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Friday, 05.29.09
Equitable Treatment
Dear Colleague,
A member survey we completed recently gives new urgency to our campaign for equal treatment of pharmacists on accreditation requirements for participation in the Medicare Part B DME program. We found that thousands of community pharmacies would stop providing Part B DME, which covers products both big and small including critical items such as diabetes test strips, if the new accreditation mandate takes effect October 1 as scheduled.
A member survey we completed recently gives new urgency to our campaign for equal treatment of pharmacists on accreditation requirements for participation in the Medicare Part B DME program. We found that thousands of community pharmacies would stop providing Part B DME, which covers products both big and small including critical items such as diabetes test strips, if the new accreditation mandate takes effect October 1 as scheduled.
12:04:15 |
Friday, 09.29.06
MTM: Use It, or Lose It
Dear Colleague,
CCRx?s Medicare Part D medication therapy management program is in full swing. So far, more than 120,000 beneficiaries have qualified. CCRx is one of the few Part D plans with its MTM program focused on delivering face-to-face care by community pharmacists.
CCRx?s Medicare Part D medication therapy management program is in full swing. So far, more than 120,000 beneficiaries have qualified. CCRx is one of the few Part D plans with its MTM program focused on delivering face-to-face care by community pharmacists.
Friday, 09.15.06
Solutions, Not Excuses
Dear Colleague,
Although they sometimes fly below the radar screen, NCPA is continuing collaborations with CMS, NACDS, AHIP, and NCPDP to define common messaging for electronic claims processing. As you remember, earlier this year those efforts resulted in two new Medicare Part D-specific reject codes:
Although they sometimes fly below the radar screen, NCPA is continuing collaborations with CMS, NACDS, AHIP, and NCPDP to define common messaging for electronic claims processing. As you remember, earlier this year those efforts resulted in two new Medicare Part D-specific reject codes:
Friday, 09.08.06
MTM: Seize the Moment
Dear Colleague,
Community pharmacists are getting an excellent response from their CCRx beneficiaries about providing them with medication therapy management using Community MTM. More than 80 percent of those CCRx patients contacted by a pharmacy have accepted the Medicare-covered MTM service, according to preliminary figures. At distance pharmacies, about one-third of patients decline the offer.
Community pharmacists are getting an excellent response from their CCRx beneficiaries about providing them with medication therapy management using Community MTM. More than 80 percent of those CCRx patients contacted by a pharmacy have accepted the Medicare-covered MTM service, according to preliminary figures. At distance pharmacies, about one-third of patients decline the offer.
Friday, 08.11.06
Evidence Instead of Anecdote
Dear Colleague,
We recently hired a respected national polling firm to conduct a study on the impact of Medicare Part D. The pollsters interviewed some 500 pharmacists, almost all of them owners.
We recently hired a respected national polling firm to conduct a study on the impact of Medicare Part D. The pollsters interviewed some 500 pharmacists, almost all of them owners.
Friday, 07.21.06
More Progress on Prompt Payment Legislation
Dear Colleague,
We received a double dose of good legislative news this week. First of all, 50 members of the House signed a letter to the Ways and Means Committee requesting a hearing before the August recess on prompt payment and other reimbursement issues for Medicare Part D.
We received a double dose of good legislative news this week. First of all, 50 members of the House signed a letter to the Ways and Means Committee requesting a hearing before the August recess on prompt payment and other reimbursement issues for Medicare Part D.
Friday, 06.16.06
100 and Counting
Dear Colleague,
We?ve crossed the century mark. There are now 118 cosponsors of the Part D prompt payment legislation we have endorsed in the House, H.R.5182. Reps. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and Marion Berry (D-Ark.) are leading the charge for us on that bipartisan legislation.
We?ve crossed the century mark. There are now 118 cosponsors of the Part D prompt payment legislation we have endorsed in the House, H.R.5182. Reps. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and Marion Berry (D-Ark.) are leading the charge for us on that bipartisan legislation.
