August 04, 2011

APhA, NACDS, NASPA, NCPA File U.S. Supreme Court Legal Brief Challenging Reimbursement Rate Reduction for Medicaid Beneficiaries

Alexandria, Va. — Pharmacy groups filed a legal brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the right of pharmacies to challenge Medicaid cuts that violate a federal patient access law. The brief was filed by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) in the case of Douglas v. Independent Living Center of California.

The initial lawsuit – filed by pharmacies and other healthcare providers – argues that a 10 percent Medicaid reimbursement cut in California violates the federal patient access law which provides that Medicaid reimbursement rates must be “sufficient to enlist enough providers so that care and services are available under the plan at least to the extent that such...

August 03, 2011

The Alliance for Patient Care sends contingency to Capitol Hill to urge Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reject drastic cuts to California’s Medi-Cal program

Washington, D.C., Thursday — The Alliance for Patient Care (APC), a coalition of health care providers, health plans, patient advocates, and others working together to protect access to care in California’s Medi-Cal (Medicaid) program, heads to Washington, D.C. to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and members of Congress to reject California’s proposed cut to the state’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal).

In May, the APC sent a letterto CMS urging the agency to reject a proposed plan submitted by the state of California which would drastically cut Medi-Cal. The letter was submitted in response to the passage of Assembly Bill 97, which includes a 10 percent reduction in Medi-Cal payment...

August 02, 2011

Florida Public-Private Partnership Further Reinforces Importance of Pharmacy-Patient Relationship

Alexandria, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today highlighted the results of a public-private partnership campaign in Palm Beach County, Florida which highlights the valuable role pharmacies can play in helping patients prepare for the upcoming flu season – including administering influenza vaccinations. The partnership was comprised of the Palm Beach County Health Department, Palm Beach County Pharmacy Association and several local pharmacies. The initiative further reinforced that pharmacists are an integral part of the nation’s ”first line resource” for health and wellness and can extend the reach for public health initiatives.

The results of the partnership campaign were published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice - co-authored by NACDS - and can be found here: “Extending the Reach: Local Health Department Collaboration with Community Pharmacies in Palm Beach County, Florida for H1N1 Influenza Pandemic Response”).

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The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the California Retailers Association (CRA) submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urging the agency to reject a proposed state plan amendment (SPA) for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. The SPA would impose a ten percent reimbursement reduction on pharmacies and other Medi-Cal providers, effective June 1, 2011.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule that would help to determine Medicaid beneficiary access to pharmacies and other healthcare providers. The rule would create a process for states to follow to determine compliance with the federal Medicaid access standard of the Social Security Act.