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WASHINGTON – Nationwide Affiliation of Chain Drug Shops (NACDS) member representatives assembled in Washington, D.C. this week — February 28-March 1 — to speak about the way forward for sufferers’ entry to trusted pharmacies.
“We're extraordinarily appreciative of the NACDS membership’s engagement at this important time for the business and for the Individuals it serves,” stated NACDS President and CEO Steven Anderson. “Pharmacy continues to have a seat on the policymaking desk, advocating for options to bipartisan points that straight influence sufferers and shoppers in neighborhoods nationwide. NACDS thanks members of Congress and their workers for his or her engagement.
“We stay up for persevering with work with leaders in Congress to attain complete pharmacy profit supervisor (PBM) reform – and to make sure this job will get accomplished and accomplished utterly for the American individuals. We additionally will proceed to induce passage and enactment of the Equitable Neighborhood Entry to Pharmacist Companies Act on this Congress – which can assist keep entry to pharmacist providers on which Individuals have come to rely.”
On February 28, the NACDS Board of Administrators met with members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Home of Representatives to debate pro-patient, pro-pharmacy priorities. Particularly, NACDS Board Members urged Congress to ship on the bipartisan assist for PBM reform; for complete direct and oblique remuneration (DIR) payment reform; and for sufferers’ continued entry to pharmacy-based providers past the COVID-19 pandemic.
- NACDS emphasised the necessity to tackle all features of the Affiliation’s Rules of PBM Reform. That is necessary to handle “pharmaceutical profit manipulation” that will increase sufferers’ drug prices, restricts sufferers’ entry to pharmacies and to medicines, and jeopardizes the viability of pharmacies.
- As one particular side of PBM reform, NACDS famous the 107,400% development in DIR charges over one decade’s time – and the necessity to reverse this unsustainable scenario.
- Relating to sufferers’ entry to particular providers, NACDS urged passage and enactment of the Equitable Neighborhood Entry to Pharmacist Companies Act when it's reintroduced on this Congress – to assist forestall a roll-back of availability of pharmacist-provided vaccinations, testing, and remedy.
Moreover, members of the NACDS Board of Administrators mentioned the crucial want for complete DIR payment reform — and the significance of sustaining sufferers’ entry to pharmacy-based care — in a February 28 assembly with Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies (CMS) Administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
On March 1, NACDS-member retailer representatives serving on NACDS’ Coverage Council additionally visited Capitol Hill to inform pharmacy’s story and to induce Congressional motion on these crucial points affecting the viability of pharmacies and the sufferers who depend on them.
NACDS stated it appears ahead to welcoming lots of of advocates from throughout the nation as a part of the soon-to-be-announced 2024 NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill occasion, a strong flagship of the NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program.
U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) with members of the NACDS Board of Administrators and NACDS workers throughout a NACDS fly-in occasion on February 28 | Photograph Credit score: Think about Images
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