• HHS Announces New Action Plan to Lay Foundation for Safe Importation of Certain Prescription Drugs
    Jul 31, 2019
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that HHS and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are publishing a Safe Importation Action Plan - PDF that outlines two potential pathways that would lay the foundation for the safe importation of certain drugs originally intended for foreign markets.
  • IPC Requests Members to Act Again to Build Support for New House Effort!
    Jun 07, 2019
    Action is needed ASAP to promote DIR relief on Capital Hill. Recent efforts have been helpful, and community pharmacy has sent 6,000 letters advocating the need for DIR fee reform. Please help keep the momentum going by writing your letter of support today.
  • IPC Supports the NACDS RxIMPACT Campaign to Engage on DIR
    May 30, 2019
    Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its much anticipated final Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Drug Pricing Rule (CMS-4180-F). At this time, CMS has decided not to include much needed reforms of Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) fee practices.
  • CMS Releases Final 2020 Medicare Part D Regulation
    May 17, 2019
    On Thursday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its much anticipated final Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Drug Pricing Rule (CMS-4180-F). At this time, CMS has decided not to include much needed reforms of Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) fee practices.
  • DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Round 2021 Announcement
    Mar 08, 2019
    On March 7, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces plans to consolidate the competitive bidding areas (CBAs) included in the Round 2 Recompete and Round 1 2017 Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program into a single round of competition named Round 2021. Round 2021 contracts are scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2021, and extend through December 31, 2023.
  • HHS Proposes to Eliminate Safe Harbor Protections for Manufacturer to PBM Rebates
    Mar 05, 2019
    The proposed regulation would exclude rebates from safe harbor protections that currently protect drug manufacturers’ rebates from penalties under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and would create a new safe harbor for discounts offered direct to patients, as well as fixed-fee service arrangements between drug manufacturers and PBMs.