NACDS, GPhA oppose proposed 2008 federal budget

NACDS president/CEO Robert Hannan expressed opposition to the proposed 2008 federal budget in a statement that said, "The recently released blueprint for the 2008 federal budget has again created significant concerns for community pharmacy and could have serious implications for Medicaid and pharmacy patients nationwide. NACDS is deeply troubled by further proposed reductions to Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for generic medications." The statement went on to say that "Just as community pharmacy begins to face the challenges presented by the Deficit Reduction Act rule slashing reimbursement for generic drugs, the Administration is now proposing even further reductions to Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacy services. This reduction could seriously affect Medicaid patients and the community pharmacies attempting to provide them with the medicines they need." NACDS will continue to work with Congress and industry allies to resist further pharmacy reimbursement reductions.

GPhA president/CEO Kathleen Jaeger issued the following statement on the proposed budget, "The Bush Administration's decision to include user fees in its 2008 budget will not bring generic medicines to consumers faster as long as brand companies are still permitted to use tactics that delay market entry. While GPhA is open to discussing options that get affordable generics to consumers faster, user fees will not improve access as long as market barriers like authorized generics and citizen petitions, among others, exist."

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