NACDS Continues Push to Implement TRICARE Pilot Program
NACDS continues to advocate for the TRICARE Acquisition Cost Parity Pilot Program for Retail Pharmacy, which would reduce costs while also improving TRICARE patient access.
NACDS Thanks 67 House Members for Pushing TRICARE Pilot Congressional letter urges Defense Department to implement program to reduce costs; improve patient outcomes and access to prescription medications
NACDS is thanking the 67 members of the House of Representatives who sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis calling for implementation of the TRICARE Acquisition Cost Parity Pilot Program for Retail Pharmacy.
The Cost of Medication Non-Adherence
The New York Times reported this week on an “out of control epidemic” in the U.S. that costs more and affects more people in the U.S. than any disease Americans are concerned about right now—and it is 100 percent preventable. The culprit? Medication non-adherence. A review in the Annals of Internal Medicine estimates that a lack of adherence causes nearly 125,000 deaths, 10 percent of hospitalizations and costs the already strained healthcare system between $100–$289 billion a year.
The article points to findings from studies NACDS has often referenced in advocacy efforts to improve medication adherence—including that 20–30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled and approximately 50 percent of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed.
Significantly, the study authors found the strongest evidence yet that improved medication adherence was accompanied by pharmacist-led high blood pressure management. In addition, the study showed that “education with behavioral support; reminders; and pharmacist-led, multicomponent interventions enhanced adherence…”
NACDS continues to advocate for issues that support pharmacist-provided services that improve medication adherence. Most recently, NACDS and the National Community Pharmacists Association urged Congress not to increase TRICARE beneficiary copayments, which unfairly penalize TRICARE beneficiaries who prefer to use local pharmacies.
NACDS and NCPA noted that restricting beneficiary access and raising copay amounts can have the unintended effect of reducing medication adherence. The organizations instead urged Congress to support the implementation of the “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program,” which was included in the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act and has the potential to reduce costs while also restoring TRICARE patient access to medications and services from their neighborhood pharmacies.
NACDS, NCPA Urge Congress to Ensure Patient Access, Pharmacy Choice in TRICARE in 2018 Defense Bill Increased copays for TRICARE patients place undue financial burdens and impede access to care for military families and veterans
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) this week urged Congress to maintain access to care for military families and veterans as the legislative process begins for the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In a letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership that urged no further pharmacy copayment increases, NACDS and NCPA emphasized that TRICARE beneficiaries—especially veterans and families of active duty military—“are concerned about being able to access the services they need.”
“Copay increases place even greater financial burdens on TRICARE beneficiaries and unfairly penalize TRICARE beneficiaries who prefer to use local pharmacies,” NACDS and NCPA wrote. “Additionally, restricting beneficiary access and raising copay amounts can have the unintended effect of reducing medication adherence, resulting in decreased health outcomes and increased use of more costly medical interventions, such as physician and emergency room visits and hospitalizations. These additional costs are often shifted to other federal programs.”
NACDS and NCPA pointed to a report by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission that strongly recommended policies that support patient choice and access. The organizations stated that when the Congressional Budget Office reviewed proposals for copay increases in prior Congresses, it concluded that the move would “result in an increase of over $1 billion in other federal spending for medical services, particularly in Medicare.”
NACDS and NCPA have remained highly engaged in efforts over the years to preserve pharmacy access and choice for TRICARE patients. In this week’s letter, the organizations urged Congress, as it considers policies to control Department of Defense spending, to avoid policies like copayment increases and instead support the implementation of the “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program.” The pilot program was included in the FY2017 NDAA and has the potential to reduce costs while also restoring TRICARE patient access to medications and services from their neighborhood pharmacies.
NACDS RxIMPACT Keeps Advocacy Momentum Going
As promised, NACDS is harnessing the energy generated in advance of NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill and turning it into meaningful, effective advocacy efforts. Though the winter storm, flight cancellations and congressional schedule changes forced the cancellation of the Washington, D.C. event, NACDS RxIMPACT immediately started its work to translate congressional meetings scheduled for last week’s advocacy event into in-district opportunities for NACDS RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill participants when House and Senate members return home for recess in April.
Building on its largest letter writing campaign ever—5,000 and counting—to build support for federal provider status legislation (HR592/S109), NACDS RxIMPACT asked advocates again this week to write their representatives letting them know that as they work to reform the Affordable Care Act, pharmacy services in Medicaid and Medicare should be protected to ensure beneficiary access to quality and lower-cost care. In the first 24 hours of the campaign, advocates generated 1,031 letters to 236 members of Congress.
