National LTC Pharmacy Advocacy Group: Capping Seniors’ Out of Pocket Costs as Low as Possible Remains Key Drug Pricing Reform Objective
Washington, DC – With media attention increasingly focused upon the “inflationary rebate” facet of the Senate Finance Committee’s Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 (S. 2543), the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) today said capping Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs as low as possible remains a top long-term care (LTC) pharmacy advocacy priority.
“Capping Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs at the lowest possible rate is all about maximizing seniors’ ability to pay for the drugs they require to stay healthy,” said Alan G. Rosenbloom, President and CEO of SCPC, the only national advocacy group dedicated exclusively to representing the legislative and regulatory interests of LTC pharmacies and their elderly patients.
“Following their doctor-prescribed medication regimen should not be just an option — it must be a necessity — and relates not just to quality of life but avoiding costly, burdensome re-hospitalizations,” Rosenbloom continued.
Rosenbloom praised the lower beneficiary out-of-pocket costs contained in the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) vis a vis S. 2543 but suggested there was room for continued negotiation in the weeks ahead.
“The inflation rebate discussion has taken center stage of late, but we will continue to focus attention on the human element of drug pricing reform, and the moral imperative of ensuring America’s seniors don’t have to forego medications simply to afford food,” Rosenbloom concluded.
####
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) is the only national organization exclusively representing the interests of LTC pharmacies. Its members operate in all 50 states and serve 850,000 patients daily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the country. Visit seniorcarepharmacies.org to learn more.
Recent Posts
-
Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition Shares Comments with CMS Regarding Medicare Part D Restructuring Guidance: “Smoothing Provisions”
SCPC filed comments with CMS in response to their guidance on the implementation of the Medicare Part D restructuring portion of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
-
Drug pricing efforts threaten ‘very existence’ of LTC pharmacies: reps
President Biden in his State of the Union address last week vowed to end “Big Pharma’s” grip on prescription drug pricing and cut costs for seniors and taxpayers by another $200 million.
But the president’s plans to expand his administration’s first-ever Medicare drug price negotiations could spell big trouble for the pharmacists who support seniors living in long-term care settings, advocates warned in response. -
President Biden Announces Desire to Cap Drug Prices for All Americans
In the State of the Union Address on March 7th, President Joseph Biden announced a proposal to expand the number of drugs targeted for annual price negotiations by Medicare and lower prescription drug costs for American families.
Stay in the Know
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term pharmacy community.