Industry groups urge members to submit DIR comments to CMS by Jan. 25
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association are urging member companies to submit official comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in support of direct and indirect remuneration, or DIR fee, reform concepts described in the agency’s proposed rule, “Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses.”
The deadline to submit comments is Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. EST.
NACDS said it encourages members to convey in their comments that DIR fee reform is vital for helping to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket drug costs at the pharmacy counter, and for the viability of pharmacy patient care and the value that this care creates in the form of reductions in overall healthcare costs.
Members also should urge CMS to take swift action on the DIR fee reform aspects of “file code CMS-4180-P – and to assure that DIR fee reform is implemented for plan year 2020,” NACDS said.
NCPA is directing members and patients to visit its home page at www.ncpanet.org and click on #FixDIR to submit comments.
Other tips for submitting impactful comments include the following: reference file code CMS-4180-P at the top of your company’s comments; review the detailed submission instructions outlined on the first page of the proposed rule and ensure sufficient time for mailed submissions to arrive by Jan. 25; and share with NACDS an electronic copy of your company’s comments by emailing the document to [email protected].
For further information, NACDS members can contact Tom O’Donnell, NACDS’ senior vice president of government affairs and public policy, at (703) 837-4216 or at [email protected].
The deadline to submit comments is Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. EST.
NACDS said it encourages members to convey in their comments that DIR fee reform is vital for helping to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket drug costs at the pharmacy counter, and for the viability of pharmacy patient care and the value that this care creates in the form of reductions in overall healthcare costs.
Members also should urge CMS to take swift action on the DIR fee reform aspects of “file code CMS-4180-P – and to assure that DIR fee reform is implemented for plan year 2020,” NACDS said.
NCPA is directing members and patients to visit its home page at www.ncpanet.org and click on #FixDIR to submit comments.
Other tips for submitting impactful comments include the following: reference file code CMS-4180-P at the top of your company’s comments; review the detailed submission instructions outlined on the first page of the proposed rule and ensure sufficient time for mailed submissions to arrive by Jan. 25; and share with NACDS an electronic copy of your company’s comments by emailing the document to [email protected].
For further information, NACDS members can contact Tom O’Donnell, NACDS’ senior vice president of government affairs and public policy, at (703) 837-4216 or at [email protected].