Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition Comments on Healthcare Choice and Competition
January 25, 2018
Via Electronic Submission: CompetitionRFI@hhs.gov
John R. Graham
Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Re: Response to RFI: Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition
Dear Mr. Graham:
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) commends the office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its request for information to promote healthcare choice and competition across the United States. We appreciate ASPE’s interest in input from the public on the extent to which existing State and Federal laws, regulations, guidance, requirements and policies limit choice and competition across all healthcare markets, and the identification of actions that States or the Federal Government could take to support the development and operation of a healthcare system that provides high‐quality care at affordable prices for the American people.
As the only organization in Washington that exclusively represents the interests of long-term care (LTC) pharmacies, the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) has studied this issue closely and has several recommendations for ASPE’s consideration related to the distribution of prescription drugs across the country, and particularly the anticompetitive role that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play in that process.
ASPE also seeks information concerning laws, regulations and policies that, if modified, would enhance the ability of health care providers to provide the highest quality of care possible at an affordable and competitive price. In particular, modifying HHS policies regarding False Claims Act cases so they are consistent with recent Department of Justice policies would benefit competition, while reducing costs for both health care providers and the federal government.
Click here to read the submitted comments in their entirety.
Recent Posts
-
Rep. Beth Van Duyne: Congress can save seniors’ access to medications before it’s too late
Seniors in nursing homes across the country depend on round-the-clock care and medications, perhaps more than any other American patient population. In turn, the nursing homes and assisted living facilities that care for them depend on a small number of specialized long-term care (LTC) pharmacies to ensure their patients have access to the prescription meds they need.
-
Bill Aims to Offset Reimbursement Losses for Long-Term Care Pharmacies Catering to Nursing Homes
Starting in January, falling prices for costly drugs may strain long-term care pharmacies, but proposed legislation backed by advocacy groups aims to subsidize some of this loss. And nursing home advocacy groups are among those urging Congress to pass the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act.
-
Drug pricing policy could jeopardize long-term care pharmacies, leaders contend
Senior living and care leaders have joined a coalition calling attention to a policy fix they say would address unintended consequences of Medicare Part D price negotiations that could shutter long-term care pharmacies.
Stay in the Know
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term pharmacy community.