Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition Releases Statement in Support of the PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the leading voice for the nation’s long-term care (LTC) pharmacy community, released the following statement in support of the newly introduced PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act.
“SCPC commends Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) for championing federal PBM reform through bipartisan legislation that targets the predatory practices of pharmacy benefit managers. These abuses continue to harm patients across the nation, particularly America’s seniors and the LTC pharmacies dedicated to serving them.
For far too long, PBMs have leveraged oligopolistic market power at the expense of patients and providers. This legislation takes vital steps to increase transparency and accountability, ensuring Americans can access medications at fair prices without unnecessary barriers to care. SCPC is particularly encouraged by provisions that guarantee fair reimbursement for all pharmacy types and safeguard rural providers. This is particularly important as negotiated Medicare Part D prices take effect on January 1, which will push LTC pharmacies beyond the breaking point due to the perverse payment model profit-driven PBMs have forced on LTC pharmacies for decades.
PBM reform has been a long time coming. Congress now has the opportunity and the responsibility to finish the job and deliver meaningful protections for consumers, providers, and taxpayers. Congress must enact meaningful PBM reform legislation and also must enact the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act (H.R. 5031/S. 3159). This legislation would offset the unintended impact of negotiated prices on LTC pharmacies and the vulnerable patients they serve, averting a long-term care crisis next year. Without this LTC pharmacy fix, more than 60% of LTC pharmacies risk closure, threatening access to essential medications for seniors in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care settings.
Including both PBM reform and the LTC pharmacy fix in any end-of-year healthcare package is the only way to protect patients, control rising costs, and preserve access to LTC pharmacy services essential to senior populations living in nursing homes.”
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