Op-ed: Long-term care pharmacies matter to rural Idaho

DATE: November 19, 2025

By Ashley Brittain | Published November 19, 2025 in Idaho Mountain Express

Access to health care in rural Idaho is critical, which is why I’m concerned about a serious problem facing our long-term care communities. Because of changes in drug pricing, as of Jan. 1, we may see 60% of America’s long-term care pharmacies close.

Long-term care pharmacies provide specialized services that federal law requires for nursing home and assisted living residents. In rural Idaho, there are 71,844 Medicare beneficiaries, and just four LTC pharmacies operate in rural communities. When you’re dealing with distances measured in dozens of miles and limited alternatives, losing even one pharmacy can leave hundreds of seniors without access to medications and required services.

Congressional bill H.R. 5031, also known as the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act, provides a reasonable solution. It establishes a $30 supplemental supply fee for the drugs subject to negotiated prices in 2026 and 2027, covering the cost of the specialized services these pharmacies must provide. It also directs the U.S. Government of Accountability Office to develop a permanent, sustainable reimbursement structure. This approach is modeled after Medicare Part B legislation Congress passed in 2003, and it has broad bipartisan support from organizations across the long-term care sector.

The Trump administration can also explore administrative solutions, such as a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) waiver or other regulatory fixes that could provide relief while Congress works on permanent legislation.

I urge our Idaho congressional delegation and the Trump administration to work quickly and urgently. Rural communities can’t afford to lose these services, and our seniors shouldn’t have to pay the price for a well-intentioned policy that didn’t account for their needs.

Read the full article on Idaho Mountain Express here