National Updates

Track Updates on State Actions Affecting Pharmacy During the Coronavirus Emergency

Mar 23, 2020

IPC understands our member pharmacies are on the front line of dealing with the disruption to the health care system from the COVID-19 pandemic. And while community pharmacies are being recognized by the federal and state governments as vital community health care resources, we know it's a challenge to stay on top of regulatory changes.

ALL IPC Members - IMMEDIATELY Contact Your U.S. Senators and Representative to Urge Them to Include Pharmacy Provisions in Next Coronavirus Legislative Package to Keep You on the Frontline of Serving U.S. Public Health Needs

Mar 20, 2020

With Congress developing a third Coronavirus Emergency legislative response package, there is an effort to have pharmacy provisions added to ensure you can continue operate as necessary public health centers during this crisis. The focus needs to stress to Congress that community pharmacies are on the front lines assisting patients as they cope with the current crisis.

US Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Arkansas PBM ERISA Preemption Case

Jan 13, 2020

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Rutledge v. PCMA, a case which seeks to reinstate an Arkansas law that regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBM). The PBM's trade group, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), successfully challenged the law on Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preemption grounds in the Eighth Circuit.

Drug Pricing Reduction Efforts a Major Issue in 2019

Jan 02, 2020

In the Administration and in Congress, significant energy was spent working toward solutions to the high costs of prescription drugs which kept a growing focus on the PBM role in rising costs through Part D DIR charges and Medicaid managed care spread pricing.

California and North Dakota to Carve Out Medicaid Managed Care Prescription Drug Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

Starting in January with California announcing it would carve out its Medicaid prescription program from their Medicaid managed care program, more states acted throughout 2019 to address MCO PBM abuses that affect patients, taxpayers and pharmacy providers. In May, North Dakota also carved out its Medicaid prescription benefit back into its fee for service program with a budgeted net savings.

Will Re-Importation of Prescription Drugs Become Reality?

Dec 16, 2019

President Trump recently tweeted that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “will soon release a plan to let Florida and other states import prescription drugs that are MUCH CHEAPER than what we have now!”

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