More Pharmacy Talk with the Feds

By Kevin Schweers

Top Democrats and Republicans in Congress and other senior federal officials shared their views on issues affecting pharmacy, during the second day of NCPA’s 2010 National Legislation and Government Affairs Conference.

A New Approach to Medicaid Reimbursement for Pharmacists

By Kevin Schweers

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. 

Roberts: Progress Made; More Battles Ahead; and Adherence is Critical

By Kevin Schweers

Health care reform included several provisions to help community pharmacists help their patients, but pharmacists are in no position to sit on the sidelines now that the bill has become law, Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, said in his final address to NCPA’s Legislation and Government Affairs Conference this week.

Medicaid News in the States

By John Coster, RPh., Ph.D.

Economic downturns like the current one produce a double-whammy for federal and state Medicaid budgets: enrollment in the program grows as there’s less money to pay for it. That means more potential for provider reimbursement cuts – something NCPA is trying hard to avoid. Pharmacies can simply not withstand any more Medicaid reimbursement cuts, especially in light of last year’s AWP rollback. Here’s a rundown of some related state activity NCPA’s monitoring, along with federal efforts.

Ranbaxy Cuts Off Patients, Independent Pharmacies from Key Drug

By Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA

Usually the introduction of a generic drug is a good thing for most health care stakeholders. Lower prices from non-brand name drugs benefit patients and health plan sponsors, lead to greater availability for patients and, subsequently, better health outcomes. Strangely, that hasn’t been the case with Ranbaxy’s handling of valacyclovir, a generic equivalent to Valtrex originally introduced by GlaxoSmithKline.

Getting that Medicaid AMP Fix Right in Health Reform

By Kevin Schweers

On Capitol Hill it’s crunch time for health care reform as negotiations between House and Senate leaders pick up speed. A top priority for community pharmacies is getting an adequate fix to Medicaid’s reimbursement formula for generic drugs. So we held a briefing today to update reporters on where things stand and to demonstrate the strong, bipartisan support there is in Congress for an equitable reimbursement formula. Here’s a quick recap; a recording of the call is available here.

GAO to Congress: Pharmacies Face Major Medicaid Cuts without Congressional AMP Fix

By John Coster

A new government study affirms that community pharmacies would, on average, be significantly underpaid for dispensing generic prescription drugs to Medicaid recipients under an existing Average Manufacturer Price (AMP) reimbursement formula that was created through the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. 

Medicaid AMP ‘Fix’ Moves Closer to Finish Line

By John Coster

In the wake of Senate passage of health care reform legislation on Christmas Eve morning, momentum on Capitol Hill is continuing to build for a Medicaid AMP “fix” that is fair to community pharmacies. The support is bipartisan and spans the political spectrum from liberal to conservative and from members of the Congressional Black Caucus to the Congressional Rural Caucus.

New Ad Makes the Case for Medicaid AMP Fix in Health Reform

 By Kevin Schweers

Two years ago this week something significant and positive happened for Medicaid patients and their community pharmacists. This December, we’re working for more of the same. 

Ohio Pharmacies Face Severe Medicaid Cuts

By Kevin Schweers

Dispensing fees paid to Ohio pharmacies under the Medicaid program are currently among the lowest in the nation and well below the actual cost of dispensing. This fall the state filed a state plan amendment with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in an effort to further cut dispensing fees in 2010 – from $3.70 to $1.80.