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The Cost of Medication Non-Adherence

admin2017-04-20T12:17:35-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Adherence, TRICARE|

The New York Times reported this week on an “out of control epidemic” in the U.S. that costs more and affects more people in the U.S. than any disease Americans are concerned about right now—and it is 100 percent preventable. The culprit? Medication non-adherence. A review in the Annals of Internal Medicine estimates that a lack of adherence causes nearly 125,000 deaths, 10 percent of hospitalizations and costs the already strained healthcare system between $100–$289 billion a year.

The article points to findings from studies NACDS has often referenced in advocacy efforts to improve medication adherence—including that 20–30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled and approximately 50 percent of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed.
Significantly, the study authors found the strongest evidence yet that improved medication adherence was accompanied by pharmacist-led high blood pressure management. In addition, the study showed that “education with behavioral support; reminders; and pharmacist-led, multicomponent interventions enhanced adherence…”

NACDS continues to advocate for issues that support pharmacist-provided services that improve medication adherence. Most recently, NACDS and the National Community Pharmacists Association urged Congress not to increase TRICARE beneficiary copayments, which unfairly penalize TRICARE beneficiaries who prefer to use local pharmacies.

NACDS and NCPA noted that restricting beneficiary access and raising copay amounts can have the unintended effect of reducing medication adherence. The organizations instead urged Congress to support the implementation of the “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program,” which was included in the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act and has the potential to reduce costs while also restoring TRICARE patient access to medications and services from their neighborhood pharmacies.

Find Out What You Need to Know before the NACDS Annual Meeting

admin2017-04-18T15:41:34-04:00Categories: Video|Tags: Annual_Meeting, Conferences|

To ensure you make the most of your time at the NACDS Annual Meeting, here’s what you should know before you go!

NACDS Annual Meeting Features Global Security, Trade Experts Retired General John Allen, Former Dallas Fed Chief Richard W. Fisher to speak at Business Programs as their consequential issue areas play out on the world stage

admin2017-04-07T15:05:52-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Annual_Meeting, Conferences|

Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Annual Meeting will present renowned speakers with unsurpassed experience in the nation’s global security and international trade engagement.

Retired Four-Star Marine General John Allen, who has served in pivotal leadership roles related to the Middle East and Asia, will speak at the Business Program on Sunday, April 23. Richard W. Fisher, who served as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2005 to 2015, will speak at the Business Program on Tuesday, April 25.

“General Allen and Richard Fisher helped to write the history that now serves as prologue for current events and for the future of the nation and of the world,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “Their remarks will give NACDS Annual Meeting attendees an unsurpassed geopolitical radar for the international and domestic dynamics that are developing right now. When you think about the nation’s relationships with the Middle East, Asia and other parts of the world, these are the people we need to hear from.”

“General Allen and Richard Fisher helped to write the history that now serves as prologue for current events and for the future of the nation and of the world.”

General Allen was appointed by President Obama as the first-ever special envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. He also has served as deputy director of U.S. Central Command, and as the principal director of Asian and Pacific affairs for the Office of the Secretary Defense. On the ground, his leadership has shaped war efforts and outcomes, such as through successful efforts to persuade Sunni tribal leaders in Iraq to stand against al-Qaeda militants.

Fisher served as a member of the Federal Open Market Committee, as chairman of the Conference of Federal Reserve Bank Presidents, and as chairman of the IT Oversight Committee. Previously, he served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador, responsible for U.S. trade policy and negotiations in Asia, Latin America, Mexico and Canada. He also served as vice chairman of the strategic advisory firm Kissinger McLarty Associates, in partnership with former Secretary [ READ MORE ]

NACDS, NCPA Urge Congress to Ensure Patient Access, Pharmacy Choice in TRICARE in 2018 Defense Bill Increased copays for TRICARE patients place undue financial burdens and impede access to care for military families and veterans

admin2017-04-05T05:17:29-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: TRICARE|

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) this week urged Congress to maintain access to care for military families and veterans as the legislative process begins for the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In a letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership that urged no further pharmacy copayment increases, NACDS and NCPA emphasized that TRICARE beneficiaries—especially veterans and families of active duty military—“are concerned about being able to access the services they need.”

“Copay increases place even greater financial burdens on TRICARE beneficiaries and unfairly penalize TRICARE beneficiaries who prefer to use local pharmacies,” NACDS and NCPA wrote. “Additionally, restricting beneficiary access and raising copay amounts can have the unintended effect of reducing medication adherence, resulting in decreased health outcomes and increased use of more costly medical interventions, such as physician and emergency room visits and hospitalizations. These additional costs are often shifted to other federal programs.”

