PLAID Day creates conversation between PharmD students and legislators

This year’s event welcomed Assemblymember John McDonald and Joseph Popiolkoski, Legislative Director for Assemblywoman Karen McMahon.

Over 250 students attended and took part in conversations on a variety of health care topics.

The Reimbursement Floor in Commercial Space establishes a minimum reimbursement rate for healthcare services provided by out-of-network providers in commercial health insurance, aiming to support fair compensation for providers.

The OMIG Reform seeks to improve transparency and fairness in OMIG audits, ensuring that Medicaid providers are protected from excessive or arbitrary enforcement.

The Pharmacy Technician Reform expands the role of pharmacy technicians, allowing them to perform more tasks under a pharmacist’s supervision, addressing workforce shortages and improving efficiency in pharmacies.

Test and Treat authorizes pharmacists to provide testing and initiate treatment for common illnesses, increasing accessibility to healthcare and reducing the burden on doctors for routine care.

“[PLAID] day represents far more than an event; it is a defining opportunity for us, as student pharmacists and future leaders, to unite and engage directly with lawmakers to advocate for policies that will shape the future of our profession,” says Mohamad Ghazi, PharmD ’27, SPAWNY president. “As student pharmacists, we are uniquely positioned to drive real, lasting change, demonstrating the invaluable role we play in improving patient care and transforming the healthcare system as a whole.”