Latest Updates

On May 5, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security held a hearing titled, “Ensuring Fairness and Transparency in the Market for Prescription Drugs,” which “examine[d] steps Congress can take to increase transparency in drug prices, require PBMs to operate fairly, and ensure the FTC has the authority it needs to stop unfair practices in the prescription drug market.”

CMS issued its Final Medicare Advantage and Part D rule, which includes changes to Part D plan contracting with pharmacies – though Part D contracts will not reflect the changes until CY 2024. The good news is that CMS’ action lays out the details of a concrete, significant step in DIR fees-related reform for which AmerisourceBergen, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Elevate Provider Network, and the pharmacy, physician and pharmaceutical industry has advocated for several years.

Urge your U.S. Representative to cosponsor a new, bipartisan bill to provide established Medicare Part B recognition and direct reimbursement for pharmacist services related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other illnesses.

Late last week the U.S. House passed by a 232 – 192 vote the “Affordable Insulin Now Act” (H.R. 6833), which would cap the monthly insulin copay for those with health insurance at $35 per month.

On March 24th, 2022, a bipartisan group of U.S. House Representatives introduced legislation, strongly supported by AmerisourceBergen (AB), Good Neighbor Pharmacy and the Future of Pharmacy Care Coalition (AB & GNP are Executive Committee members of the coalition), that would ensure patients continue to have access to essential pandemic and other health services provided by pharmacists, beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.