SCPC Applauds Introduction of Senate Companion Bill to Preserve Seniors’ Access to Essential Medications and Long-Term Care Pharmacies

DATE: November 11, 2025

Oklahoma Senators file S. 3159 to Avert Looming Long-Term Care Crisis 

Washington, DC (November 11, 2025)— The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the leading voice for the nation’s long-term care (LTC) pharmacy community, applauds Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and co-lead Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) for the introduction of S. 3159, the Senate companion to H.R. 5301, the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act, sponsored in the House by Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). This bicameral legislation is a critical step toward averting a nationwide long-term care crisis and protecting vulnerable seniors’ access to essential medications and specialized, federally required, around-the-clock pharmacy services. 

“We commend Sens. Lankford and Mullin for championing this urgently needed legislation,” said Alan Rosenbloom, President and CEO of SCPC. “Without this LTC pharmacy fix, Medicare Part D price negotiations taking effect January 1, 2026 will devastate many LTC pharmacies– and it will only worsen as more medications are negotiated in 2027. Congress must act now to prevent more than 60% of LTC pharmacies from closing critically needed locations and causing devastating access issues for seniors in nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings.” 

LTC pharmacies already operate on razor thin margins. A new SCPC white paper, with analytics by ATI Advisory, found that Medicare drug price negotiations will reduce LTC pharmacy operating margins by 35% in 2027, leaving the average LTC pharmacy operating at a nearly 3% loss. These losses threaten the care of medically complex seniors who on average take more than a dozen medications daily and depend on specialized dispensing, delivery, and oversight services that only LTC pharmacies can provide. 

The Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act (S. 3159) provides a time-limited, targeted $30 supply fee per drug subject to Medicare Part D price negotiations only in 2026 and 2027. This legislation is essential, so pharmacies remain operational in communities across the country and frail patients have continued access to care. 

“As a long-term care pharmacy owner, I know firsthand how essential our round-the-clock, specialized pharmacy services are to keeping seniors in nursing homes and assisted living healthy and safe,” said Kyle Simmons, co-president of Boomer Solutions Pharmacies in Oklahoma. “We urgently need a LTC pharmacy fix to ensure that vulnerable Oklahomans can continue to receive their medicines when Medicare price negotiations take effect next year. I’m grateful Sens. Lankford and Mullin have introduced S. 3159 to protect patient access to LTC pharmacies.” 

“Seniors in long-term care facilities in Oklahoma and across the nation should never have to worry about access to the daily medicines they rely on,” said Lankford. “Long-term care pharmacies provide essential, specialized services, and it’s critical that we protect them and ensure they can remain in our communities. That’s why I’m proud to lead legislation that will keep long-term care pharmacies in operation and serving patients.”

“Long-term care pharmacies are essential to the health and safety of our seniors, especially in rural communities across Oklahoma,” said Mullin. “I’m proud to be working together on this necessary fix to ensure vulnerable seniors across our state receive the care they need without interruption.”

The legislation is strongly supported across the long-term care and pharmacy sectors by national organizations, including the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), LeadingAge, Argentum, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). 

Full bill text is available HERE. A link to Senator Lankford’s release is available HERE.  

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About Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition

The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition SCPC is the only national organization exclusively representing the interests of LTC pharmacies, representing 75% of the sector overall.  Operating in every state, SCPC’s LTC pharmacy members expertly serve nearly 1 million patients daily with essential medications and oversight to improve health outcomes. SCPC represents the interests of its 300 plus members before Congress and the administration to ensure LTC pharmacies can serve patients with high-quality, affordable care, safely.  Visit seniorcarepharmacies.org to learn more.