How do we approach healthcare public policy?
Our corporate Public Affairs team operates at the intersection of healthcare, public policy and politics on behalf of McKesson. We establish and strengthen relationships with federal, state and local elected and government officials.
When we engage with legislators and regulators, we educate them on McKesson’s operations, our role in healthcare and the unique perspective we offer. Through tours of our distribution centers and visits to pharmacy and hospital customers, we highlight the many ways McKesson delivers better health across the country.
We also participate in trade associations, industry groups and professional organizations to build key relationships that we can use in our public policy work.
Learn more about our political engagement.
Which public policies do we support?
Access to affordable medicines
Stronger community providers. New payment models. Healthcare technology. They can all go a long way to making sure people can access and afford the treatments they need. In our public policy work in this area, we advocate for these and other advances that will help achieve this goal.
Connecting the healthcare landscape
We’re part of the Healthcare Innovation Alliance, which works to harness the power of data and technology to improve patient care and speed up the development of potentially life-saving treatments.
Emergency preparedness
With extreme weather events on the rise, getting supplies and treatments to first responders is increasingly important. We work with government agencies to optimize emergency planning and preparedness.
Promoting community healthcare providers
In the U.S., a shortage of primary care providers and an aging population means quality healthcare can be difficult to access in some areas. We believe community practices and independent pharmacies can play a key role in filling this gap and ensuring patients get the care they need.
Protecting drug supply-chain security
A secure supply chain means safer, more effective medications for patients. We work hard to secure our supply chain to our own high standards and in compliance with state and federal regulations. We’re also actively supporting the implementation of the Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013.
Recommending ways to address the opioid crisis
We believe the opioid epidemic must be addressed through a comprehensive approach that includes doctors, pharmacists, distributors, manufacturers, payers, regulators and law enforcement. Our opioid public policy recommendations focus on the need for public and private partnerships that promote patient-centered solutions and foster clinical collaboration across the care continuum.
Here’s what we believe
The patient comes first
We should never compromise patient access or quality of care.
Free market competition lowers prices
We need to foster a robust, competitive marketplace, including accelerated regulatory approval pathways for generics and breakthrough drugs.
Informed patients make better consumers
We should empower patients to make informed personal choices based on both clinical benefit and cost.
Patient costs matter
We must ensure that patients directly benefit from any savings in the healthcare system.
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We should reward for value
The total cost of care and positive outcomes for patients should drive reimbursement policies.
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We need sustainable solutions
We must foster system-wide reform, not simply short-term fixes.