LTC pharmacies demand ‘sustainable’ payment model ahead of 2026 drug-pricing changes
By Kimberly Marselas
McKnight’s Long Term Care News
Many of the nation’s long-term care pharmacies are going to fall below “break-even” and may be forced out of business without additional support when drug-pricing policy changes kick in, sector advocates warned Wednesday.
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition is launching a new campaign for federal payment reform as the White House finalizes lower prices on 10 drugs widely used by Medicare beneficiaries and Congress toys with legislation that could loosen pharmacy benefit managers’ grip on most other US drug pricing.
Both efforts could have unintended effects on long-term care pharmacies, which have substantial dispensing costs associated with facility and patient services that commercial and independent pharmacies do not have.
“We have this precarious system when payers have been allowed to create a situation where they don’t pay for services,” said Alan Rosenbloom, president and CEO of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition. “The current perverse payment model was not something long-term care pharmacies ever wanted. It was handed to them because of the disproportionate negotiating power [PBMs] have.”
Read the full original article here.
Recent Posts
-
SCPC Releases New Video on the Next Chapter for Long-Term Care Pharmacy
SCPC’s new video, ‘LTC Pharmacy is Rising’, explores how we’re turning our sector’s growing momentum into a strong voice in Washington. Behind every LTC pharmacy are people committed to caring for our country’s most vulnerable patients. Hear from SCPC’s President & CEO, Esmé Grewal, and VP of Government Relations, Shara Selonick, about what drives their […]
-
SCPC Launches New Video Series with ‘SCPC in Action’
SCPC launches ‘SCPC in Action,’ a new video sharing the collaboration and advocacy that defined the 2026 SCPC Annual Summit. The Summit brought our long-term care pharmacy community together to learn and carry our shared priorities to Capitol Hill. Leaders from across the field explored the many moving parts that make long-term care pharmacy possible, […]
-
CMS Releases RFI on Part D Pharmacy Contracting Standards
Yesterday, CMS released a new Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on how it should establish “reasonable and relevant” pharmacy contracting standards in Medicare Part D, as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (CAA). The new standards will apply beginning in plan year 2029. Importantly for long-term care (LTC) pharmacy, the RFI specifically asks […]
Stay Connected
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term care pharmacy community.