Kinney Drugs’ Post

Kudos to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Drug Price Negotiation Program team for updates to their process for IPAY 2027 - it looks like they’ve heard from stakeholders and rather than those “patient listening sessions” they are going to develop much better patient-focused sessions, such as round table sessions or focus groups. I think this revised approach will be much more effective at both engaging patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups AND it will provide CMS with more useful insights for their negotiation efforts! Full May 3rd Guidance below: https://lnkd.in/gM5t9avc

While states grapple with the complexities of Medicaid unwinding, a growing number are taking steps to expand coverage. From North Carolina's historic Medicaid expansion to Oregon's innovative approach for adults without children, these efforts are making a significant impact. Key highlights: - Increased Medicaid eligibility in several states - Expanded coverage for pregnant women, children, and incarcerated individuals - Lessons learned from the Medicaid unwinding process informing future policies Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02LY4V10

Ever wondered about the impact of new drug pricing policies on long-term care pharmacies? 🤔 Here's a glimpse into a pressing issue affecting millions of Americans. 🔍 **Insights:** - America’s LTC pharmacies are starting Save Senior Rx Care 🇺🇸 - Urging Congress to safeguard access to crucial medications and services - New drug pricing policies could have unintended, harmful effects - Focus on protecting vulnerable patients in long-term care facilities (These pharmacies are true heroes! 🦸♂️) In a time where healthcare is paramount, it's eye-opening to see how policy changes can ripple through our most essential services. Ensuring our seniors have uninterrupted access to their medications is vital for their well-being. Let's stay informed and advocate for those who need it most. 💬 How can we support initiatives like Save Senior Rx Care in our communities? #HealthcareAdvocacy #SeniorCareMatters 🌟 https://lnkd.in/d9VvPQEc

This evening, all of us will be graced with August's rare super blue moon. However, the Alliance for Aging Research was graced with a blue moon late last week, when the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)’s President and CEO, Sarah Emond, shared our concerns about whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will truly protect #Medicare beneficiaries against #PBM and payer UM tactics in upcoming Part D formularies. Here is what she said in her 8/16 STAT opinion: "As our attention now turns to implementation, we must ensure that there are no unintended consequences for patients, especially related to the choices health plans and pharmacy benefit managers will make regarding the formulary placement of the negotiated drugs. Price transparency has a dark underbelly — it exposes the sometimes-distortive impact of rebates on patient access. Now that health plans providing prescription drug coverage for seniors will no longer get rebates from the negotiated drugs, they may move those drugs to unfavorable tiers on their formulary. It is incumbent upon CMS to ensure that patient access to these drugs isn’t hampered by such actions. If the entire point of the Drug Price Negotiation Program was to ensure more affordable access to prescription drugs, CMS must be diligent about ensuring that is truly the case.” The Alliance has been raising these concerns since CMS Listening Sessions last fall and in two briefings with The Hill: 1) 12/13/23 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation, How to Ensure Access & Equity: https://lnkd.in/eJzWWE-v 2) 6/26/24 Medicare & Drug Pricing: Time to Think Differently: https://lnkd.in/efCv4K5v A June report from the Alliance for Aging Research and Manatt Health argues CMS has tools at its disposal to address unintended issues: ➡ Press release: https://lnkd.in/eKTVA_QT ➡ Full Report: "Patient Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act: Administrative Options to Address Changed Incentives for Formulary and Utilization Management" at https://lnkd.in/ey3wkE89 The experts at Manatt and Alliance’s public policy manager, Adina Lasser, argue that CMS could: 💡 Set general minimum standards for plans participating in Part D, including regulating which drugs are put on plans’ specialty tiers and improving the beneficiary appeals process. 💡 Disapprove plan designs that discourage beneficiary enrollment. 💡 The agency can also require adequate coverage for drugs needed by beneficiaries and has the power to regulate which drugs are put on a plan’s specialty tier. CMS has actuarial equivalence, or the power to ensure plans offer a benefit equal or better than the defined standard benefit. The next seasonal blue moon is expected in May 2027. Here's hoping it won't be that long before we're on the same page again. For now, we're enjoying the view! 🌕 #IRA #healthequity #BlueMoon

