NCPA Advocacy Center
NCPA created the Advocacy Center to fight for the nation's 23,000 independent pharmacists and their patients because pharmacists play a vital role in health care. NCPA works on many issues affecting community pharmacy including Health Care Reform, Medicare Part D, Medicare Part B DME accreditation, PBM transparency, stopping mandatory mail order and Medicaid issues.
We work on Capitol Hill and in the courts to defend access to this critical sector of the health care system. We hope you'll learn more about the Advocacy Center and what you can do to get involved. You can make a difference. We have delivered thousands of messages to members of Congress this month, join the growing chorus!
Download the Independent Community Pharmacy Congressional Checklist to see what we are asking Members of Congress to support to strengthen your neighborhood community pharmacy and the patients that they serve.
Issues
Pharmacy Benefit Managers / Mail Order
Pharmacy Benefit Managers, often known simply as "PBMs," are largely unrecognized by most employees—and even by many employers and human resource managers. But they have a tremendous impact on U.S. health care decision-making because they influence more than 80 percent of drug coverage. The information below is intended to summarize controversial PBM practices, provide a record of NCPA's efforts regarding PBMs as well as any bills that have been introduced or any laws that have been passed on a state level regarding their practices. This section also includes information about the ongoing FTC investigation of CVS Caremark.
Don't let the insurance company middlemen inflate costs and reduce the quality of health care. Support Federal and state efforts to regulate PBMs, as well as halt mandatory mail order in its tracks. Model state legislation, a listing of state laws concerning PBMs, a listing of lawsuits involving them and other resources are available for your use.
State Issues
Given the critical role that the individual states have in the implementation of federal healthcare reform and Medicaid expansion, NCPA is expanding its bandwidth and involvement in state legislative and regulatory activity. NCPA state government affairs efforts will be focused on PBM audit reform, MAC generic pricing transparency, Medicaid-related issues and federal healthcare reform implementation (exchanges). In addition, NCPA will be actively supporting efforts to implement and expand pharmacist provider status or securing reimbursement for pharmacist-provided services.
Medicare
Community pharmacies provide cost-saving medication and pharmacy services to millions of Medicare Part B and D patients. Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are making changes to the program all the time. This section lists important changes that community pharmacists should know about and chronicles the NCPA Advocacy Centers efforts to ensure pharmacist can continue serving their patients and getting reimbursed appropriately for their services.
Medicaid
Independent community pharmacies are the backbone of Medicaid’s drug benefit, providing prescription drugs and pharmacy services to Medicaid patients. This section provides important information about NCPA’s efforts on behalf of community pharmacists and patients regarding Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care, Medicaid reimbursement, and other Medicaid issues.
Long-Term Care
NCPA has formed a Long Term Care Pharmacy Division to better meet the needs of the many community pharmacies that serve long term care facilities and other assisted living facilities. These issues include Part D short cycle dispensing as well as “nurse as agent” in the dispensing of controlled substances. An overview of NCPA's Long Term Care Division – 2012 Advocacy Efforts are available for download.
Health Reform
NCPA has been active in assuring that provisions of the new health care reform law are implemented in a manner that is favorable for community pharmacies and our patients. Millions of new individuals will have insurance coverage through Medicaid and state-based insurance exchanges starting in 2014, including prescription drug coverage. New PBM transparency requirements are also required in these exchanges.
Business Issues
Small business legislation and regulation significantly affect community pharmacies. NCPA monitors and takes action on initiatives that would create a more positive business environment for community pharmacies by promoting lower taxes, fewer regulations, and less unnecessary government oversight.
Professional Practice Issues
NCPA works to create a professional practice environment for community pharmacies that allows them to expand their patient care services. We follow issues such as Board of Pharmacy regulations, DEA regulations, FDA guidances, pharmacy accreditation, drug abuse, drug disposal, medication therapy management initiatives, accountable care organizations, and health records interconnectivity.
Take Action
- Contact a Member of CongressSend a letter to your Federal Representatives and Senators, asking them to take a specific action on legislation
- Contact a State LegislatorSend a letter to your state representatives, asking them to take a specific action on legislation
- Current Pharmacy Priority Bills and CosponsorsRead the bills that NCPA is advocating in Congress and see whether your Members of Congress have yet to sign in support
- Host a Pharmacy VisitIf you would like to host a pharmacy visit, you can contact the elected officials' district office and extend an invitation for the official to tour your pharmacy.
- Submit a Letter to the EditorMake your community know about your support for a particular legislator or specific legislation by publishing a "letter to the editor" in your local newspaper
- Congressional Pharmacy CaucusIndependent community pharmacies face enormous challenges in maintaining their economic viability because of unfair standards for PBM audits of pharmacies
- Contribute to the NCPA PACThe NCPA Political Action Committee, NCPAPAC, works to build a "community pharmacy majority" on Capitol Hill by supporting the re-election of our friends and allies in Congress. Thanks to dedicated support from our members, NCPAPAC has grown to be the largest pharmacy organization PAC, and is among the top 40 association PACs nationwide. Only dues-paid NCPA Members may contribute from personal funds only. NCPA Members can contribute to the NCPA PAC, which helps to financially support candidates for Federal office that support the views of community pharmacy.
- Contribute to Legislative/Legal Defense FundThis vital resource is the war chest for our government affairs efforts. The LDF supports grassroots advocacy, outreach, independent research and litigation. NCPA Members and non-members may contribute personal or corporate fundsContribute to the Legislative Defense Fund, which helps to support legal and legislative actions on behalf of community pharmacy. Members and non-members can contribute.
- Fight 4RxHelp engage your patients in the fight for access to products and services from community pharmacies and against mandatory or coerced mail order
- State LegislationState Related Information
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