SCPC Urges Congress to Include LTC Pharmacy Fix in Reconciliation Package to Save Prescription Drug Access for Seniors in Long-Term Care
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the leading national voice for the long-term care (LTC) pharmacy community, released the following statement regarding the reconciliation package passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on May 14.
“SCPC commends Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie and the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership in advancing a reconciliation package that positively addresses many current needs to improve the delivery of health care, including critically needed fixes to Medicare drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). We are also encouraged by the inclusion of other important policies that prioritize the needs of Medicare beneficiaries, IRA fixes pertaining to orphan drugs, and the long overdue ban on PBM spread pricing in Medicaid.
“While we appreciate the PBM reform policies included, LTC pharmacies and our patients need Congress to go further and truly fix the broken LTC pharmacy payment model. Chairman Guthrie and other members of the committee must address the unintended consequence of Medicare drug price negotiations for the long-term care (LTC) pharmacies that threatens Medicare beneficiary access to essential pharmacy services. Without this critical fix, many LTC pharmacies will be forced to close, particularly those serving nursing homes in rural areas. This problem, which is unique to LTC pharmacies, will force layoffs, reduce services, and lead to higher costs for patients and nursing homes.
“Congress must use reconciliation as the vehicle to address this problem now and incorporate the LTC pharmacy fix – a two-year supply fee for drugs subject to IRA price negotiations. LTC pharmacies deliver highly specialized services to seniors in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, many of whom require complex medication regimens and round-the-clock care. Without this fix, LTC pharmacies will face unsustainable financial pressures that could threaten their ability to continue operating, putting millions of seniors at risk.
“We stand ready to work with members of Congress and the Trump Administration to ensure that LTC pharmacies are part of ongoing conversations to reform healthcare – and we urge them to prioritize the LTC Pharmacy Fix to preserve access to long-term care for America’s seniors before it’s too late,” said Alan Rosenbloom, President and CEO of SCPC.
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