NACDS and NCPA pointed to a report by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission that strongly recommended policies that support patient choice and access. The organizations stated that when the Congressional Budget Office reviewed proposals for copay increases in prior Congresses, it concluded that the move would “result in an increase of over $1 billion in other federal spending for medical services, particularly in Medicare.”

NACDS and NCPA have remained highly engaged in efforts over the years to preserve pharmacy access and choice for TRICARE patients. In this week’s letter, the organizations urged Congress, as it considers policies to control Department of Defense spending, to avoid policies like copayment increases and instead support the implementation of the “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program.” The pilot program was included in the FY2017 NDAA and has the potential to reduce costs while also restoring TRICARE patient access to medications and services from their neighborhood pharmacies.

NACDS, WSPA, NCPA Sue Washington State to Stop Unlawful Medicaid Rule That Threatens Patient Care In violation of law, state plan would reimburse pharmacies below the actual cost of dispensing prescriptions to Medicaid patients

admin2017-03-30T16:05:21-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Legal, Medicaid, Reimbursement, States|

Olympia, WA – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA), and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today sued the State of Washington to stop a “substantively and procedurally flawed” rule that would pay pharmacies below the actual cost to dispense Medicaid prescriptions. The rule would jeopardize reliable patient access to medications responsible for ensuring patient health and preventing more costly forms of care that result from untreated conditions.

“This Motion seeks to halt further reimbursement cuts until such time as the State properly implements Medicaid reimbursement rates that cover the actual costs that pharmacies incur when they serve Medicaid patients, as required by law,” wrote NACDS, WSPA and NCPA in a Motion filed today in the Superior Court of Washington, Thurston County.

At issue is a rule (WSR 17-07-001) by the Washington State Health Care Authority that changes the basis by which the agency determines pharmacies’ cost of acquiring pharmaceuticals, thus reducing reimbursement to pharmacies for medications dispensed to Medicaid patients. Contrary to a federal rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Washington State rule does not make required adjustments to account for another aspect of pharmacies’ costs– the “professional dispensing fee.”

The professional dispensing fee must cover actual costs to safely fill the prescription such as the pharmacist’s professional services. The current dispensing fee in Washington State is significantly lower than the cost of dispensing identified in studies conducted by other states and experts. For example, an independent study commissioned by NACDS and NCPA found that the cost of dispensing in Washington State is more than double the proposed professional dispensing fee for Medicaid prescriptions in Washington State’s new rule.

In addition to failing to adjust professional dispensing fees, as required by federal law, the State also violated rulemaking procedures. The State informed pharmacies after the formal comment period, and after it issued the final rule, that dispensing fees would not be adjusted. As a result, pharmacy did not have an adequate opportunity to comment on this matter, as required by the State’s Administrative Procedure Act.

“The State’s new rule is both substantively and procedurally [ READ MORE ]

NACDS RxIMPACT In-District with Sen. Whitehouse Covers Provider Status

admin2017-03-30T14:57:09-04:00Categories: Photo|Tags: Provider_Status, RxIMPACT|

NACDS RxIMPACT participated in an in-district activity with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) this week.

NACDS RxIMPACT Keeps Advocacy Momentum Going

admin2017-03-23T17:34:24-04:00Categories: Article|Tags: Provider_Status, RxIMPACT, TRICARE|

As promised, NACDS is harnessing the energy generated in advance of NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill and turning it into meaningful, effective advocacy efforts. Though the winter storm, flight cancellations and congressional schedule changes forced the cancellation of the Washington, D.C. event, NACDS RxIMPACT immediately started its work to translate congressional meetings scheduled for last week’s advocacy event into in-district opportunities for NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill participants when House and Senate members return home for recess in April.

Building on its largest letter writing campaign ever—5,000 and counting—to build support for federal provider status legislation (HR592/S109), NACDS RxIMPACT asked advocates again this week to write their representatives letting them know that as they work to reform the Affordable Care Act, pharmacy services in Medicaid and Medicare should be protected to ensure beneficiary access to quality and lower-cost care. In the first 24 hours of the campaign, advocates generated 1,031 letters to 236 members of Congress.

NACDS RxIMPACT also urged advocates in New York, Oklahoma, and Texas to promote pharmacy’s priorities and called on all NACDS member companies to advance a TRICARE pilot program to increase patient access and reduce costs.