Friday, 05.12.06
Antics of the Giant PBMs
Dear Colleague,
Talk about chutzpah. In case you haven?t seen it yet, this is from a new ad campaign by the PBM/mail order lobby:
?Medicare pays doctors and hospitals within 30 days. We think America?s pharmacists deserve no less. That?s why the Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) recently announced a commitment to pay Medicare pharmacy claims within the 30-day government standard. A Medicare claims pay standard that treats doctors, hospitals and pharmacists equally. Now that?s a level playing field.?
Talk about chutzpah. In case you haven?t seen it yet, this is from a new ad campaign by the PBM/mail order lobby:
?Medicare pays doctors and hospitals within 30 days. We think America?s pharmacists deserve no less. That?s why the Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) recently announced a commitment to pay Medicare pharmacy claims within the 30-day government standard. A Medicare claims pay standard that treats doctors, hospitals and pharmacists equally. Now that?s a level playing field.?
Friday, 05.05.06
A Behind the Scenes Look at How We Got to Testify
Dear Colleague,
The first call from Capitol Hill came in about 6 p.m. on April 27. ?Would NCPA be interested in having one of its members testify about Medicare Part D implementation next week?? Sounds like a no brainer, and easy to pull off, right? Well, little involving Congress is as it seems at first blush?forget about what you read in your civics book.
The first call from Capitol Hill came in about 6 p.m. on April 27. ?Would NCPA be interested in having one of its members testify about Medicare Part D implementation next week?? Sounds like a no brainer, and easy to pull off, right? Well, little involving Congress is as it seems at first blush?forget about what you read in your civics book.
Testimony of Pam Grisnik, Owner, Rx Xpress Pharmacy, Grove City, Pennsylvania Before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Ways and Means
Good Afternoon, Madam Chair and other members of the Health subcommittee. Thank you for conducting this hearing and for providing me the opportunity to share the experiences with the new Medicare Part D program on behalf of the more than 24,000 community pharmacies, 55,000 community pharmacists, 250,000 employees and the millions of patients who rely on us for their prescription care.
Friday, 04.28.06
FAST Track
Dear Colleague,
Truly pivotal legislation needed to help community pharmacy survive under Part D was introduced in House late Tuesday. The measure, H.R. 5182, represents the most comprehensive approach to pharmacy prompt payment currently under consideration in both the House and Senate. Importantly, it is the first to establish a minimum dispensing fee for generics.
Truly pivotal legislation needed to help community pharmacy survive under Part D was introduced in House late Tuesday. The measure, H.R. 5182, represents the most comprehensive approach to pharmacy prompt payment currently under consideration in both the House and Senate. Importantly, it is the first to establish a minimum dispensing fee for generics.
Friday, 04.21.06
Prompt Pay and the Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Dear Colleague,
Shortly after Congress returns from its spring break next week, we expect that important new prompt pay legislation for Medicare Part D will be introduced in the House. Reps. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) and Marion Berry (D-Ark.) are calling their bill the Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Claims Act of 2006. Some highlights:
Shortly after Congress returns from its spring break next week, we expect that important new prompt pay legislation for Medicare Part D will be introduced in the House. Reps. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) and Marion Berry (D-Ark.) are calling their bill the Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Claims Act of 2006. Some highlights:
Thursday, 04.20.06
Remarks by CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, MD, at the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Press Event April 19, 2006
I?d like to thank Karen Ignagni, Bruce Roberts and Bob Hannan, and their association members, for the important and unprecedented achievement they are announcing today. I would also like to thank Larry Kocot, my pharmacy point man, for his outstanding efforts. We are going to see an unprecedented degree of consistency in the messages related to filling prescriptions that pharmacists get through their computers. Pharmacists and pharmacies have demonstrated how important they are to the implementation of the Medicare drug benefit. They have been tremendous and we?re please to support this critical collaborative effort.
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