copied from NCPA email--- reply to the New York Times Article on PBMs NYT PBM probe underscores purpose of NCPA's public advocacy campaign NCPA and independent pharmacy allies across the country have spent years working to educate policymakers, the public, members of the press and others about PBMs and their role in increasing prescription drug prices and limiting access to care. Today, we're applauding a win: a big New York Times story that dives deep into these critical issues. We worked with the reporters for the investigation over many months and know that several NCPA members have too. Thank you to those who participated. NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey says the story, which the Times notes is "the first article in a series about how pharmacy benefit managers prioritize their interests, often at the expense of patients, employers and taxpayers," complements NCPA's ongoing "Finish the Fight" national campaign aimed at getting PBM reform across the finish line and reining in the super-predators inflicting so much harm. Hoey says, "This story is hitting at a critical time, with Congress sitting on reforms as PBM practices are leading to the closure of pharmacies every day and pushing even more independent pharmacy owners and patients ever closer to a breaking point. NCPA's 'Finish the Fight' campaign is about pushing policymakers to finish doing their job; anyone questioning why this is so critical should read this story and let their members of Congress know in no uncertain terms that the status quo is unacceptable. Reporters Rebecca Robbins and Reed Abelson have put together one of the best and most thorough pieces I have read as far as clearly and plainly describing how PBMs increase drug costs and hurt competition. We stand ready to keep assisting with this work as it proceeds and until the fight is finished." ### To unsubscribe from promotional emails and surveys but continue to receive important updates about community pharmacy issues, click here to manage your subscription preferences. To unsubscribe from all NCPA emails, including alerts on developments impacting community pharmacies, click here.

Ever wondered about the impact of new drug pricing policies on long-term care pharmacies? 🤔 Here's a glimpse into a pressing issue affecting millions of Americans. 🔍 **Insights:** - America’s LTC pharmacies are starting Save Senior Rx Care 🇺🇸 - Urging Congress to safeguard access to crucial medications and services - New drug pricing policies could have unintended, harmful effects - Focus on protecting vulnerable patients in long-term care facilities (These pharmacies are true heroes! 🦸♂️) In a time where healthcare is paramount, it's eye-opening to see how policy changes can ripple through our most essential services. Ensuring our seniors have uninterrupted access to their medications is vital for their well-being. Let's stay informed and advocate for those who need it most. 💬 How can we support initiatives like Save Senior Rx Care in our communities? #HealthcareAdvocacy #SeniorCareMatters 🌟 https://lnkd.in/d9VvPQEc

Congress is Knocking on 340B's Door, Saying "Show Me the Money" 💵 Many members of society are adversely affected by inequalities stemming from diverse circumstances and socio-economic realities. Disparities in public health result from those inequalities. Policy is one avenue for improving the health of those in need. One policy response by Congress was the creation of the 340B Drug Pricing Program as part of the bipartisan Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992. The 340B program allows qualifying safety-net providers and qualifying hospitals, otherwise known as covered entities, to purchase prescription drugs at significantly discounted prices from manufacturers and re-invest those dollars in expanding access to care and treatment. A growing chorus is concerned that the legislative intent of the program is being obfuscated by large hospital systems and mega service providers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNSpZkMP

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), FMI- The Food Industry Association, the National Grocers Association, the American Pharmacists Association, and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) urge Congress to capitalize on the bipartisan work during the 118th Congress and finish the job on #PBMreform in Medicare and Medicaid. We urge Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to not delay these crucial reforms that help pharmacists and pharmacies serve patients and communities nationwide. https://lnkd.in/e6HK9AaY

Congress tries to help rural communities, then greedy hospitals and pharmacies undermine rural programs. Perhaps the complexities of our healthcare system creates smokescreens for abusers? How does the 340B Drug Pricing Program coordinate with the Inflation Reduction Act to achieve lower prices for seniors? Has this program coordinated with Medicare Part D in the past? #medicarepartd #seniors #drugdiscount #340bdrugpricingprogram #drugsavings https://lnkd.in/g9uE-eh2

If you want to learn more about how to engage in state-based advocacy affecting access to #medications, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn more. States across the country are creating #prescriptiondrug affordability boards that will impact how care is accessed. Too often, they rely on discriminatory measures of value assessment such as quality-adjusted life years (#QALYs) or the equal value of life year gained (#evLYG) that are known to devalue disabled lives. The Patient Inclusion Council is working to ensure that #patients and people with #disabilities are engaged in state legislatures considering the creation of new boards and commissions and to bring their voices to the implementation of those already created, even where these boards are not required to listen to their real-world perspectives. Join the Patient Inclusion Council’s patient-led webinar “Intro to Prescription Drug Affordability Boards” on March 13 at 6:30 ET/3:30 PT to learn how these boards are empowered to make decisions about your healthcare. Register Here: https://bit.ly/PICMtgMarch