ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the National Community Pharmacists Association urged the agency to enhance coverage of pharmacist-provided care services and reevaluate strict supervision requirements as well as coverage policies for incident-to services. In response to President Trump’s Executive Order #13890 on Protecting and Improving Medicare for
ARLINGTON, Va.—Based on insights from member pharmacies that serve as the front lines of healthcare delivery, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) has submitted extensive and thoroughly documented comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in support of the agency’s proposal to reform direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees – reform
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has begun efforts to improve flu vaccine effectiveness, according to FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb. In a statement released yesterday, Gottlieb cited less protection against the influenza A H3N2 virus as a chief reason for the low efficacy of the 2017-2018 flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease
ARLINGTON, Va. — The “untenable” procedures around direct and indirect remuneration fees (DIR fees) can be righted with measures reducing costs for beneficiaries and the government, while promoting a more quality-driven health care system, says the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. NACDS expressed that message in comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has issued guidance that opens the door to work requirements for Medicaid recipients, a major change in the 50-year-old program offering a safety net for Americans living in or near poverty. The White House touted the move for Medicaid work requirements as “making a positive and lasting difference” in the
Suffice it to say, community pharmacies are getting squeezed by retroactive DIR fees. That’s what the results of a survey from the National Community Pharmacists Association said. NCPA reported Friday that, because of retroactive direct and indirect remuneration fees, 84% of independent pharmacy owners polled said they don’t know what their final reimbursement will be at
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as it mulls Medicare Part D prescription drug program changes for the 2019 contract year. NACDS said Wednesday that in its comments to CMS the association expressed support for and provided added input
WASHINGTON — In recent testimony before the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) chief executive officer B. Douglas Hoey said pharmacists can drive better health outcomes and reduce costs, but first pharmacy benefit managers’ problematic business practices must be addressed through legislative and regulatory channels. As an
The U.S. health care system does not work well for patients or providers. We now pay twice as much as other developed countries for health care, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects Americans will spend $1 out of every $5 on health care by 2025. Our country does not get much
ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has analyzed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed Medicare Part D changes, and found progress on topics related to advancing e-prescribing and medication therapy management (MTM); further addressing opioid issues in a pro-patient and pro-pharmacy manner; and fostering pharmacy access. CMS’ approaches
BALTIMORE — Pharmacy can be key to thwarting opioid abuse, National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson told a government summit on the opioid crisis. “Advancing the health and safety of patients, families, communities and the nation remains the priority of pharmacies, and confronting the opioid abuse epidemic is
BALTIMORE — Pharmacy can be key to thwarting opioid abuse, National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson told a government summit on the crisis. “Advancing the health and safety of patients, families, communities and the nation remains the priority of pharmacies, and confronting the opioid abuse epidemic is essential
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association and Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) are challenging changes to Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement in Washington state. NACDS said Thursday that it teamed with NCPA and WSPA in filing a legal brief last week for a case involving the changes, which the
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) has commended 54 members of the House of Representatives for urging federal agencies to eliminate retroactive Medicare Part D fees charged by big pharmacy benefit managers. The lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
