DIR fees tops list of legislative concerns among independents
DIR fees remains the top legislative or regulatory thorn in the side of community pharmacists, according to the fourth annual survey of National Community Pharmacists Association members.
"NCPA's annual survey of independent community pharmacies helps focus our advocacy efforts, which take on more urgency with a new Congress and president taking office," Douglas Hoey, NCPA CEO, said. "This year's top priorities are tied to the questionable business practices of lightly-regulated PBM corporations. Complaints about DIR fees have skyrocketed, so it is not surprising that reining in PBM clawbacks would top the list. The second and third highest ranked priorities are long-standing, PBM-generated challenges—the lack of transparency with generic prescription drug reimbursements and Medicare Part D's ‘preferred pharmacy' plans that prevent independent community pharmacy patients from having access to discounted copays."
NCPA also is equally focused on the changed political landscape and potentially dramatic changes in health care, Hoey said. "As a result, we will make sure the voice of independent community pharmacies is heard. Our main objective is always to maintain patient access to prescription drug services at community pharmacies and continue pushing for pharmacists to be fully utilized as clinically-trained medication experts who improve health outcomes while reducing costs."
"NCPA's annual survey of independent community pharmacies helps focus our advocacy efforts, which take on more urgency with a new Congress and president taking office," Douglas Hoey, NCPA CEO, said. "This year's top priorities are tied to the questionable business practices of lightly-regulated PBM corporations. Complaints about DIR fees have skyrocketed, so it is not surprising that reining in PBM clawbacks would top the list. The second and third highest ranked priorities are long-standing, PBM-generated challenges—the lack of transparency with generic prescription drug reimbursements and Medicare Part D's ‘preferred pharmacy' plans that prevent independent community pharmacy patients from having access to discounted copays."
NCPA also is equally focused on the changed political landscape and potentially dramatic changes in health care, Hoey said. "As a result, we will make sure the voice of independent community pharmacies is heard. Our main objective is always to maintain patient access to prescription drug services at community pharmacies and continue pushing for pharmacists to be fully utilized as clinically-trained medication experts who improve health outcomes while reducing costs."