NCPA’s Month of Action officially kicked off this week as Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), a member of the important House Ways and Means Committee and a lead sponsor of the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (H.R. 3164, formerly ECAPS), visited Dave’s Pharmacy in Hemingford, Neb. Owner Dave Randolph spoke to Smith about the bill and also pressed him on both of the Pharmacists Fight Back bills (H.R. 6609 and H.R. 6610), and the need for an audit of the Tricare pharmacy program.
Since PBM reforms to Medicare Part D were enacted earlier this year, including requirements that CMS define and enforce reasonable and relevant contract terms, Congress has continued to focus on PBMs. Just last week, NCPA’s desired Tricare audit language was included in the National Defense Authorization Act that passed the House of Representatives, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee advanced H.R. 6610, the Pharmacists Fight Back Act.
Your continued engagement is necessary to ensure additional PBM reforms pass this Congress. Turn the upcoming congressional recess periods into results by hosting your legislators for a pharmacy visit! Face-to-face meetings are the most impactful way to convey the urgency of enacting additional legislative measures this year. Legislators are scheduled to be away from Washington for extended periods from July 24–Aug. 30, and then again from Oct. 2–Nov. 8. These are great opportunities to host members of Congress or their key staff for a visit to your pharmacy.
Click here for resources on NCPA’s Months of Action outreach initiative. You can also let us know of your interest in participating by completing this interest form or by emailing Michael Rule at mrule@ncpa.org. Keep the pressure on Congress to continue to hold PBMs accountable!
