PHARMACISTS ..... THIS WILL HURT!  FPA has made it so easy for you to respond!  Click on this link http://capwiz.com/pharmview/callalert/index.tt?alertid=8232691

Type in your ZIP code. TAKE ACTION! Remember this is a NATIONWIDE CUT! This cut is a serious matter and requires your attention. Call, write, email or fax your representative.

 

Here it is in a nutshell. Medicaid lacks funds, we get 6 % of Medicaid dollars, WE WILL BE CHARGED FOR 60% OF THE SHORTFALL! THAT SHOULD MAKE EVERY PHARMACIST IN AMERICA MAD AS HELL!

 

The long version ......

Congress Working to Slash Pharmacy Medicaid Reimbursement

Your Congressman is preparing to support a terrible revision to Federal Medicaid regulations related to pharmacy reimbursement.  There are huge reductions proposed by Congress that will have a devastating effect on patient access.  Over 60% of the cuts proposed in Medicaid by Congress has been placed directly on the backs of pharmacy providers.  These reductions total some $5 billion over 5 years.  This is truly one of the most appalling budget reductions that we have seen to date by any governmental agency.  The Florida Pharmacy Association is partnering with other state and national organizations to get a sincere and frank message to those in our nation’s capitol who are considering these ill conceived proposals.  For more information please go to http://www.meaningfulmedicaidreform.com.  The Senate narrowly passed the budget reconciliation bill on Thursday, November 2, 2006.  The following amendments were offered for placement into the budget language:

v       Bingaman (D-NM) amendment that would limit the decrease in federal matching funds to states for Medicaid expenditures scheduled to go into effect in January.  This provision would reduce some pressure on the states to further cut provider payments next year.

v       Baucus (D-MT) amendment which further clarifies rebates and discounts given to PBMs, mail order, and pharmacies in nursing homes, not to be included in the calculation of AMP.  This is an important amendment because inclusion of discounts in the calculation of AMP lowers the AMP and underpays pharmacists.  It also helps in any final definition of AMP to more accurately reflect the prices community pharmacies pay for prescription medications.  

v       Conrad (D-ND) amendment provides for higher upper payment limits for Medicaid drugs for those pharmacies defined as “critical access pharmacies.”  These are those that are not within twenty miles of another pharmacy.  These payment rates would be the lesser of the WAC, or 108% of the AMP for brand drugs and lesser of the WAC, or 140% of the WAMP for generics.  This amendment was offset by increasing rebates on Medicaid brand drugs from 17% to 17.3%.

v       Reed (D-RI) colloquy with Senate Finance Chairman Grassley that the intent of the Senate bill is for states to increase their dispensing fees to compensate for the reduction in product cost reimbursement, and that states should set generic dispensing fees significantly higher than brand fees.  The states will be expected to do regular surveys to determine the costs of dispensing and for setting fees.

v       Voinovich (R-OH) colloquy with Chairman Grassley affirming that it is the intent of the Senate bill to exclude customary prompt pay discounts from the calculation of the AMP.

The House is set to take up the measure in the next day or so.  Your Congressman needs to hear from you today on this issue.  A message has been triggered through the FPA legislative action center to help you connect with your congressman.  Go to www.capwiz.com/pharmview, get connected and contact your congressman.  In a few days this could all be over and we will have to live with what they are doing in Washington

 

Action Alert

Congress Struggling with Medicaid Budget Massive Reimbursement Reductions for Pharmacy Pending Pharmacists across America have joined into the fight to help educate Congress on their consideration for H.R. 4241.  H.R. 4241 is the House version of the budget reconciliation bill.  Housed within that bill are a considerable number of troublesome issues that directly impact your ability to provide pharmacy care services.  From Tallahassee we are seeing thousands of messages pouring into our nation's capitol.  You have sent many e-mails that are only now starting to warrant review.  It is necessary now to make phone calls to your Congressman on this issue.

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