National Community Pharmacists Association
By Michael Rule, Manager of Public Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy
NCPA’s 45th annual Legislative Conference wrapped up this week, and the timing could not have been more appropriate for independent community pharmacy. It was whirlwind week of legislative activity, to recap:
With prescription drug shortages and pharmacy compounding hot topics, NCPA recently weighed in with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials on both fronts, in hopes of preserving patient access to essential medications from their independent community pharmacist. Continue reading ‘Pharmacies Can Help Alleviate Drug Shortages, but Reimbursement Must Keep Up with Costs’
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the 11th version of its draft federal upper limits (FULs) for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement, but the results are getting worse, not better, than preceding lists in terms of assuring continued patient access to prescription drugs and pharmacy services.
Continue reading ‘NCPA Renews Concerns over Medicaid Generic Drug Reimbursement Changes’
The most recent batch proposed Medicaid caps on generic drug reimbursement—or federal upper limits (FULs)—would be “economically devastating” for independent community pharmacies, NCPA told federal officials in a new letter. Such cuts could endanger pharmacy access for Medicaid recipients as community pharmacies may be forced to drop out of the program or, in some cases, to close altogether.
Continue reading ‘NCPA Urges Medicaid Officials to Fix Flawed Generic Drug Reimbursement Caps’
Between the Express Scripts-Medco merger, pharmacy crime, mail order in Tricare, and potential track and trace requirements in PDUFA, the 2012 NCPA Legislative Conference couldn’t be happening at a more relevant time, NCPA President Lonny Wilson, PD noted during the May 7th opening session.
Continue reading ‘NCPA Legislative Conference: Pharmacists Talk Medicare, Medicaid, Jobs’
Earlier this month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued its fifth set of proposed Medicaid federal upper limits (FULs) for generic drug reimbursement, but it’s no better than its four predecessors for patients and their community pharmacists, NCPA recently wrote to the agency.
Federal Medicaid officials published their fourth batch of draft federal upper limits (FULs) for generic drug reimbursement, but the proposed levels remain inadequate and, if implemented, could force many small independent pharmacies out of the Medicaid program, NCPA told the agency in a recent letter.
By John Coster
As the November 23 deadline approaches for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to identify $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade, its members are faced with an unenviable task. However, as these lawmakers seek new budget cuts, they should not overlook the fact that small business community pharmacies have given their fair share over the last several years.
By John Norton
In business or politics, endorsements from impartial sources can lend the credibility of third-party validation. Conversely, attempts to buy or manufacture third-party validation can fall flat. Such is the case with a recent white paper funded by the big pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), apparently intended to further inflate their windfall profits, while harming Medicaid patients and local communities.
Community pharmacists and state Medicaid directors are watching a pair of state plan amendments Alabama is expected to propose soon to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Continue reading ‘A New Approach to Medicaid Reimbursement for Pharmacists’
