NCPA Stresses DIR Remedies
in meeting with White House officials

NCPA representatives met this week at the White House with Trump Administration advisors from the Domestic Policy Council to urge elimination of pharmacy DIR fees as a part of the president's drug pricing strategy. It was NCPA's highest-level meeting yet on the issue. Pharmacy owner and NCPA member Rob Frankil of Sellersville, Pa., and NCPA Advocacy Center staffers Karry La Violette and Ronna Hauser attended the meeting. They stressed that DIR fees are the most pressing issue facing community pharmacists and urged the administration to address remedies in its drug pricing blueprint. They also discussed a proposed Part D rule for 2020, which is currently awaiting clearance by the Office of Management and Budget.

NCPA urges President Trump to sign “gag” clause bills

NCPA sent a letter to President Trump urging him to sign both S. 2553 – the Know the Lowest Price Act of 2018, and S. 2554 – the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act into law. Both pieces of legislation passed the House of Representatives earlier this week after having previously passed the Senate. The bills prohibit "gag clauses" in Medicare (S. 2553) and private health plans (S. 2554) and are significant wins for community pharmacy patients. Community pharmacists will now have more flexibility in discussing the most affordable health care options with their patients.

The bills were introduced in March and received a boost when President Trump announced his blueprint to lower drug prices. NCPA's Advocacy Center kept the legislation front and center through social media and traditional media outreach. Additionally, NCPA Board member Hugh Chancy of Hahira, Georgia, testified in early September at a House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health hearing about his first-hand experience with gag clauses. Then, in a matter of weeks, with the president expressing his support for the cause, the legislation passed both chambers of Congress.

NCPA thanks Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) for sponsoring S. 2554, and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and for S. 2553, and fellow co-sponsors for their support. In addition, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), took the lead on House legislation. His effort was largely reflected in the final Senate bills.

NCPA Annual Convention only 8 days away

NCPA Annual Convention is only 8 days away. If you have not yet registered, don’t wait to do so. The registration fee increases by $100 starting Oct. 6 for onsite registrations for owner managers and staff pharmacists. Don’t miss out on more than 30 CE programs designed to help you increase your numbers of patients and prescriptions, increase your revenue, lower your costs and make your pharmacy more competitive. Additionally, you can take advantage of up to $14,000 in attendee only discounts offered at the trade show and expo. See the complete convention schedule for more and register here.

NCPA stresses PBM transparency in Pennsylvania hearing

At Pennsylvania Auditor General DePasquale’s final regional hearing on drug pricing transparency and accountability, NCPA’s Matt Magner stressed that PBM transparency and competitive pharmacy reimbursements are vital components to controlling drug costs. Magner testified alongside Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association’s Pat Epple and Angela Zaydon. Pharmacists Andrew Mubbala, Dave Cippel, and John McClellan also commented on how PBM practices have negatively impacted their businesses and their ability to care for patients. The Auditor General will release a report of his findings in the coming weeks.

NCPA advocates for PBM spread disclosures

In a letter to Oregon’s Prescription Drug Price Transparency Rulemaking Advisory Committee, NCPA urged the committee to require health insurers to disclose PBM spread amounts to the Oregon Department of Business and Consumer Services. The committee is developing rules that would require health insurers to file information detailing the impact of costs of prescription drugs on premium rates. NCPA argued that a significant amount of drug spend goes to the PBM spread and disclosure of the spread will give the department a better understanding of how prescription drug costs impact total health care costs and will provide greater accountability for prescription drug pricing. The committee includes NCPA board member Michele Belcher, who was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to be a representative of community pharmacists.

PBM transparency bills gain support

Legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency into pharmacy DIR fees and MAC pricing have both gained support. The Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act, which addresses retroactive DIR fees, increased its cosponsorship totals in both the House and Senate with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) signing onto S. 413 and Reps. French Hill (R- Ark.) and Chris Stewart (R-Utah) Additionally, H.R. 1316, the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, which addresses MAC transparency, picked up the support of Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine). If you are represented by any of these members, please click here to send them an email thanking them for their leadership and support.

Current cosponsorship numbers for all priority bills are:

• Pharmacy DIR fees: S. 413: 15 Senators / H.R. 1038: 86 Representatives
• Generic drug pricing transparency (or MAC legislation): H.R. 1316: 56 Representatives
• Pharmacy choice in Medicare Part D: S. 1044: 5 Senators / H.R. 1939: 34 Representatives
• Provider status: S. 109: 53 Senators / H.R. 592: 293 Representatives
• Compounding: H.R. 2871: 62 Representatives

NCPA provides pharmacy perspective on opioids panel

This week, NCPA participated in the American Health Lawyers Association’s Public Interest Committee “Health Care and the Opioid Crisis” expert panel. The outcome of this meeting will be a white paper that lays out policy solutions to address the opioid public health emergency. The paper, expected to be published in February 2019, will address three categories of policies: opioid prescribing practices & pain management, increasing access to substance use disorder treatment, and reducing opioid-related harm.

FDA revises draft guidance
on insanitary conditions in compounding

This week, the FDA released revised draft guidance on insanitary conditions in compounding facilities classified under sections 503A and 503B. This guidance aims to aid compounding facilities in identifying insanitary conditions, such as vermin, insects, and microbial growth. Through this guidance, the FDA intends to help compounding facilities implement corrective actions to prevent contaminated drugs that could lead to potential harm. NCPA will be commenting on this draft guidance to ensure the revisions are reasonable and not overly burdensome on compounding pharmacists. The draft guidance is available here.

In the states

California AB 2863, which prohibits copay clawbacks and allows pharmacists to communicate with patients regarding the cost of their prescriptions, was approved by the governor.

New Jersey SB 724, which would allow pharmacy interns and externs to administer immunizations under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, passed the Senate unanimously.

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.