NCPA Congressional Pharmacy Summit advocates for clarity around Rx drug pricing

At the 47th annual Congressional Pharmacy Summit held at the end of May by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), more than 300 pharmacists were in attendance to support legislation that is intended to bring greater clarity to prescription drug pricing. 

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H.R. 244, the “MAC Transparency Act,” which was introduced in 2015 by Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide standards for pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) under the Medicare prescription drug program to further transparency of payment methodologies to pharmacies.

CMS letter

In addition, Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-Ga), the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, and three of his colleagues, Reps. Austin Scott (R-Ga), Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), and Peter Welch (D-Vt), are circulating a letter to their colleagues asking them write to Acting Administrator Slavitt at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and ask CMS to finalize and implement its “Proposed Guidance on Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) and Pharmacy Price Concessions.”

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Because of the growing use of post-claim adjudication price concessions and fees imposed by PBMs, independent community pharmacies “are facing increasing uncertainty about their ability to serve Medicare beneficiaries,” the letter stated.

Rep. Carter explained in a media call that DIR fees have been a “thorn in our side, specifically pharmacists, primarily because of clawbacks that occur weeks to months following an adjudicated claim.”

NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, noted that the CMS guidance, when finalized, “won’t fix the problem, but it would certainly provide clarity.”

Other bills to consider

NCPA is also advocating for passage of H.R. 793, the “Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2015,” which would allow any willing community pharmacist to participate in a Part D preferred network. H.R. 592, the provider status bill, which has 282 co-sponsors, is also top of mind for NCPA members this year.