GREAT NECK, N.Y. — Rep. Tom Suozzi (D., N.Y.) gauged cost dynamics of the specialty pharmacy market in a tour of oncology pharmacy Onco360 here with members of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP). Seeking insight on what’s driving skyrocketing drug costs and the impact on patients, Suozzi met with Sheila Arquette, executive director
WASHINGTON — Pharmacy benefit managers are a key focus of debate about elevated drug pricing that has come before a U.S. Senate committee. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) called for PBM reform in written testimony submitted to a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing
Direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) is one component of the complex Medicare Part D payment system. In the past several months, the issue of DIR increasingly has become a source of contention between various players in the Part D program. Pharmacies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and members of Congress have expressed
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A group 118 health care stakeholders, including chain drug retailers, have called on Congress to crack down on direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees in Medicare Part D. Mobilized by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), the broad coalition sent letters to the Senate and House of Representatives to voice their support
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Chain drug retailers were among 118 health care stakeholders calling on Congress this week to crack down on direct and indirect remuneration fees in Medicare Part D. Marshaled by the National Community Pharmacists Association, the broad coalition — also including independent pharmacies, pharmacy trade groups, drug distributors, pharmacy buying groups, supermarket retailers,
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has called on Congress to hold hearings on legislation that would crack down on direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees. NCPA said it has sent letters to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and to the chair and ranking members of the House
WASHINGTON — Reps. Morgan Griffith (R., Va.) and Peter Welch (D., Vt.) have reintroduced the Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act (H.R. 1038), which community pharmacies say would squelch a growing burden: retroactive direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees. The bill, introduced Wednesday in the House of Representatives, would ban the application
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A group of 99 pharmacy retailers, suppliers and organizations applauded House and Senate lawmakers for introducing legislation to clamp down on retroactive direct and indirect remuneration fees imposed by pharmacy benefit managers in Medicare Part D. The National Community Pharmacists Association said the pharmacy stakeholders on Monday wrote letters to the House
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Congressional support continues to build for cracking down on direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees. The National Community Pharmacists Association said that four U.S. senators on Monday introduced a bill that would boost transparency in Medicare Part D drug spending and prohibit retroactive DIR fees. The Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has endorsed new legislation designed to raise transparency and accuracy in Medicare Part D prescription drug spending and reporting. NCPA said the bill, the Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act (H.R. 5951), introduced Thursday, also would ban so-called direct and indirect remuneration (DIR)
Persistence is paying off for the National Community Pharmacists Association in its advocacy for more transparency with DIR fees. In a posting in its “The Dose” blog this week, NCPA noted that it continues to build congressional support in getting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize its guidance on direct and
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Nearly 50 members of Congress have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize its proposed guidance on how Medicare Part D sponsors report pharmacy price concessions, also known as direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees. The National Community Pharmacists Association said that 16 senators and 30 representatives
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has joined with a group of pharmacy industry stakeholders in calling for more clarity about direct and indirect (DIR) fees. NCPA said that this week it teamed up with 21 other organizations — including drug chains, drug suppliers, drug cooperatives and pharmacy associations, among others — in
