Pharmacy Alliance Lauds Bipartisan Drug Pricing Package

Assorted drugs
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An award-winning entrepreneur, Rita Patel of Matawan, NJ, has over 30 years of experience as a pharmacist. As the owner of a local pharmacy in Amboy, NJ, Rita Patel's personalized approach won her many clients. She is a member of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

NCPA and other pharmacy coalition members lauded the latest rendering of the bipartisan Prescription Reduction Act, released last December 6, 2019, by the Senate Finance Committee. Known as the Grassley-Wyden bill, it tackles the issue on direct and indirect (DIR) fees that large pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) charge pharmacies participating in Medicare Part D, according to the coalition.

As the charges are retroactive, assessed weeks or months after the sale, the pharmacy has no idea, at the time of sale or prescription fulfillment, whether they are making a profit or even a loss on the transaction. It has caused some small pharmacies to close down. The proposed bill, among others, will disallow PBMS and plans from retroactive recoupment.

Aside from NCPA, other members of the pharmacy coalition include the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Association of Specialty Pharmacists, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, National Grocers Association, Food Marketing Institute, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Association, and the American Pharmacists Association.