Nearly 6,000 pharmacists across the country completed a Medicare Part D opinion survey offered by our state association and the other 49 states.

The results of the survey are contained in a PDF file that you can find here.  A press release from CPA regarding the survey results is also available for your review [Click Here for Press Release]. The press release highlights key findings from the survey.  If you are not able to open either file you can view them at www.ncspae.org.

The survey findings illustrate the operational and financial challenges Medicare Part D has presented to the nation’s pharmacists. We are committed to improving Medicare Part D so that it optimally serves both Medicare recipients and pharmacy providers. To that end, we are asking for your involvement.

We encourage you to contact both of your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and ask them each to commit to fixing the problems pharmacists have experienced with Medicare Part D. Contacting your representatives is easy. If you don’t have their addresses handy, you can retrieve them at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.   It has been reported that many members of Congress and their staff have been hearing from pharmacy organizations but not from individual pharmacists "back home." It is time to change that perception.

You should know that CMS has indicated that it believes the design of the NCSPAE survey likely led respondents to provide negative answers about the program. You should be sure that our members of Congress hear exactly what you believe about the Part D program and whether your views are properly reflected by the survey results.

Senators Cochran (R-MS), Enzi (R-WY), and Talent (R-MO) introduced legislation last week that would require Part D plans to provide prompt payment to pharmacies (within 15 days), eliminate co-branding on Part D identification cards, and create a demonstration project for medication therapy management services. These Senators are on the right track and each should be applauded for his efforts.

But pharmacy providers need more than just prompt pay from Medicare Part D. Pharmacy providers must also receive adequate payment for both dispensing medications and providing medication therapy management services. If PBM’s are going to continue to offer the Medicare Part D benefit, they must be required by Congress to treat pharmacy providers fairly and equitably. The state pharmacy association survey results clearly illustrate that has not been happening in a majority of cases. The rules need to change.

Now is the time to act. Please take the time to write, email or call each of our state’s two U.S. Senators and your individual U.S. Representative.

Thank you!