The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (CSPC) said Wednesday it commends California Gov. Jerry Brown for signing into law legislation that brings needed reforms to abusive Pharmacy Benefit Manager pricing and reimbursement practices.
Ohio Gov.John Kasich signed a similar bill into law last week.
"California Gov. Jerry Brown, like Ohio Gov. John Kasich, deserves praise for signing into law legislation to finally reform heretofore unaccountable PBM pricing and reimbursement policies that, for too long, have left taxpayers and patients in the dark," SCPC President and CEO Alan Rosenbloom said.
The California measure requires PBMs to update their Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) lists weekly, to provide in-network pharmacies with the current MAC list upon request and disclose the sources used in establishing MAC lists. It also establishes much-needed standards for appeals filed by pharmacies for MAC list prices that appear to be out of date.
Rosenbloom said PBMs use MAC pricing and other practices under Medicare Part D, the most significant payer for prescription medications in long-term care settings.
"Independent LTC (long-term care) pharmacies and patients under their care require adequate protection against Medicare Part D pricing policies that afford no recourse to address practices that inappropriately shift dollars from providers to intermediaries such as PBMs in ways that undermine LTC pharmacies' ability to provide key consultative services to patients," Rosenbloom said.
CSPC represents independent long-term care pharmacies across the U.S.
Alerts Sign-up