A national coalition of pharmacy groups, including NCPA, welcomed a request for information from CMS regarding pharmacy benefit reforms required by landmark legislation passed earlier this year in a statement, saying that through its detailed questions, the agency had “demonstrated its commitment to building a robust factual record and developing workable, transparent, and enforceable standards.”
The full statement reads:
“Our organizations welcome CMS’s release of a thoughtful and comprehensive Request for Information (RFI) to inform the development and implementation of standards for reasonable and relevant Medicare Part D pharmacy contract terms and conditions. The RFI represents an important step toward translating Congress’s bipartisan reforms into meaningful protections for pharmacies and Medicare beneficiaries. Through detailed questions addressing the contracting practices and operational issues that matter most to pharmacies and the patients they serve, CMS has demonstrated its commitment to building a robust factual record and developing workable, transparent, and enforceable standards.
We commend CMS for engaging constructively with stakeholders throughout this process and look forward to providing a comprehensive response to the RFI. Our coalition remains committed to working collaboratively with CMS to ensure these reforms strengthen pharmacy access and choice for Medicare beneficiaries.”
The pharmacy groups include NCPA, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, FMI — The Food Industry Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy.
Stay tuned for recommended language from NCPA that you can use when drafting your comments.
You can read our previous coverage of the RFI here.
