Colorado Pharmacists Society
The Colorado Pharmacists Society provides support and services to over 800 member pharmacists, technicians and associated pharmacy professionals. The Colorado Pharmacists Society was formed from the merger of the Colorado Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the Colorado Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (CSHP).
The CPhA began as the Colorado Pharmacal Association in 1890 and celebrated its 110th Annual Convention in the year 2000. CPhA was the affiliated state association of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). CSHP began serving health-system pharmacists over 50 years ago as an affiliate of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). These two organizations began a formal merge process in June of 2000 and completed the official formation of the Colorado Pharmacists Society in June 2001.
CPS represents pharmacists in all practice settings at state and national legislatures, boards of pharmacy, professional meetings and seminars. CPS maintains affiliations with these national pharmacy organizations – American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, National Community Pharmacists Association and American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.
The CPS legislative committee helped build a coalition supporting regulatory change permitting immunizations administered by pharmacists and establishing Drug Therapy Management in Colorado. CPS is also assisting the department of Medicaid in their promotion of a program that will pay pharmacists for drug therapy management services. CPS monitors and lobbies over a dozen bills every legislative session affecting the practice of pharmacy in Colorado.The 2016 legislative session concluded in June with Governor Hickenlooper signing Senate Bill 16-135 into law. This bill will amend both the Pharmacy Practice Act and Colorado Insurance Code to expand practice opportunities for pharmacists and provide a pathway for reimbursement for pharmacist services.
CPS provides over 30 hours of continuing education every year. CE programs are offered in a variety of venues, including annual meetings, full day seminars and evening dinner programs.