NCPA Defends Compounding
Hormone Therapies to NASEM
This week NCPA staff presented to an ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) who are conducting a study to assess the clinical utility of treating patients with compounded BHRT drug products. NCPA’s Ronna Hauser, PharmD, spoke at the open session meeting for the Committee on Clinical Utility of Treating Patients with Compounded "Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy". The Committee is conducting the study for the FDA and plans to make recommendations with respect to whether the available evidence of safety and effectiveness supports use of compounded BHRT drug products to treat patients. This is a vitally important topic and NCPA was pleased to be invited to represent compounding pharmacies and educate the Committee on the important role pharmacists play in dispensing compounded hormone therapies to their patients.
NCPA Joins Letter Opposing the Illicit Cash Act
This week, NCPA joined 47 other organizations representing small business owners in signing onto a letter opposing the Illicit Cash Act. This legislation seeks to shift reporting requirements of beneficial ownership information of business accounts from large financial institutions to small businesses, which are least equipped to deal with the additional requirements. The letter, addressed to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also raises other serious concerns with the proposed legislation including privacy concerns as the data collected by the database includes personally sensitive information and could be the target of potential data breaches. A copy of the full letter is available here.
Ways and Means Committee Holds Hearing
on Caring for Aging Americans
This week, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing titled “Caring for Aging Americans” to discuss long-term care (LTC) system concerns. Topics included the significant role of caregivers, unaffordability of LTC for the average American, the quality of care in LTC settings, and the use of antipsychotics for LTC patients. Members from both parties highlighted personal and constituent examples of the difficulties faced by patients who require long-term care, as well as the burden on their families, and offered a range of potential policy solutions. Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) suggested the Committee is considering a long-term care initiative but did not provide a timeline for legislative action or next steps. NCPA’s LTC division will continue to monitor these issues.
NCPA Participates in Meeting
with Sen. McConnell’s Staff
This week, Karry LaViolette, NCPA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, attended a meeting with the Kentucky Pharmacists Association and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) staff. The meeting focused on fixing retroactive pharmacy DIR fees and other issues of importance to community pharmacy and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.
NCPA Attends ASPL Conference
Last weekend, Kala Shankle, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, attended the American Society for Pharmacy Law Conference. Pharmacy stakeholders from across the industry that presented on timely topics important to the pharmacy space such as drug pricing, dispensing of controlled substances, and importation. Of particular note, one presentation discussed pharmacy DIR and its impact on the pharmacy sector. Ms. Shankle offered additional information on the issue, including highlighting NCPA’s advocacy efforts.
NCPA Attends ASCP Annual Convention
Last weekend, Ronna Hauser, VP of Policy & Government Affairs Operations, attended the 2019 ASCP Annual Meeting and Exposition to network with LTC pharmacists and participate in educational offerings focused on caring for patients who are aging in their homes. NCPA’s LTC Division continues to advocate for independently owned LTC pharmacies and for CMS to recognize the higher level of medical at home services being offered to Medicare Part D patients aging at home.
DEA Responds to Pharmacy Stakeholder Letter
Last week the DEA responded to a letter sent from pharmacy stakeholders, including NCPA, regarding the DEA’s position on the prescribing of the “trinity” drug therapy. In its letter, the DEA responded that the agency does not opine on the medical basis of specific prescription drug therapies. The letter also outlined applicable laws, which did not include any indication of laws or policies against the prescribing of the "trinity." NCPA will continue to communicate with the DEA on this issue and other topics relevant to the dispensing of controlled substances.
NCPA state legislative activity update
NCPA tracks state legislation related to our top three state priorities: Medicaid reform, scope of practice and compensation for services, and PBM reform and regulation. Linked below are reports of bills that have been introduced so far this session specifically dealing with these three issue areas. You can access the individual bill language and basic information on the bill by clicking on the bill numbers in the attached report. Bills that have moved this week are listed at the top in the “Recently Updated” section.
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