SCPC Applauds Inclusion of PBM Reform in Recent Spending Package Approved by U.S. House & Senate
By Staff | Inside Health Policy
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the leading voice for the nation’s long-term care (LTC) pharmacy community, released the following statement about the passage of PBM reform:
“SCPC applauds the passage of bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform legislation by both the U.S. House and Senate, marking a significant step toward greater transparency, accountability, and fairness in the prescription drug marketplace. These reforms address longstanding PBM practices that have created ongoing challenges for seniors’ access to long-term care (LTC) pharmacy services and placed significant strain on the providers delivering that care.
The legislation requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” Medicare Part D contract terms, providing CMS with clearer enforcement authority to help curb problematic PBM practices. It also promotes transparency by allowing CMS to track payment trends to pharmacies and PBM network participation, giving policymakers better insight into how PBM practices impact access, reimbursement, and sustainability across pharmacy settings, including LTC pharmacies serving our nation’s most frail and medically complex patients.
In addition, the bill prohibits PBM compensation in Medicare Part D from being tied to a drug’s list price. This represents an important step toward lowering prescription drugs costs for consumers and taxpayers alike. While these provisions will not resolve all the challenges facing LTC pharmacies under Medicare Part D, they move the system toward greater stability and accountability and help better protect seniors’ access to essential LTC pharmacy services.
We urge President Trump to swiftly sign these PBM provisions into law so patients and providers can benefit from a fairer, more transparent prescription drug market,” said Alan Rosenbloom President/CEO of SCPC.
# # #
Read the full article on the Inside Health Policy here
Recent Posts
-
Long-Term Care Pharmacy Crisis Hits Nursing Homes
When Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, part of the goal was to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare patients. For millions of seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, though, a little-noticed side effect of that law is starting to hinder their access to those drugs.
-
SCPC Applauds HHS OIG for New Report Highlighting Vertical Integration of Part D Sponsors with PBMs
“Long-term care pharmacies play an essential role in the Medicare Part D ecosystem and impacts to these pharmacies need to be considered with any trends seen in the marketplace. SCPC applauds HHS OIG for its work to analyze and share factual insights into vertical integration of Part D sponsors with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and […]
-
LTC Pharmacy Has a Visibility Problem. Here’s How SCPC’s New CEO Plans to Fix It
Long-term care (LTC) pharmacy is an unsung hero among the healthcare sector’s many players. But a critically important one for our loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country.
Stay in the Know
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term pharmacy community.