Drug bill with exemptions for LTC pharmacies heads to Obama
A bill that would exempt long-term care pharmacies from a controversial “lock-in” provision received final passage from the Senate on Wednesday and now heads to the president’s desk.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act includes language that would require Medicare Part D beneficiaries to use one pharmacy for all prescriptions, in an effort to lessen opioid abuse.
Long-term care pharmacy advocates condemned the “lock-in” clause, arguing that legislation already existed that protected beneficiaries in long-term care settings from drug abuse. Alan Rosenbloom, president of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition, praised the passage of the bill with the LTC exemption intact.
“The exemption is a vital provision that specifically recognizes the unique characteristics of the long-term care patient population and the distinctions between specialized long-term care pharmacies and more well-known retail pharmacies — particularly the additional requirements already imposed on LTC pharmacies under Medicare and Medicaid Requirements of Participation and Medicare Part D rules,” Rosenbloom said
Long-term care pharmacies’ tracking, auditing, packaging and dispensing of drugs helps them meet the “extraordinarily high” safety standards for Medicare Part D, Rosenbloom said. He also stressed the fact that pharmacists and licensed facility staff are the ones handling the prescription orders, not the beneficiaries themselves.
“CARA strikes the right balance between protecting our citizens and communities on the one hand, and protecting the ability of LTC pharmacies to meet and manage the medication needs of LTC residents on the other,” Rosenbloom said.
Obama is expected to sign the bill. CARA is estimated to receive $581 million in funding, which is set to be authorized by Senate Republicans in September after Congress’ summer recess.
Click here to see the original article on the McKnight’s website.
Recent Posts
-
Rep. Beth Van Duyne: Congress can save seniors’ access to medications before it’s too late
Seniors in nursing homes across the country depend on round-the-clock care and medications, perhaps more than any other American patient population. In turn, the nursing homes and assisted living facilities that care for them depend on a small number of specialized long-term care (LTC) pharmacies to ensure their patients have access to the prescription meds they need.
-
Bill Aims to Offset Reimbursement Losses for Long-Term Care Pharmacies Catering to Nursing Homes
Starting in January, falling prices for costly drugs may strain long-term care pharmacies, but proposed legislation backed by advocacy groups aims to subsidize some of this loss. And nursing home advocacy groups are among those urging Congress to pass the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act.
-
Drug pricing policy could jeopardize long-term care pharmacies, leaders contend
Senior living and care leaders have joined a coalition calling attention to a policy fix they say would address unintended consequences of Medicare Part D price negotiations that could shutter long-term care pharmacies.
Stay in the Know
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term pharmacy community.