Press Release – NASP Message to Congress: You Must Do More to Protect Safe Senior Access to Specialty Medications and Medication Services and Protect Pharmacy Market Competition
On April 29, the full House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed H.R. 2484, legislation that is intended to improve the convenience of accessing Medicare Part D drugs for patients and their caregivers, but raises urgent concerns about Stark law protections, patient safety and fair pharmacy market competition that must be addressed before the bill further advances in the House. During the mark up, Rep. Auchincloss (D-MA) raised these important concerns to the Committee, resulting in a colloquy and the congressman securing a commitment with the bill’s sponsor to address the concerns before the bill advances. Ranking Member Pallone (D-NJ) and six other members voted against the legislation.
NASP has issued a press release opposing the legislation as passed by the Committee today but commits to working with the bill sponsors, committee leadership and House leadership in an effort to address specialty pharmacy’s concerns.