NACDS Members Evaluating Medicaid AMP Rule

Arlington, Va. (PRWEB) January 21, 2016 -- National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, issued the following statement today upon the publishing in the Federal Register of the Covered Outpatient Drugs Final Rule – which includes significant changes to Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement for generic drugs according to the average manufacturer price (AMP) model:

“This is the latest chapter in a decade-long saga that has required NACDS and our allies to defend pharmacy patient care against the potentially devastating cuts of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – which was enacted in 2006 – and the regulations that were proposed to implement it in 2007.

“We are at this point today because NACDS and our allies have waged a pro-patient and pro-pharmacy effort at the federal and state levels, and in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. We have advocated for policies that are appropriate from the perspectives of good government and of high quality, accessible patient care.

“As a result, this decade-long story includes – among other developments – the initially enacted provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act; the development of regulations to enact that law; a federal court’s decision to strike down the initial rule as a result of a lawsuit brought by NACDS and the National Community Pharmacists Association; the U.S. Congress’ action to revisit and improve the legislative language, including related provisions in the Affordable Care Act; and now the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ efforts to develop a new rule in response to those Affordable Care Act legislative provisions.

“The next step is to evaluate completely this final rule, and to hold it to the same standards that have motivated us consistently throughout the past near-decade: appropriate government policymaking and accessible patient care. As a member-driven trade association, NACDS will work with member companies to review the rule and to determine exactly where we stand.”

Chris Krese, NACDS, http://www.nacds.org, +1 (703) 837-4650, [email protected]