Almost one-fifth of independent pharmacists say they won't stock drugs in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, and another 67 percent say they also might not participate, according to a new NCPA survey. NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey laid out the survey findings in a letter to Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
"Independent pharmacists want this program to work, and they want to participate," Hoey said in a statement from NCPA. "But the program must be implemented in a way that makes business sense or independent pharmacies won't be able to participate to help make the program successful."
"Almost a third of all Medicare Part D patients get their medicines from independent pharmacies," said Hoey. "If the program is a net liability for independent pharmacies, they won't be able to participate. And if they can't participate, the success of the whole program is in jeopardy. Our letter to CMS outlines common sense recommendations to help assure the success of the program and achieve the objectives of lowering drug costs and optimizing medication effectiveness."
You can read the survey results here.
