LTCPA - Latest Policy Developments

Providing medicines to over one million of our nation's long-term care residents

	Key Congressional Leaders Tour Long Term Care Pharmacies Across the Nation
	2006 was a busy year for LTCPA as a number of elected officials toured long term care pharmacies in their home states. Among the lawmakers visting LTCPs were House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Nathan Deal, House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Chair Nancy Johnson and U.S. Senator Trent Lott (above), who visited the Jackson Phamerica pharmacy in Jackson, Mississippi. LTCPA and its members provide educational tours and briefings for congressional leaders and staff throughout the year.

	LTCPA Submits Comments to CMS on the Draft Medicare Drug Benefit Manual.
	LTCPA recently submitted comments to CMS on the draft Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Manual.
	Read LTCPA's comments on Chapter 5 (PDF)
	And Chapter 6 (PDF)

	LTCPA Analysis: CMS Prohibition on Caregivers Assisting Nursing Home Residents With Medicare Part D Plan Selection Creating Serious Problems
	The LTCPA has released a policy analysis of issues surrounding enrollment of long term term care residents in Medicare Part D. Based on its analysis, LTCPA recommends changing CMS rules to allow caregivers to assist nursing home residents in becoming enrolled in a plan that best matches their needs.
	Read the LTCPA Policy Brief

	Long Term Care Physicians Report Problems Obtaining Drugs Under Medicare Part D
	A survey of LTC physicians released by the American Medical Directors Association finds most have had problems getting drugs approved by Medicare Part D plans.
	Read the AMDA Press Release

	National Pharmacy Leaders Oppose Pennsylvania Drug Repackaging Bill
	A broad coalition of state & national pharmacy regulatory, industry and professional organizations is warning state lawmakers that legislation currently being considered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly could have the unintended consequence of hurting the very people it is intended to assist. The coalition includes the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, LTCPA, Senior Care Pharmacy Alliance, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Pennsylvania Pharmacy Association and faculty of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
	Read NABP Letter/
	LTCPA Letter

	LTCPA Responds to CMS Survey Letter of May 11th
	CMS released a letter to state nursing home survey agencies on issues related to Medicare Part D. LTCPA calls on CMS to withdraw this document.
	Download File 1 (PDF)

	LTC Pharmacist Testifies Before Energy & Commerce Subcommittee
	Larry Galluzzo, President of Skilled Care LTC pharmacy, testified before the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee on a number of issues including immediate access to coverage for new LTC Part D beneficiaries, assisting LTC residents with plan selection, and recovering unpaid copays.
	Read the Testimony (PDF)

	CMS Steps Up Enforcement of Marketing Guidelines
	In a letter to State Survey Agency Directors, CMS is strictly enforcing a policy that "Under no circumstances should a nursing home require, request, coach, or steer any resident to select or change a plan for any reason. Furthermore, a nursing home should not knowingly and/or willingly allow the pharmacy servicing the nursing home to require, request, coach, or steer any resident to select or change a plan.”
	Read the CMS Letter

	Bipartisan Group of House Members Urges CMS to Revise Its Marketing Guidelines
	A bipartisan group including Congressmen English, Waxman, Ramstad, Bilirakis, and Strickland have sent a letter to CMS Adminstrator McClellan urging the Part D marketing guidelines be revised to allow LTC health professionals to assist residents in selecting the best plan for their needs.
	Read the Congressional Letter (PDF)

	Pharmacy Access Improvement Act of 2006 (PhAIm) Introduced, Includes Important LTC Pharmacy Provisions
	Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Max Baucus, along with Senators Lincoln and Conrad have introduced legislation which includes a guarantee that a Part D enrollee in a nursing home has access to an in-network LTC pharmacy.
	Bill Summary
	Bill Text (PDF)

	Senator Schumer Introduces Legislation to Give LTC Residents Help in Choosing a Part D Plan
	Senator Charles Schumer has introduced legislation to allow LTC facilities to assist residents with technical help and counseling in choosing the best Part D plan.
	Read Bill Text (PDF)

	Congressman Jeb Bradley Urges CMS to Allow Nursing Homes and Pharmacists to Help LTC Residents Enroll in the Best Drug Plan
	"Many of the nation's 1.6 million nursing home residents remain unaware or confused about how the new Medicare Part D program works...in order to ensure proper and timely enrollment, CMS needs to allow professionals to provide assistance..."
	Read the Statement (PDF)

	LTCPA, NABP Oppose Pennsylvania Bill Requiring LTC Pharmacies to Dispense Repackaged Drugs
	A coalition of pharmacy groups including LTCPA,the National Boards of Pharmacy, and Pennslylvania Pharmacists Association have written state lawmakers in opposition to H.B. 1022, a bill requiring LTC pharmacies to repackage drugs from outside sources.
	LTCPA's Letter /
	NABP's Letter

	LTCPA Letter: Let Nursing Home Care Providers and Pharmacists Help Seniors Choose the Right Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
	In response to reports of wide-spread confusion among seniors seeking help enrolling in the new Medicare prescription drug plan, the Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance (LTCPA), has sent a letter to the President and Congress this week urging a change in Medicare rules that currently prevent nursing home staff and pharmacists from counseling seniors about which of dozens of Medicare drug plans best serve their needs.
	Read the Letter (PDF)

	LTCPA overview of CMS final MMA regulations
	On January 21, 2005 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final regulations implementing the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA). LTCPA congratulates CMS on issuing the regulations...
	LTCPA overview of CMS final MMA regulations (PDF)

	Long Term Care Pharmacy Industry to Discuss Rebate Disclosure
	On November 28, 2005 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) posted to the “Questions & Answers” portion of its web site a statement to the effect that it has concerns about the continued payment of certain rebates by pharmaceutical manufacturers to long-term care pharmacies with respect to prescriptions dispensed under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. In response to this statement, the Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance (“LTCPA”) issued the following statement:
	Read the Statement (PDF)

