NABP Holds Annual Meeting – adopts resolutions on compounding, PBM regulations: board of pharmacy members and staff convened for NABP’s Annual Meeting and discussed timely topics such as the role of Boards of Pharmacy in overseeing compounding and PBM practices. In response to the meningitis outbreak in late 2012, NABP developed and implemented a Compounding Action Plan, partnering with the IA Board of Pharmacy and other states to conduct inspections of all nonresident pharmacies that delivered compounded products into Iowa. NABP is currently engaged in discussions with several states to conduct similar inspection programs, and announced plans to establish an e-Profile for each pharmacy licensed in the United States, similar to the e-Profile program for licensed pharmacists. This national database will contain verifications of licensure, disciplinary checks, and information on pharmacy inspections which have occurred to provide Boards with information to use when making licensure and registration determinations for
nonresident pharmacies. In addition, the delegates from the member boards of pharmacy adopted several resolutions related to compounding and PBM regulations, including:
· Boards of pharmacy will be encouraged to reference USP sterile compounding standards in their regulations. In addition, boards will be urged to conduct inspections or surveys of pharmacies engaged in sterile compounding or accept sterile compounding inspections or surveys conducted by a nationally recognized body. Finally, amendments will be proposed to the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (Model Act)to address appropriate regulation and require inspection of pharmacies engaged in sterile compounding.
· NABP and the state boards of pharmacy will work with FDA and other stakeholders to establish mutually agreeable definitions for “pharmacy compounding” and “pharmaceutical manufacturing,” and NABP will revise the Model Act to reflect the new definitions.
· NABP will convene a task force to review the status of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulations in the states, determine the level of collaboration among the states in regard to regulating PBMs, and review and propose amendments to the Model Act pertaining to PBMs. This is an important step in recognizing that the policies and practices of PBMs directly affect patient health and safety and therefore should be examined by boards of pharmacy.
In the States:
· Texas: SB 1006, MAC lists under Medicaid managed care, has come out of conference committee and is
expected to pass the Legislature before they adjourn May 27. HB 1358, fair pharmacy audits, has passed both
chambers and will next be sent to Governor Rick Perry (R). NCPA applauds all those that worked to make these
increased protections a success in Texas.
· New Hampshire: SB 38, fair pharmacy audits, has passed both chambers and will be sent to Governor Maggie
Hassan (D) for her signature. NCPA applauds all those that worked to advance this important legislation in New
Hampshire.
· This week NCPA State GovernmentAffairs hosted its monthly state issues call. This month’s call focused on the
recently release TPA Mail Order Study and also a comprehensive review of S.B.867 the “Medicare Prescription
Drug Program Integrity Act”.
Research:NCPA extended its analysis comparing drug costs at a preferred network pharmacy versus drug costs at a nonpreferred network pharmacy by including data from Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. NCPA selected four commonly used
drugs by seniors: Lipitor, Plavix, Diovan, and Nexium. NCPA went on to compare the full cost of these drugs at a
preferred network pharmacy versus the full cost at a non-preferred network pharmacy for two large PDP plans: AARP
Medicare Rx Preferred and Humana/Wal-Mart Preferred Rx. NCPA was also able to compare mail pharmacy drug costs
to non-preferred network pharmacy drug costs. For AARP Medicare Rx Preferred plan, total costs at the non-preferred
network pharmacy were lower relative to the preferred network pharmacy in both Cleveland and Cincinnati ($327.73 vs.
$356.16). At $329.53, Mail was less expensive than the preferred network pharmacy but more expensive than the nonpreferred network pharmacy. For Humana/Wal-Mart Preferred Rx, in both cities, total cost at the preferred network
pharmacy was $2.40 less expensive than at the non-preferred network pharmacy ($362.52 vs. $364.92). An incredibly small savings given that preferred networks limit consumer choice. At $371.58, mail was the high cost option in both
cities.
NCPAPolitical Events:NCPA attended political events this week for:
· Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA): House Ways and Means Committee
· Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX): NCPA Past President, Joe Harmison attended a fundraising reception in
Washington, DC hosted by Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) for Rep. Burgess who serves on the
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
· Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC): House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health with special guest, House
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
· Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): House Armed Services Committee and Co-sponsor of H.R. 1188, the Preserving Our
Hometown Independent Pharmacies Act of 2013
· Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA): Chair of the House Republican Conference and lead sponsor of H.R. 1024,
the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013
· Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC): House Armed Services Committee
· Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD): House Armed Services Committee with special guest, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (RWA)
· Candidate Jason Smith (R-MO): NCPA supported an event in Cape Girardeau, MO with the Missouri Pharmacy
Association for Smith who is running in the June 4th Special Election to succeed long time pharmacy champion,
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson who resigned earlier this year from Missouri’s 8th Congressional District
quoted from here