Morning Consult survey finds strong support
among seniors for targeted Part D reforms

A survey conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NCPA found that seniors overwhelmingly support targeted reforms in Medicare Part D that lower their costs at the counter and enhance their ability to obtain their medications at the pharmacy of their choice.

Among the findings 75% of seniors said they would be more likely to vote for candidates that supported a plan that prohibited PBMs from charging retroactive fees the pharmacies that artificially inflate drug costs at the counter while 80% would like greater access to lower copayments by being able to obtain their prescriptions at the pharmacy of their choice.

Full survey results are available here and they validate many of the policy positions NCPA and our allies have been advocating for.

NCPA sponsors informational congressional staff briefing
on RFI and other pharmacy issues

This week, NCPA sponsored an informational briefing on Capitol Hill to educate congressional staff on issues impacting community pharmacies, including the President’s drug pricing blueprint. NCPA member Stacey Swartz, PharmD and co-owner of Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray in Alexandria, VA, shared her experience as a community pharmacist and explained how PBM practices impact the patients she serves and the ability to run her business. Approximately 70 House and Senate staffers participated in the briefing where they heard Stacey’s story, as well as presentations from NCPA staff members Adam Harbison and Kala Shankle.

Sen. Grassley, Congressional candidates
visit community pharmacies

This week, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, visited Montross Pharmacy in Winterset, Iowa. Sen. Grassley is a cosponsor of S. 413 to address retroactive DIR fees and has supported many other of community pharmacy’s issues.

Additionally, several congressional candidates have recently visited community pharmacies. This week, State Sen. Van Taylor visited Allen Family Drug in Allen, Texas. Sen. Taylor is the Republican nominee in Texas’ 3rd Congressional district and is favored to replace Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) who is retiring. NCPA’s Ronna Hauser attended the visit along with Ashley Bishop with the Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas. In Ohio, Anthony Gonzalez, the Republican nominee to replace Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio), who is running for the Senate, visited Ritzman Pharmacy in Medina. Finally, in New Jersey, State Sen. Jeff Van Drew visited Wedgewood Pharmacy in Swedesboro. Van Drew is the Democrat nominee in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional district where Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo is retiring.

Pharmacy visits are a tremendously effective way to communicate with legislators, and the August Congressional recess is right around the corner which is an opportune time to host a legislator for such a visit. Visit NCPA’s pharmacy visits webpage or contact Michael Rule at michael.rule@ncpanet.org for tips on arranging a visit with your legislator.

NCPA supports effort for greater access
of OTC products in HSA/FSA plans

This week, NCPA joined a letter led by the Health Choices Coalition endorsing H.R. 6199 to make over the counter products more accessible to patients using health savings accounts or flexible spending arrangements. Currently, patients are required to have a prescription to use their HSA or FSA benefits to purchase over the counter products. This legislation would remove that requirement, making it easier for patients to purchase the health products they rely on as their primary remedy for common ailments. A copy of the letter is available here.

Senate Judiciary Committee considers ONDCP nominee

President Trump’s nominee to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Jim Carroll, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week for his confirmation hearing. If confirmed, Carroll would be the president’s first official director of ONDCP. The president has proposed cutting the funding for the office by 95% in previous budgets, and it has played much of a role in the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

HHS releases report on Medicaid
managed care fraud and abuse

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report titled “Weaknesses Exist in Medicaid Managed Care Organizations’ Efforts to Identify and Address Fraud and Abuse.” In the report, the OIG highlighted key weaknesses in MCOs’ efforts to identify fraud and abuse and issued eight recommendations to improve fraud and abuse identification. A copy of the report can be found here.

House panel probes 340B program

This week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health considered a number of discussion drafts on changes to the 340B Program and a witness from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) described the agency’s recommendations to improve HRSA oversight, particularly over contract pharmacies. A panel of stakeholder witnesses offered disparate views. An independent oncology practice witness stated the program encourages consolidation; she recommended setting a more stringent patient definition. Two covered entity witnesses were open to enhanced transparency but urged continued flexibility for hospitals to provide patient services. Chairman Burgess did not offer a timetable for future action. This panel was timely as earlier in the week, NCPA staffer Kala Shankle presented on a panel at 340BHealth about the issues concerning community pharmacies participating as contract pharmacies in the 340B Program.

NCPA presents on NCOIL panel

NCPA attended this week’s National Council of Insurance Legislators summer meeting in Salt Lake City. The meeting was well attended by state legislators with a focus on insurance related issues. NCOIL’s current President Sen. Jason Rappert from Arkansas is a strong proponent for PBM oversight and the draft NCOIL PBM Licensure and Regulatory Model Act was a primary point of discussion at the meeting. NCPA presented on a panel along with AHIP and PCMA at a meeting of the Health, Long Term Care, and Health Retirement Issues Committee where the bill was discussed and will ultimately be voted on. NCPA will continue to strongly advocate for the Model Act and asks all pharmacy stakeholder partners to show their strong support.

In the states:

• Missouri bill signed by governor
  Missouri SB 826, which contains provisions related to opioid prescribing limits, drug disposal, pharmacist immunization administration, copay clawbacks, pharmacist communication with patients about prescription drug costs, and retroactive fees, was signed by the governor last Friday. Governor Mike Parson signed the bill at Alps Pharmacy in Springfield, Mo.
• Ohio PBM bill passes House
  Ohio HB 479, which contains provisions related to copay clawbacks and pharmacist communication with patients about prescription drug costs, passed the House unanimously at the end of June and is now in the Senate.

NCPA’s Advocacy Center Update provides a weekly detailed summary of recent and breaking legislative, regulatory, and state developments impacting independent community pharmacy and NCPA’s efforts to affect policies benefitting its membership and the industry. The weekly update is distributed to NCPA leadership, steering committees, allied organizations/stakeholders and major contributors to the NCPA LDF and PAC.