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Monday, 12.17.07
Special Edition: Court Blocks AMP Implementation
Dear Colleague,
Late Friday, Dec. 14, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit we and NACDS brought against CMS and its final rule using AMP as the basis for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement. The judge?s ruling means that CMS cannot implement the AMP rule as currently written and must start the rulemaking process over. We are not sure how long that will take.
Late Friday, Dec. 14, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit we and NACDS brought against CMS and its final rule using AMP as the basis for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement. The judge?s ruling means that CMS cannot implement the AMP rule as currently written and must start the rulemaking process over. We are not sure how long that will take.
12:43:07 |
Friday, 12.07.07
Time and Tide
Dear Colleague,
Please remind me not to make predictions on what Congress will or won?t do, not even what day a committee is supposed to meet. Last week, signs were pointing to a showdown Dec. 5 in the Senate Finance Committee on a legislative package that could include our Medicaid AMP fix and Medicare prompt payment bills.
Please remind me not to make predictions on what Congress will or won?t do, not even what day a committee is supposed to meet. Last week, signs were pointing to a showdown Dec. 5 in the Senate Finance Committee on a legislative package that could include our Medicaid AMP fix and Medicare prompt payment bills.
Friday, 07.20.07
High on the Hill
Dear Colleague,
Earlier this week, we testified before the House Small Business Committee on the dire consequences of the AMP rule and proposed a reasonable legislative solution. Many thanks to Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). a long-time supporter of independent community pharmacy, for scheduling the hearing. Here?s one pointed observation she made:
Earlier this week, we testified before the House Small Business Committee on the dire consequences of the AMP rule and proposed a reasonable legislative solution. Many thanks to Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). a long-time supporter of independent community pharmacy, for scheduling the hearing. Here?s one pointed observation she made:
Wednesday, 07.11.07
Bad News Bearers: CMS
Dear Colleague,
I couldn?t sugarcoat it even if I wanted to: the final rule from CMS on AMP is at least as bad as we feared. You can read the CMS ?fact? sheet, a highly selective document to be sure.
I couldn?t sugarcoat it even if I wanted to: the final rule from CMS on AMP is at least as bad as we feared. You can read the CMS ?fact? sheet, a highly selective document to be sure.
Friday, 04.20.07
Influential Lawmakers Question AMP Proposal
Dear Colleague,
One of the most powerful committee chairmen in Congress wants answers from HHS on a proposed rule that would base Medicaid generic drug reimbursements on AMP.
One of the most powerful committee chairmen in Congress wants answers from HHS on a proposed rule that would base Medicaid generic drug reimbursements on AMP.
Friday, 03.16.07
More Congressional Support for AMP Fix
Dear Colleague,
Our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill against the proposed CMS rule on Medicaid AMP has convinced more than 120 representatives and senators so far to support community pharmacy?s concerns.
Our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill against the proposed CMS rule on Medicaid AMP has convinced more than 120 representatives and senators so far to support community pharmacy?s concerns.
Friday, 03.02.07
Congressional Advocates Weigh In on AMP
Dear Colleague,
The head of the House Small Business Committee has told CMS that it has ?insufficiently? followed a federal law that requires regulatory agencies to estimate the impact of proposed rules on small businesses. Rep. Nydia M. Vel?zquez (D-N.Y.) was referring, of course, to the proposed CMS rule on AMP that as written could drive many small independent pharmacies out of Medicaid and even out of business.
The head of the House Small Business Committee has told CMS that it has ?insufficiently? followed a federal law that requires regulatory agencies to estimate the impact of proposed rules on small businesses. Rep. Nydia M. Vel?zquez (D-N.Y.) was referring, of course, to the proposed CMS rule on AMP that as written could drive many small independent pharmacies out of Medicaid and even out of business.
Friday, 02.09.07
Medicaid Participation Survey Results
Dear Colleague,
As part of our continuing efforts to persuade CMS to change course and substitute retail acquisition cost for AMP in its proposed Medicaid reimbursement rule, we held a conference call for ?inside the Beltway? reporters yesterday. (Last week, we had a conference call with state executives, buying groups, and other pharmacy leaders on the dire Medicaid situation.)
As part of our continuing efforts to persuade CMS to change course and substitute retail acquisition cost for AMP in its proposed Medicaid reimbursement rule, we held a conference call for ?inside the Beltway? reporters yesterday. (Last week, we had a conference call with state executives, buying groups, and other pharmacy leaders on the dire Medicaid situation.)
Friday, 02.02.07
Medicaid Lobbying Tools
Dear Colleague,
We had what I believe was a very successful conference call yesterday afternoon with state pharmacy association executives, buying groups, and other pharmacy leaders on Medicaid. We are all on the same page on three critical points:
We had what I believe was a very successful conference call yesterday afternoon with state pharmacy association executives, buying groups, and other pharmacy leaders on Medicaid. We are all on the same page on three critical points:
Friday, 01.26.07
AMP Again Already
Dear Colleague,
Last week, I wrote about community pharmacy being put in an untenable position by CMS through its proposed Medicaid AMP rule. CMS wanted us to prove that we would be hurt by the definition of AMP it proposed, before it would consider any changes. But CMS also declined to provide us with any of the AMPs the drug manufacturers privately report to it, which would enable us to prove that they don?t cover our actual acquisition costs.
Last week, I wrote about community pharmacy being put in an untenable position by CMS through its proposed Medicaid AMP rule. CMS wanted us to prove that we would be hurt by the definition of AMP it proposed, before it would consider any changes. But CMS also declined to provide us with any of the AMPs the drug manufacturers privately report to it, which would enable us to prove that they don?t cover our actual acquisition costs.
Friday, 01.19.07
Comments for CMS on AMP
Dear Colleague,
You?ve already heard a lot from me about Medicaid, generic drugs, and AMP, and you?re going to be in for much more. This is a critical issue for community pharmacy in 2007. As things now stand, Medicaid on July 1 will begin reimbursing for generic drugs with a new FUL under a new definition of AMP. As required by the Deficit Reduction Act, the FUL will be a ceiling of 250% of the AMP for the class of generic drugs at issue.
You?ve already heard a lot from me about Medicaid, generic drugs, and AMP, and you?re going to be in for much more. This is a critical issue for community pharmacy in 2007. As things now stand, Medicaid on July 1 will begin reimbursing for generic drugs with a new FUL under a new definition of AMP. As required by the Deficit Reduction Act, the FUL will be a ceiling of 250% of the AMP for the class of generic drugs at issue.
Friday, 01.05.07
Incentives for Medicaid Generic Dispensing
Dear Colleague,
Community pharmacy?s broadest challenge this year centers on proposed changes in Medicaid generic drug reimbursement policy. This challenge demands a sweeping, nationwide grassroots political response, and we are going to undertake it.
Community pharmacy?s broadest challenge this year centers on proposed changes in Medicaid generic drug reimbursement policy. This challenge demands a sweeping, nationwide grassroots political response, and we are going to undertake it.
Friday, 12.22.06
Proposed Regulation on Medicaid Cuts Issued
Dear Colleague,
As defined by the federal government, AMP might as well stand for ?Ain?t My Price.? CMS has just released its long-anticipated proposed regulation to implement provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act with its perverse logic of targeting of Medicaid generic drug reimbursements for $8.4 billion in cuts.
As defined by the federal government, AMP might as well stand for ?Ain?t My Price.? CMS has just released its long-anticipated proposed regulation to implement provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act with its perverse logic of targeting of Medicaid generic drug reimbursements for $8.4 billion in cuts.
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