In New York, NACDS RxIMPACT rallied advocates to once again send 1,000 letters thanking House and Senate legislators for rejecting proposed Medicaid cuts in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D-NY) FY2017-18 budget, and urging them to stand by that position as the conference committee finalizes a compromise plan.
In Oklahoma, NACDS RxIMPACT encouraged advocates to build Senate support for the unanimously House-approved HB 1824 by Representative Chris Kannady, which would allow patients to synchronize the fill date of their prescription medications so that they could order and receive all of their prescriptions on the same day each month instead of having to make multiple visits to the pharmacy.
In Texas, NACDS RxIMPACT urged support for Senate Bill 2042, introduced by state Sen. Judith Zaffarini, which would give parents the option to have their children aged seven years and older receive additional vaccines from a certified pharmacist without [ READ MORE ]

NACDS Conveys Pharmacy “Access Agenda” Themes in The Hill Op-ed describes commitment to patient care, policy solutions and collaboration

admin2017-03-14T15:06:09-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Medicaid, Medicare, Pharmacy_Value, Provider_Status, Public_Relations, Reform|

Arlington, VA – In a column published in today’s print and online editions of The Hill, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) positioned pharmacy patient care and collaboration across healthcare segments as vital to improving health and wellness nationwide.

The column reflects NACDS’ “Access Agenda” – which reflects pharmacy’s collaborative approach to patient care and to public policy development.

NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE cited as a healthcare-delivery success the broad-based recognition of pharmacy’s vital role in providing vaccines – an evolution that gained momentum following the flu pandemic of 2009. He also noted the strong bipartisan support for the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 592 and S. 109) – legislation that would enhance underserved Medicare patients’ access to state-approved, pharmacist-provided services.

In addition to urging proactive measures, he also noted the importance of doing no harm to pharmacy patient care, urging Congress to preserve pharmacy benefits and pharmacy services in Medicare and Medicaid amid any reviews of current programs.

“In healthcare delivery, as in healthcare policymaking, there is no panacea. However, lessons learned over the past decade – including those related to pharmacists’ enhanced vaccination authority – suggest that seeking improved access for patients through highly educated, trusted and accessible professionals like pharmacists can yield bipartisan accomplishments amid times of need,” Anderson wrote.

“In this way, similar and additional initiatives – fueled by collaboration among various segments of healthcare delivery and by leaders in government – could notch progress toward remedies for patients, as well as for the policymaking and political arenas alike.”

More information about NACDS’ Access Agenda can be found at AccessAgenda.NACDS.org.

Top Political Strategist Karl Rove to Speak at NACDS-PAC Event During NACDS Annual Meeting Called “the greatest political mind of his generation,” iconic pundit to bring insights on current events

admin2017-03-13T15:26:55-04:00Categories: Press Release|Tags: Annual_Meeting, Conferences, NACDS-PAC|

Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today announced that Karl Rove, who served as deputy chief-of-staff to then-President George W. Bush, will speak at the NACDS Political Action Committee (NACDS-PAC) Breakfast during the 2017 NACDS Annual Meeting, which will be held April 22-25 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Rove served as senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000–2007 and as deputy chief-of-staff from 2004–2007. At the White House, he oversaw the Offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison, and Intergovernmental Affairs and was deputy chief-of-staff for policy, coordinating the White House policy-making process.

“Those who have met with Karl Rove or have seen him speak in any forum know that he will have something to say that cuts to the heart of the matter, and he will say it in a compelling way,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “He is the right person to bring unmatched political insights and experience to the discussion of the current political and public policy landscape, and NACDS-PAC Breakfast attendees are going to have a great morning during the NACDS Annual Meeting.”

The bipartisan NACDS-PAC supports Congressional candidates who understand and help to advance pro-pharmacy and pro-patient policies. The NACDS-PAC Breakfast is part of the NACDS Chain Members and PAC Breakfast, during which NACDS-related business is conducted. The event is open to NACDS chain members and to NACDS-PAC contributors.

Before Karl Rove became known as “the architect” of President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, he was president of Karl Rove + Company, an Austin-based public affairs firm that worked for Republican candidates, nonpartisan causes and nonprofit groups.

Rove consistently garners positive feedback from a broad media spectrum on his comprehensive political knowledge. Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard, called Rove “the greatest political mind of his generation and probably of any

generation” and said “he knows history, understands the moods of the public, and is a visionary on matters of public policy.” Megan Garber, of the Columbia Journalism Review, said Karl Rove has “focused his punditry on what he knows best: strategy.” In addition, The New York Times noted that “Rove’s substantive contributions may [ READ MORE ]

NACDS.org Evolves to Tell Industry’s Story, Equip Members

admin2017-03-10T17:23:17-05:00Categories: Article|Tags: NACDS|

NACDS has further evolved its flagship website to convey pharmacy’s story to key constituencies and to serve chain and associate members with insights and timely resources. The searchable “News” feature remains a dynamic and searchable information trove. Valuable content led by the NACDS Retail Advisory Board fuels thought leadership on topics from new product introductions to digital marketing. The members-only NACDS Membership Directory will continue to prove valuable in making connections throughout the year. NACDS.org

Other key features include access to compliance resources, information about pharmacy programs, direct links to NACDS’ robust conference websites, and access points for the NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program.

National Association of Chain Drug StoresPharmacies. The face of neighborhood healthcare.

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