	Georgia House Overwhelmingly Passes the Georgia Medicare Part D Authorized Decision Makers Act
	On March 3rd, the Georgia House voted 152-1 in favor of designating employees of health care providers and others to act as authorized representatives for elderly seniors who lack the ability to make Part D decisions on their own, and have no legal representative.
	Read the Bill (PDF)

	The New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit: Special Issues for Nursing Home Residents
	In 2003, the President and Congress enacted a law creating Medicare Part D, a prescription drug benefit for elderly and disabled Americans that begins on January 1, 2006. While the new drug plan raises many issues for all seniors to consider, there are some special considerations and opportunities that apply particularly to nursing home residents. In choosing a plan, there are several key questions for nursing home residents to consider:
	Read Our Congressional Constituent Brief (PDF)

	The Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance Sponsors Special Tour for Congress
	The tour will provide a behind the scenes look at the activities at a long term care pharmacy and provide an inside look at how special LTCP services are vital for serving our nation’s nursing home residents, most of whom are covered by the new Medicare Part D program and are “dual eligible. Understanding the special needs of LTC residents and the pharmacies which serve them is important for understanding how the new Medicare Part D program is serving this particularly vulnerable population.
	View the Invitation (PDF)

	LTCPA Releases White Paper on Pharmacy Services
	We developed this for CMS in advance of their report to Congress on the standards of practice for pharmacy services to residents of LTC facilities.
	LTCPA White Paper on Pharmacy Services (PDF)

	LTCPA Releases Comments on MMA Proposed Regulations
	The Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance (LTCPA) appreciates this opportunity to respond to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rules to implement the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and establish the Medicare Advantage Program.
	LTCPA Comments to CMS on MMA Proposed Regulations (PDF)

	LTCPA Statement on the Medicare Prescription Drug Legislation
	(December 2, 2003) -- The United States Congress has passed historic legislation establishing a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. This legislation now awaits the president's signature. Unlike previous versions of Medicare legislation that have been considered by Congress, this legislation takes a major step toward recognizing the needs of residents of nursing facilities; the oldest and frailest of all Medicare beneficiaries.
	Read Our Statement (PDF)

	LTCPA Informs HHS About Impact of Proposed Rule Changes for Plan B Drug Reimbursment
	(October 14, 2003) -- LTCPA recently sent comments to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding Proposed Rule entitled Payment Reform for Part B Drugs. 68 Fed. Reg. 50428 (Aug. 20, 2003). In our comments, we explore the impact in sufficient detail to allow CMS to adequately address the effects its reform proposals may have on the nation’s oldest, sickest, and most frail population – nursing home residents.
	Read Our Letter (PDF)
	Read Our Comments (PDF)

	LTCPA Urges Congress not to Forget Frail Elderly in Medicare Bill
	The average medicare recipient has very different medical needs than the average "Dual Eligible" recipient in a nursing home. LTCPA has prepared an informational brochure that spells out the dangers of eliminting their safety net.
	Read the brochure (PDF)

	LTCPA Issues Statement on Maine Rx Program and Medicaid Prior-Authorization Requirements
	(January 22, 2003) -- In recognition of today's oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in PhRMA v. Concannon, the Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance (LTCPA) issued the following statement, "LTCPA filed a friend-of-the-court brief in PhRMA v. Concannon out of concern that the Maine Rx program will harm some of Maine's most vulnerable patients -- the frail elderly in the state's nursing homes." Read more

	LTCPA Submits Supplemental Comments on Proposed Mass. Regulations
	(January 9, 2003) — The Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance submitted these supplemental comments to our original submission of December 30, 2002, relative to the division's proposed regulations governing the collection of pharmacy assessments.
	Read More >> (PDF)

	LTCPA Submits Comments on Proposed Mass. Regulations
	(December 30, 2002) — The Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance submitted these comments asking for clarification concerning the implementation of this assessment. Our concerns hinge on the peculiar realities of serving patients in the long-term care environment.
	Read More >> (PDF)

	LTCPA Opposes Maryland Pharmacy Regulation
	(December 17, 2002) — In testimony before the Maryland Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, the LTCPA stated its opposition to DHMH’s preferred drug list regulations and proposed an more viable alternative.
	Read More >> (PDF)

	MassHealth Reimbursement Plan Means Losses for Nursing Home Pharmacies
	BOSTON, MA (September 26, 2002) — The proposed cut to MassHealth reimbursement rates will cause nursing home pharmacies to lose money. Read More

	Testimony of the Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance before the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services on proposed rule 5101:3-9-08 -- long-term care pharmacy best practices management incentive payment program
	(September 24, 2002) — Delivered by Joseph R. Sabino, MS, RPh, Executive Director, NCS Healthcare of Columbus, Ohio Read Testimony

	LTCPA Files Amicus Brief in PhRMA v. Concannon, Opposes Prior Authorization Based Solely on Cost
	(September 20, 2002) — LTCPA members' ability to serve their Maine nursing home customers is directly and adversely affected by the Maine Rx Program.
	Read More >> (PDF)

	Long-term Care Experts Call on Massachusetts Not To Cut MassHealth Reimbursement to Nursing-Home Pharmacies; Cuts Will Hurt Those Who Need the Help Most
	BOSTON, MA (August 27, 2002) – Testifying at a public hearing today, four experts drawn from the long-term care community urged Massachusetts regulators to exempt nursing-home pharmacies from a pending cut in MassHealth reimbursement rates. Read More

	LTCPA Comments on HHS Proposed Rule to Implement President's Prescription Drug Discount-Card Initiative
	(May 3, 2002) Submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services.
	Read More (PDF)