National Community Pharmacists Association

Legislative and Government Affairs

Political advocacy is the number one reason community pharmacists join NCPA.
The professional political staff of the NCPA Government Affairs Department works to ensure that community pharmacists are well-represented in the legislative and regulatory processes.
 

 Medicare |AMP | DME | IIAS Rule | Health Care Reform
Business Negotiations | Prompt Pay | TRICARE | Tamper-Resistant Pads
  CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PHARMACY COALITION
  • Fact Sheet about the Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition PDF (32k)
     
  • Membership Roster for the Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition PDF (61k)
     
  • Congressional Community Pharmacy Coalition press call on Sept. 27, 2007 to discuss the formation and agenda with the group's co-chairs, Reps. Marion Berry (D-Ark.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) WAV (7M)
     
  FEDERAL ISSUES

Health Care Reform

  • "Call to Action" from Sen. Baucus (D-Mont.) PDF (3M)
  • Letter from Rep. Dingell (D-Mich) to President-elect Obama PDF (130k)
  • Letter from Rep. Stark (D-Calif) on health care agenda for the 111th Congress PDF (127k)
  • Letter from President-elect Obama to NCPA PDF (194k)
Candidates who have been strong advocates for community pharmacy.

IIAS Rule

Medicare

  • Final Summary of H.R.6331 (Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008) PDF (121k)
     
  • On July 15, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (ET), the U.S. Senate Veto Override vote for H.R.6331 was 70 to 26 (Record Vote #177).
     
  • On July 15, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (ET), the U.S. House of Representatives Veto Override vote for H.R.6331 was 383 to 41 (Roll Call Vote #491).
     
  • On July 9, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (ET), the U.S. Senate 2nd Cloture Motion for H.R.6331 was 69 to 30 (Record Vote #169).
     
  • On June 26, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (ET), the U.S. Senate Cloture Motion for H.R.6331 was 58 to 40 (Record Vote #160).
     
  • On June 24, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (ET), the U.S. House of Representatives Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass the Bill for H.R.6331 was 355 to 59 (Roll Call Vote #443).
     
  • On June 24, 2008, U.S. House of Representatives votes YES on H.R.6331 (Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008), in support of community pharmacy's positions on DME, AMP and Prompt Pay. Click here to see the list. PDF (60k)

Medicaid Reimbursement—Fixing Average Manufacturer Price

    AMP Press Releases:

    • Press Release: Sens. Baucus, Lincoln, Salazar, Roberts, Cochran, Smith, Lott, and Lieberman Introduce Bill to Fix Disastrous Medicaid Generic Drugs Reimbursement Rule
       
    • Press Release: Reps. Boyda, Emerson and 30 House Members Introduce Common-Sense Fixes to Medicaid Pharmacy Reimbursement Rule
    AMP Audio Visuals:

    • Patient Video: Government program restricts patient access to health care. What this means to you and what you can do about it.
       
    • Pharmacy Video: Government program restricts patient access to health care by putting providers out of business. What this means to you and what you can do about it.
       
    • Roll Call Ad: "36% below cost: It just doesn't add up for community pharmacy" Sept. 27, 2007 PDF (690k)
       
    • Roll Call Ad: "How Will These Kids Get Their Medicines?" Sept. 5, 2007 PDF (811k)
       
    • Telephone News Conference with Reps. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) to discuss the introduction of the Saving Our Community Pharmacies Act of 2007 WAV (10M)
       
    • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Medicaid Pharmacy Reimbursement Conference Call, July 11, 2007 WAV (15M)


Negotiation Rights for Independent Community Pharmacies

    Negotiation Rights Press Releases:

    • Press Release: Senators Isakson, Johnson and Graham Introduce Bill Establishing Contract Fairness for Community Pharmacies and Their Patients
       
    • Press Release: Community Pharmacy Fairness Act Introduced in House Bill Would Eliminate Take-It-Or-Leave-It Contracts
       
    • Press Release: Give Community Pharmacies a Seat at the Bargaining Table


Prompt Payment of Medicare Part D Claims

  • Prompt Payment for Part D plans starting on or after January 1, 2010 is included in H.R.6331, which is not Public Law 100-275 (see summary).
     
  • H.R.1474 Bill Co-Sponsors
     
  • S.1954 Bill Co-Sponsors
     
  • Letter from NFIB requesting that Sens. Baucus and Grassley include additional prompt pay language from S. 1954 when working on a Medicare package PDF (404k)
     
  • Letter discussing FAST act budget reconciliation PDF (719k)
     
  • Letter from NFIB to Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer requesting support of H.R. 1474, Dec. 13, 2007 PDF (390k)
     
  • Prompt Pay Fact Sheet: H.R.1474 & S.1954: Medicare Part D Prompt Pay
     
  • Roll Call Ad: "Thank You!" from NCPA to the 224 House sponsors for H.R.1474, The Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Claims Act of 2007, and the 23 Senate sponsors of S.1954, The Pharmacy Access Improvement Act, Oct. 31, 2007 PDF (252k)
     
  • H.R.1474: Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act. Introduced by Reps. Marion Berry (D-Ark.), Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), this bill is aimed at making common-sense improvements to the Medicare Part D prescription drug program by requiring pharmacy compensation from Part D prescription drug plans to occur within a reasonable timeframe and by eliminating plans’ confusing marketing practices that often mislead Medicare patients. PDF (46k)
     
  • Prompt Payment and Medicare Part D: The Facts PDF (26k)
     
  • Letter from Reps. Walter Jones and Marion Berry to Chairman Pete Stark about the University of Texas study PDF (62k)
     
  • Conference Call: On Sept. 9, 2007, Reps. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) discuss H.R.1474 and the University of Texas study on Medicare Part D payment delays. WAV (12M)
     
  • Conference Call: Prompt Payment and Medicare Part D, June 13, 2007 WAV (9M)
     
  • Press Release: Sens. Baucus And Grassley Introduce Bill Fixing Flaws In Medicare Part D Program


Tamper-Resistant Prescription Pads

On October 1, 2008, in order for pharmacists to be reimbursed for Medicaid outpatient prescription drugs, all written, non electronic prescriptions must contain at least three tamper resistant features. (On April 1, 2008, prescription pads had to include only one requirement.) The prescription must contain at least one feature from each of the three categories of characteristics:

  1. one of more industry-recognized features designed to prevent unauthorized copying of completed or blank prescription form; and
  2. one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription pad by the prescriber; and
  3. one or more industry-recognized features designed to prevent the use of counterfeit prescription forms.

NCPA has worked with other organizations to develop information to assist you as you determine if a prescription meets these additional requirements.


TRICARE

  • Factsheet entitled "Defense Authorization Act TRICARE Provisions" PDF (86k)
     
  • Press Release entitled "NCPA Applauds Pharmacy Tricare Provisions in the Congressional Passage of the Defense Authorization Bill" (Dec. 17, 2007)


  DME
DMEPOS and Diabetes Supplies
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