limited incomes which leaves them
a budgeted amount of funds for their prescriptions; and
WHEREAS, retail pharmacies have a tendency to automatically refill a patient’s prescription,
regardless of whether or not a medication has been continued by the patient’s physician, in some cases
with patients ending up on two of the same class of medications; and
WHEREAS, our electronic health records systems physician offices should be able to better
communicate with retail pharmacies to indicate that medications have been discontinued so the
pharmacy does not fill a prescription that has been discontinued by a patient’s physician; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, that the Kentucky Medical Association work with health systems and the
electronic health records system to improve the medication process so the retail pharmacy receives a
discontinuation notice when a patient’s prescription has been stopped.
KMA House of Delegates
August 2017