2021 Virtual Fly-in Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for NCPA’s 2021 Congressional Pharmacy Virtual Fly-in. Join your peers April 19-21 to participate in meetings with your federal legislators to advocate for pro-pharmacy policy priorities. This year NCPA will handle scheduling of meetings and provide the virtual platform so you can share your stories about how onerous pharmacy DIR fees and network exclusion negatively impact your pharmacy and your patients and also your personal examples of the positive impact you are making during the pandemic.
SBA Updates PPP Rules for Sole Proprietors
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim final rule (IFR), “Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program—Revisions to Loan Amount Calculation and Eligibility” which revises the maximum loan calculations for sole proprietors who file Schedule C returns by allowing the maximum loan amount to be calculated using gross income instead of net profit. However, please note that the rule is not retroactive and borrowers whose PPP loans have already been approved cannot increase their loan amount based on the new methodology.
SBA also released an updated set of frequently asked questions and several updated or new application forms: updated PPP borrower first-draw (Form 2483) and second-draw (Form 2483-SD) application forms, and new PPP first-draw (Form 2483-C) and second-draw (Form 2483-SD-C) borrower application form for Schedule C filers using gross income. Please be sure to consult with your legal counsel and/or tax advisors before applying for a second draw PPP loan or any federal program for which you might be eligible.
Poll: Trusted Health Care Provider Preferred Choice
to Administer Vaccine
A new survey released this week by NCPA shows a strong preference among Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccines from a trusted health care provider, such as their local pharmacist or doctor. According to a survey of 1,390 adults conducted by Public Policy Polling Feb. 26-27, nearly 4 in 10 Americans say their local pharmacist is their first or second choice to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
Rep. Herrera Beutler Urges Biden to Expand
Pharmacy Access to COVID Vaccine in Rural Areas
Last week, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) wrote a letter to President Joe Biden to express concern over equitable vaccine distribution in rural areas throughout the United States and request that the government make distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to the pharmacies serving these communities a higher priority. Specifically, she asked for the prioritization of larger vaccine deliveries to small and independent pharmacies.
NCPA Summary of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the $1.9 trillion package on Thursday, March 11, 2021, enacting many provisions that NCPA advocated for: additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) grants (the current deadline for PPP applications remains March 31, 2021), extension of the employee retention tax credit through the end of 2021, extension of paid sick and paid family leave credits through the end of September 2021, and extension of the subsidy for costs incurred by employers who provide unemployment benefits on a reimbursable basis rather than through tax contributions through August 29, 2021. A summary of the American Rescue Plan Act can be found here.
The Truth Campaign Receives Significant Interest
from Legislators and Regulators
Several weeks ago, NCPA launched the Truth Campaign with a powerful video targeted to state and federal policymakers and senior citizens. So far, the video was viewed more than 14,000 times. Most of the interest came from legislators and regulators, who clicked on the video more than 12,000 times. The video, which will run for two more weeks, is part of the education phase of the campaign aimed at calling attention to PBM abuses. Next week, the next phase of the campaign will launch with display ads aimed at getting seniors to contact their state and federal legislators urging them to rein in the PBMs.
NCPA Highlights Contributions in the Fight
Against COVID-19 to White House
As part of its strategy to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Biden Administration made a call to the private sector asking for examples of how businesses are contributing to the effort.. NCPA took this opportunity to highlight just some of the many vital ways independent community and LTC pharmacies are contributing in the fight against COVID-19, emphasizing our unique ability to deliver vaccines to citizens in their communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas, conduct testing, and ensuring patient access to medications.
Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger Introduces
PBM Accountability Study Act
Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger introduced the PBM Accountability Study Act of 2021. Congresswoman Harshbarger is just one of only two pharmacists serving in the United States Congress, and this is her first piece of legislation to introduce. The bill would require a study focusing on the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the pharmaceutical supply chain and recommend ways to increase their transparency and improve their operational efficiency and lower costs. You can find Congresswoman Harshbarger’s press release here.
Michigan House Health Committee Hears Testimony
on Comprehensive PBM Legislation
The Michigan House Health Policy Committee heard testimony this week on House Bill 4348 introduced by Representative Julie Calley (R). A committee vote is expected next week. This legislation would prohibit PBMs from reimbursing non-affiliate pharmacies less than affiliate pharmacies; prohibit patient steering to PBM-owned pharmacies; prohibit retroactive claw backs; require reimbursements for commercial plan claims be based on the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost, and establish fair audit procedures for community pharmacies. NCPA was proud to submit a letter of support for this important legislation.
NCPA Submits Written Testimony Supporting
Minnesota PBM Reform Bill
NCPA submitted written testimony to the Minnesota state legislature supporting SF 917, which would require PBM reimbursement transparency and control PBM conflicts of interest. NCPA’s comments focused on the impact that opaque PBM practices have had on patient access to community pharmacy services in Minnesota, which has lost half of its independent pharmacies in the past 10 years.
Is Your State Making the Most of the Supreme Court’s
Recent PBM Decision?
While passing legislation is important, make sure your state’s respective departments of insurance are applying existing rate and pricing laws to ERISA plans. Your state may have laws on the books subject to the Rutledge decision, so it is imperative that these laws are being applied to all plans, ERISA plans included. Here are details on how the decision might affect your state.
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. Click each issue for a report 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. The weekly update is intended exclusively for the recipient and is not for external distribution.