The 2011 Mississippi Legislative Session started earlier this week and I can promise you it will be a long and hard session. The major issues of the session will be the state budget and redistricting of the House of Representative and Senate districts. MIPA will once again have a very agressive legislative agenda like we have in years past. We will be working in conjunction with the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy for the final passge and reauthorization of the Pharmacy Practice Act. The Pharmacy Practice Act is scheduled to sunset at the end of June 2011and there is new language in the proposed Pharmacy Practice Act what would give the Board of Pharmacy more regulatory powers over the Pharmacy Benefit Managers and MIPA is in full support of this new language.

As the legislative session moves along we will keep you well informed so that you can take a active role in the protection of your pharmacy proffession.