NACDS RxIMPACT also urged advocates in New York, Oklahoma, and Texas to promote pharmacy’s priorities and called on all NACDS member companies to advance a TRICARE pilot program to increase patient access and reduce costs.
- In New York, NACDS RxIMPACT rallied advocates to once again send 1,000 letters thanking House and Senate legislators for rejecting proposed Medicaid cuts in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D-NY) FY2017-18 budget, and urging them to stand by that position as the conference committee finalizes a compromise plan.
- In Oklahoma, NACDS RxIMPACT encouraged advocates to build Senate support for the unanimously House-approved HB 1824 by Representative Chris Kannady, which would allow patients to synchronize the fill date of their prescription medications so that they could order and receive all of their prescriptions on the same day each month instead of having to make multiple visits to the pharmacy.
- In Texas, NACDS RxIMPACT urged support for Senate Bill 2042, introduced by state Sen. Judith Zaffarini, which would give parents the option to have their children aged seven years and older receive additional vaccines from a certified pharmacist without [ READ MORE ]
On HHS Nominee Price’s Healthcare Principles, Pharmacy Makes a Powerful Case
During his Senate confirmation hearing this week and since being nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services, U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) has focused on six principles of healthcare reform: affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, responsiveness, choices. In fact, Rep. Price has focused on those principles for some time – he described them in an op-ed column in The Hill back in 2013 and likely many times before that during his Congressional and medical careers.
Importantly, pharmacy’s contributions to healthcare affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, responsiveness and choices are highly regarded among Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
To be sure, these terms are cited frequently across party lines. The real debate exists in the details of how these principles are best achieved. I cannot help but note at this pivotal time in our nation’s healthcare policy skirmishes that pharmacy makes a powerful case for its role in advancing all of these principles. Consider the following:
Affordability: In a national survey commissioned by NACDS, 65 percent of respondents said pharmacists are credible information sources on opportunities to save money.
Accessibility: Nearly all Americans (91%) live within five miles of a community pharmacy.
Quality: In a national survey commissioned by NACDS, more than seven-in-ten respondents who are considered heavy users of pharmacy services reported favorable opinions of pharmacies – which is a very strong rating in comparison with other segments of healthcare delivery.
Innovation: NACDS’ training program to advance pharmacy-based pharmacogenomics – a form of personalized medicine that involves using genetic data to ensure medications are used in a safe and effective manner – presents but one example of the industry’s commitment to innovation.
Responsiveness: NACDS’ training program to advance pharmacy-based point-of-care testing for flu, strep and other acute and chronic conditions reflects pharmacy’s ability to improve options available to patients regarding the manner and environment in which they are treated.
Choices: NACDS advocates strongly for patient choice, and an example of this is maintaining a co-payment structure that secures military families’ and veterans’ ability to choose community pharmacies over mail order as the source for their medications. The Congressional Budget Office has found that higher copayments “cause some chronically ill beneficiaries to stop taking their medications, resulting in more [ READ MORE ]
President Obama Signs Law Including NACDS-Backed TRICARE Provisions; Focus Turns to Implementation of Pilot
With President Obama’s signature, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 became law on December 23, 2016.
Urging implementation will require a significant advocacy push, similar to that which resulted in the authorization of the pilot in the new law.
The law includes the NACDS-supported “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program.” If implemented as intended, the pilot could provide military families and veterans with the choice of how they get their medications and will also lower program costs.
The law also includes no new copayment increases, which also is in the interest of pharmacy choice and access for beneficiaries. Copayment increases had been requested by the Administration and were included in the Senate’s version of the legislation, but were omitted from the final House-Senate negotiated bill.
When details of the final legislation were announced on December 2, 2016, NACDS said, “This is a great day for the TRICARE program and for the military families and veterans who rely on their local pharmacies.”
NACDS now is reaching out to the Department of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget to urge implementation of the important pilot program. Urging implementation will require a significant advocacy push, similar to that which resulted in the authorization of the pilot in the new law.
NACDS Praises TRICARE Pharmacy Pilot in Final Defense Bill Bill also includes no new copayment increases
Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today expressed appreciation to Congressional leaders for advancing the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes the NACDS-supported “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program.” The pilot will provide military families and veterans with the choice of how they get their medications and will also lower program costs. Importantly, the final bill also includes no new copayment increases, which also is in the interest of pharmacy choice and access for beneficiaries – which leads to enhanced health and well-being.
This is a great day for the TRICARE program and for the military families and veterans who rely on their local pharmacies.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the final NDAA today – as negotiated between the House and Senate. Senate action is anticipated soon.
