National Community Pharmacists Association
NCPA commends Texas Republican Congressman John Carter for writing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to raise questions regarding the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco. He’s the 75th Senator or Representative to question the merger.
Continue reading ‘Representative Carter Questions Express Scripts-Medco PBM Merger’
Four more Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, recently voiced their concern over the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco, bringing the total to 74 combined Senators and Representatives who have raised the issue.
Continue reading ‘More Congressional Concern on Express Scripts-Medco PBM Merger’
An acknowledgement to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the association representing 12 corporations and their PBM and mail order interests, for its consistent and creative spin on the business realities of pharmacies. PCMA took another chapter out of that book yesterday with the release of its survey and a press release titled: “Walgreens’ Customers Flock to Independent Pharmacies.”
Continue reading ‘Creative PBM Spin on the Express Scripts-Walgreens Fallout’
Recently NCPA asked the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York how New York pharmacists prevailed over mandatory mail order during a 2011 legislative fight. Late last year, Oklahoma was also home to a win for patients and local pharmacists over mandated mail. So NCPA asked one of the Sooner State pharmacists involved in the effort how they did it, as many community pharmacists and patients are engaged in similar efforts across the country and could benefit from the lessons learned.
Continue reading ‘An Oklahoma Win over Mandatory Mail Order Worth Revisiting’
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) sent a strongly worded letter in opposition to the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week. NCPA applauds the Congressman and all 68 Members of Congress who have to date raised bipartisan questions and concerns about the merger.
Continue reading ‘Rep. Barletta Urges FTC to Oppose Express Scripts-Medco Merger’
Another wave of letters to the Federal Trade Commission means that 67 Members of Congress have now voiced their bipartisan apprehension regarding the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco. Among the most notable of the letters is one sent by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgen (R-Ill.) voicing his concern for his patients and pharmacy access in his district.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to stand by a policy of imposing duplicate charges to pharmacies that offer different types of services under Medicare Part B, in clear contrast to Congressional intent under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Community pharmacists in New York scored a significant win for their patients, communities and pharmacy choice in late 2011 with the enactment of the Anti-Mandatory Mail Order or AMMO with overwhelming, bipartisan backing. What lessons might the campaign in support of the AMMO law hold for community pharmacists across the country?
