The importance of the issue is underscored given rising rates of COVID-19 fueled by Omicron subvariants.
NACDS insists that comprehensive DIR fee reform now depends on further legislative and regulatory action to improve predictability, fairness, and viability for pharmacies.
Groups applaud CMS’ ongoing efforts to address DIR fees; urge further action for comprehensive pharmacy DIR reform that “reduce[s] [Medicare] beneficiary drug costs and also protect[s] pharmacy access”.
NACDS comment letter to Biden Administration urges CMS to finalize proposal, implement regulatory guardrails and standardized pharmacy measures that best serve Medicare patients and help protect pharmacy viability.
NACDS to prepare recommendations to maximize this historic opportunity to reduce seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs and to help preserve critical, convenient and equitable pharmacy access.
The third in a series of reports shows how valuable experiences and lessons learned during the COVID pandemic response can help inform policy decisions and future pandemic planning and preparedness.
Calls on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to integrate pharmacies and pharmacists into value-based programs and alternative payment models to accelerate mission toward better outcomes and lower costs.
Direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees continue to rise at an alarming rate, inflating seniors’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs and jeopardizing the viability of pharmacies and patient access.
Lauds nominations of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as CMS Administrator and Andrea Joan Palm as deputy secretary of HHS.
NACDS says using discount-card drug prices in tally of “usual and customary” pharmacy charges is not lawful, wrongly depresses payments to pharmacies, and ultimately could harm patients: "For consumers on tight budgets who rely on third-party discount cards to pay for their medications, the potential loss of access to these discounted medications would be devastating.”
