Year in Review: 2021 Top Legal News from Drug Topics®

Did you miss the top legal news of 2021? Catch up on the noteworthy news that you might have missed this year.

10. PBM Reform Legislation Progresses in Michigan

NCPA applauded the Michigan’s House passage of the legislation, which would reform many PBM reimbursement practices in the state.

9. NCPA Encourages DOJ and HHS to Defend Price Transparency Rule

PBMs are fighting to keep patients and consumers in the dark on prescription drug costs and attempting to reverse a rule created to promote drug price transparency.

8. CMS Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Staff Across Health Care Facilities

The vaccine mandate applies to employees at facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs.

7. CMS Increases Medicare Reimbursement Rate for COVID-19 Vaccines

NCPA lauded the higher reimbursement rate in a statement.

6. Challenges and Opportunities Facing Independent Community Pharmacies

AmerisourceBergen and Good Neighbor Pharmacy are working to support policies that will help advance the pharmacy profession.

5. The Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacy Management and Compliance

Pharmacy leaders have leveraged their experience, their role in interdisciplinary teams, and technology to quickly reinvent approaches to manage long-standing issues exacerbated by the pandemic.

4. Pharmacy Groups Back Washington State Court Decision on ‘Unsustainable’ CMS Reimbursement Law

WSPA, NPCA, and NACDS fully support the court decision requiring CMS to reconsider the below-cost reimbursement plan.

3. NCPA Shows Support for New Bill Requiring PBM Investigation

Bill S.1388 would require the FTC to examine recent merger activity of PBMs and how it may be affecting patients and independent community pharmacies.

2. Biden Pushes for Lower Drug Prices in an Executive Order

President Biden issued an executive order, with a plan unveiled today pushing the US Department of Health and Human Services to increase support for biosimilars to combat high prescription drug prices.

1. Pharmacy Associations Praise Bill Seeking to Reform DIR Fees

The legislation would reduce patients’ cost sharing, prevent plan and PBM clawbacks, enhance price transparency and establish clear performance measures for pharmacies.