NACDS RxIMPACT is calling on its grassroots advocates to ensure that Medicaid preserves access for beneficiaries to important durable medical equipment (DME), including Diabetic Testing Supplies (DTS).
The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation to accelerate the development and delivery of new cures for diseases. To help fund the legislation there a “pay for” to limit Medicaid reimbursement of DME, such as DTS, to the rates paid by Medicare.
Implementing a blanket proposal to reduce payment for Medicaid DME has the potential to disrupt access and also produce poorer health outcomes. For diseases such as diabetes, the impact on patient access as well as on health outcomes, could be significant. We believe that the role of the pharmacist, especially in counseling patients in medication use and their use of DME, is critical and this provision could dramatically affect that relationship.
Maintaining access to DTS at local pharmacies allows Medicaid beneficiaries to access all of the equipment and prescription drugs they need to manage their disease from a single source. The DME provision in H.R 6 would dramatically impact this critical access. Join us and make an NACDS RxIMPACT by reminding your elected officials about your opposition to this misguided policy.
NACDS RxIMPACT urged advocates to visit its website to generate a personalized email letter to Congress.
