Spring Leadership Retreat Brings Members Together in Austin

TPA's Public Policy Council meets.

Texas Pharmacy Association members met in Austin March 5–6 for the spring Leadership Retreat. The event began with meetings of TPA's three standing councils on Tuesday, where members gathered to make their voices heard and contribute to TPA's continued vitality.

Treasurer Lauren Corrales led the Financial Affairs Council meeting, where members reviewed the Association's financial statements, discussed endorsed vendors, reviewed the Association’s recently updated financial policies, received a membership update, and discussed additional revenue opportunities.

During lunch, council members heard a presentation from Andy Vasquez, formerly of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and Laurie Vanhoose, a health care consultant with Treaty Oak Strategies, who presented a report titled, “Medicaid Pharmacy in Focus: Opportunities to Improve Texans’ Health and Access to Care.” The report, funded by the Episcopal Health Foundation and recently presented to HHSC’s Value-Based Payment and Quality Improvement Advisory Committee, was designed to identify and explore opportunities to leverage pharmacies to close gaps in care in the Medicaid program, with a specific focus on rural communities.

TPA’s Public Policy Council, chaired by Vice President Jason Davis, reviewed the current Texas political landscape, discussed possible interim charges for the Texas Legislature, encouraged members to engage in grassroots advocacy opportunities across the state, and had an extensive discussion to receive feedback from members about priorities for the 2025 legislative session. Finally, President-Elect Jobby John chaired the Association Affairs Council meeting, which planned the Association’s upcoming annual awards, discussed membership growth and engagement including a new digital membership campaign, and solicited ideas from members for upcoming educational programming.

Members of TPA's Independent Pharmacy Academy Board of Directors joined the TPA Board to discuss legislative and regulatory priorities.

On Wednesday, the TPA Board of Directors held its business meeting and was then joined by TPA's Independent Pharmacy Academy (IPA) Board of Directors to discuss the changing makeup of the Texas Legislature in light of Tuesday’s primary elections and to consider legislative and regulatory issues as we look ahead to next year’s legislative session. IPA Board members met afterward for their business meeting where they discussed opportunities to further unite and strengthen the voice of independent pharmacy in Texas for more robust and effective pharmacy advocacy.