“This is a great day for the TRICARE program and for the military families and veterans who rely on their local pharmacies. This pilot program will allow the Department of Defense to access lower pricing for prescriptions dispensed at community pharmacies. Simply put, it will improve beneficiary access to medications and reduce costs,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.
“NACDS appreciates the leadership of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI), on this important issue. Also, we want to thank House Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Joseph Heck (R-NV) and Ranking Member Susan Davis (D-CA) and Senate Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
“NACDS recognizes the 37 House members who elevated this issue of the pilot program when the House and Senate negotiators were finalizing the NDAA. Rep. Earl L. ‘Buddy’ Carter (R-GA), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) led the effort to send a letter to the negotiators at that pivotal time.
“We also commend the House and Senate negotiators’ important action in making no additional copayment increases, which is highly consistent with fostering the health and well-being of our military families and veterans.”
In the Congressional letter that Anderson [ READ MORE ]
House Members Urge Enactment of TRICARE Pilot Urge pilot’s power to “lower overall administrative fees, preserve beneficiary choice and allow access to valuable in-person consultations”
Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is thanking 37 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have sent a letter to House and Senate negotiators, urging them to advance an important TRICARE pilot program as part of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
NACDS appreciates the work of Congressman Dave Loebsack, Congressman Buddy Carter and Congressman Peter Welch to advance this important pilot program.
U.S. Reps. Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) led the effort on this letter, which was sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees – those who are heading the effort to work out differences between the two chambers’ versions of the NDAA.
Contained in the House’s version of the bill, the “Pilot Program for Prescription Drug Acquisition Cost Parity in the TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program” would provide military families and veterans with the choice of how they get their medications and also would lower program costs.
“NACDS appreciates the work of Congressman Dave Loebsack, Congressman Buddy Carter and Congressman Peter Welch to advance this important pilot program,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “This pilot has the potential to preserve the choice of military families and veterans, to reduce Defense Department costs, and to boost patient health by maintaining access to the pharmacist-patient relationship.”
The pilot program in effect would allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to access lower pricing for prescriptions dispensed at community pharmacies.
“TRICARE beneficiaries have seen a number of changes to their prescription drug plan over the last few years, including brand name maintenance medications being dispensed via mail order or at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) and increased prescription copayments. These changes have not only impacted beneficiary access and health, but have also resulted in shifting health care costs to the Medicare program,” the House members wrote.
“The pilot program … is a sensible approach to maintaining beneficiary choice and access while at the same time lowering [DoD] costs. Currently, the DoD is able to purchase medications that are dispensed through mail order and [MTFs] at a much lower costs than for drugs dispensed [ READ MORE ]
NACDS, NCPA Maintain Push for Pharmacy Choice in TRICARE Increased copays could result in an increase of more than $1 billion in federal spending for medical services, including Medicare
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) remain vigilant in communicating with Congress on not increasing TRICARE pharmacy copayments. In a letter this week to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, NACDS and NCPA reiterated concerns about the impact copay increases could have on TRICARE beneficiaries.
As House and Senate negotiators work to resolve differences in their chambers’ versions of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), NACDS and NCPA said in their letter that when the Congressional Budget Office reviewed the Senate version of the FY2016 NDAA, it found that “copay increases would result in an increase of over $1 billion in federal spending for medical services, particularly in Medicare.” In addition, the letter stated that the proposed copay increases in the Senate version of the FY2017 NDAA “would double, and in some cases nearly triple, the amount of money a TRICARE beneficiary would be required to pay out-of-pocket to get their prescriptions filled.”
NACDS and NCPA urged the conferees to protect TRICARE beneficiary access to prescription medications by adopting the House position, which does not include an increase in pharmacy copayments.
NACDS and NCPA noted in the letter that TRICARE patients are already worried about gaining access to the services they need, and cited a report from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission that emphasized how important it is for TRICARE beneficiaries to have choice and access to care, and recommended policies that would engender access to those essential parts of the military healthcare system.
In the letter, NACDS and NCPA pointed out that copay increases put greater burdens on TRICARE patients and “unfairly penalize TRICARE beneficiaries who prefer to use local pharmacies.” The increases also carry unintended consequences, which occur when patients do not adhere to their medication regimen. A lack of medication adherence can have negative effects on healthcare outcomes and cause an increase in more expensive medical options, such as emergency room visits and trips to the doctor’s office.
NACDS and NCPA underscored the critical need to ensure patients have uninterrupted choice and [ READ MORE ]
