Policy
Our Policy Priorities
As the national trade association for long-term care (LTC) pharmacies, SCPC’s policy priorities reflect the unique needs of our members and the patients they serve. LTC pharmacies play an essential role in our health care system—one that is significantly different from and often more complex than that of a typical retail pharmacy. Policy and regulations must reflect these differences.
Our advocacy efforts consider the diverse settings in which LTC pharmacies operate, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospice, and home.
SCPC develops its policy priorities based on the needs of LTC pharmacies around the country and the interests of the patients they serve. Our top priorities include:
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Establishing a sustainable payment model for LTC pharmacies.
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Reforming abusive pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices.
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Creating a federal statutory definition of long-term care pharmacies.
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Ensuring access to essential LTC pharmacy services for patients wherever they reside.
Take ActionAchieving Results
LTC pharmacies have seen improved reimbursement rates as our SCPC’s advocacy efforts related to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) drove many PBMs to the negotiating table. This progress was not accidental! SCPC armed members with data, elevated concerns with Congress and CMS about unintended consequences, and kept the pressure on health plans and PBMs.
SCPC’s coordinated campaign strategy helped create a stronger environment for LTC pharmacy reimbursement discussions. This not only made a difference in member reimbursements, but it fostered critical awareness of the LTC pharmacy sector. This is only the beginning! SCPC will keep pulling every available lever to improve contract dynamics and advance long-term reimbursement reform.
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Introduced Signature Legislation
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Sustained Member Engagement with Congress
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Unprecedented CMS Engagement
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Targeted Advocacy and Digital Ad Campaigns
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Sustained Media Momentum
Learn more about how SCPC is achieving results for the LTC pharmacies.
Our Top Advocacy Priorities
SCPC’s strength is in the people who make up America’s LTC pharmacy community. In order to serve patients with high-quality care, SCPC connects our members to their representatives in Congress and key administration officials. Our grassroots efforts drive important conversations with our nation’s leaders and decision makers regarding the LTC pharmacy sector.
Please see below for a link to engage in our current advocacy campaigns and help us make a difference on important public policy issues impacting our community.
Sustainable Payment Model
LTC Pharmacies Need a Sustainable Payment Model
Recent Medicare drug pricing policy changes combined with an outdated pharmacy payment model threaten the future of long-term care (LTC) pharmacies. SCPC is working with policymakers to ensure any efforts to lower the cost of brand-name drugs do not unintentionally undermine access to the essential medication services LTC pharmacies provide every day. A sustainable Medicare Part D payment model is critical to protecting patient access and supporting the specialized services LTC pharmacies provide.
Take Action
Resources
Documents
Media Statements
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SCPC Highlights Devastating Impact on Medicare Drug Price Negotiations on LTC Pharmacies
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PBM Reform
For far too long, we have seen PBMs engage in unfair and abusive practices that delay access to medication for our patients, increase costs for consumers and businesses, and threaten both independent LTC and retail pharmacies. PBM reform remains a critical priority for our industry and the patients we serve every day. While PBM reforms enacted in 2026 represent important progress, SCPC will continue its work with policymakers, regulators, and members to support effective implementation, strengthen oversight, promote greater transparency, and advance fairer negotiating practices for LTC pharmacies.
Resources
Documents
Media Statements
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SCPC Highlights Devastating Impact on Medicare Drug Price Negotiations on LTC Pharmacies
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Fair and Transparent PBM Practices
Regulating PBMs and protecting independent LTC pharmacies
The Problem: PBMs engage in predatory business practices including opaque and unjustified fees for pharmacies and market consolidation across the pharmacy, distribution, insurance and healthcare provider sectors. Both practices can delay medication access, increase consumer costs, and force LTC pharmacies and other independent pharmacies to go out of business or sell to the PBM.
The Solution: Congress must pass legislation that requires transparency in PBM drug pricing information and provides stronger regulations for CMS to hold PBMs accountable. Congress should also thoroughly investigate PBM business practices for violations of antitrust laws.
Take Action
Resources
Issue Brief
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Long-Term Care Pharmacies believe patients deserve affordable, cccessible medication; Pharmacy Benefit Managers put profit over care and refuse transparency
SCPC Comment Letters
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CMS Letter - Recommendations Re: Part D Plan Sponsors and PBMs February 25, 2026
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Letter to CMS - Maximum Monthly Cap on Cost-Sharing Payments Under Prescription Drug Plans: Draft Part One Guidance on Select Topics, Implementation of Section 1860D-2 of the Social Security Act for 2025, and Solicitation of Comments
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Federal Definition of LTC Pharmacy
Defining long-term care pharmacies at the federal level
The Problem: Current federal regulations impose conflicting and confusing obligations on LTC pharmacies. Because the federal government has not formally defined a “long-term care pharmacy,” major discrepancies exist among regulatory bodies such as CMS, EPA and FDA when it comes to the patient care services LTC pharmacies provide.
The Solution: Congress must pass legislation to modernize regulatory oversight of LTC pharmacies and adopt a specific federal definition of “long-term care pharmacy.” A federal definition will allow LTC pharmacies to continue providing high-quality, essential care for LTC patients.
Resources
Issue Brief
Long-Term Care At Home
Ensuring LTC pharmacies’ role in the expanding home-based services and support
The Problem: As our population continues to age, LTC pharmacies provide wraparound clinical and consulting medication management services that keep people who need long-term care in the places they want to be – including their own homes. Public policy and regulations have not kept up with the rise in demand for LTC pharmacies and the crucial services provided to this population.
The Solution: To ensure the best outcomes for LTC patients, SCPC supports the creation of a federal payment platform that appropriately funds LTC pharmacy services, no matter the setting, so patients with long-term care, social, and supportive needs can still live at home in their community if they choose.
Resources
Issue Brief
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Long-Term Care Pharmacy Services are Essential to Effective Expansion of Medicaid-Funded Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
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