Medicare Updates for Pharmacists
Updated June 25, 2007

1/4/07
Reminder: Substitution of Generic Drugs (click link for details)

12/27/06
Medicaid Drug Pricing Regulation Proposed
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced proposed changes in the payment for certain prescription drugs in the Medicaid program.  These changes implement provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) and are expected to save taxpayers $8.4 billion in state and federal funds over five years.  To view the entire CMS Fact Sheet, please click here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp . A copy of the Regulation Text can be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo/downloads/AMP2238P.pdf

11/17/06
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Guide: How to Choose Your 2007 Plan
Workbooks are available to pharmacies. The workbook was produced through a collaborative effort of NACDS, NCPA, and American's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).  There are several ways you can obtain copies of these books for potential distribution to your Medicare patients:

• Free copies - A limited quantity of workbooks are are available to pharmacies.  Boxes of 60 are available on a "first come, first serve" basis.  Send an email to Elizabeth.brooks@ahip.org to obtain your free copies.

• Pharmacies can also obtain a high-resolution PDF (Adobe Reader) version of the workbook to print additional copies.  Pharmacies can "co-brand" the books by placing their logo on the back.  Please contact Susan Pisano at spisano@ahip.org.

• Pharmacists can direct their patients to the website www.healthdecisions.org/guide where they can view the workbook themselves, print out their own PDF version, or use an online, interactive version of the workbook.

11/6/06
Medicare Update: PowerPoint Presentation

Webpage and Listserv Information
State MMA Webpage: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/States/. Please email feedback and suggestions in regards to the State MMA Webpage to MMAStatesWebsite@cms.hhs.gov.  To subscribe to this listserv, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/mailinglists/default.asp?audience=14 . Enter your information, then select the appropriate list serve "MMA_States" and choose subscribe. To unsubscribe from this listserv, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/mailinglists/default.asp?audience=14 . Enter your information, then select the appropriate list serve "MMA_States" and choose unsubscribe.

4/11/06
Medicare Survey Polls Nearly 6,000 Pharmacists - 88% call for immediate improvements in Part D program.
In a comprehensive survey of nearly 6,000 pharmacists only 119 called the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program a success. Pharmacists from across the country expressed their views through a survey conducted by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin on behalf of the National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives (NCSPAE). Read the Press Release. Download Full Report  
 

2/3/06
Testimony of Pharmacist at U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging: "Meeting the Challenges of the Medicare Drug Benefit Implementation"