NACDS praises pharmacy dispensing fee decision

ALEXANDRIA, Va. An organization representing the country’s retail pharmacy chains hailed a recent decision to increase pharmacy dispensing fees as a “victory for patient care in Texas.”

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores praised the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ approval of the Texas State Plan Amendment to increase the pharmacy dispensing fee from $5.14 to $7.50, effective this month.

“Following more than three years of collective efforts by NACDS and our state partners, CMS’ approval of the increased dispensing fee is a huge victory for patient care in pharmacies,” NACDS president and CEO Steven Anderson said in a statement. “NACDS emphasizes that there are two types of costs in providing prescriptions: the costs of the medications themselves and the diverse and substantial costs of dispensing them.”

Anderson said that inadequate dispensing fees mean that pharmacies must dispense medications to Medicaid patients at a loss.

“The increase in the dispensing fee in Texas, and its approval by CMS, is vital for patient care,” Anderson said. “Pharmacies are the face of neighborhood health care and are vital to improving patient care and the challenges facing the healthcare delivery system.”

On Monday, NACDS CEO Anderson sent a letter to CMS to thank them for the State Plan Amendment approval and that the organization "looks forward to continuing to work with CMS on pharmacy related matters affecting Medicaid and Medicare patients.  We remain committed to serving as a resource for the agency and welcome the opportunity to provide input on the important healthcare services offered at chain pharmacies across the country."