NCPA: Bill may allow seniors to continue getting valuable health care supplies from community pharmacies

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 3663, a bill introduced yesterday by Reps. Zach Space (D-OH) and Lee Terry (R-NE) extending the accreditation deadline for pharmacies providing Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, 2009. The extension enables seniors to continue getting valuable health care supplies like diabetes testing strips from community pharmacies without disruption as Congress weighs separate legislative action to exempt pharmacists from the regulation. In response, Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) executive vice president and CEO issued the following statement:

“Seniors are the real winners from this vote. This bill would allow seniors to continue relying on their pharmacists to help manage diseases like diabetes.

“For community pharmacies today represents a clear line of demarcation. Some have become accredited suppliers of durable medical equipment. But for most independent community pharmacies, the accreditation requirements were far too expensive and time-consuming. It's all the more frustrating since nearly two dozen other state-licensed health care providers have already been exempted from the rule.

"Unless this law is enacted, tomorrow morning thousands of community pharmacies will no longer be able to offer these supplies and patients will experience an unwelcome disruption in their health care regimen. The Senate must now act as quickly as possible so the President can sign it into law."

The accreditation requirements are time-consuming, costly and redundant for community pharmacists, who are already subject to regulation at the state level. NCPA has helped its members navigate the process. Those suggested actions can be found here. The regulations target perpetrators of DMEPOS fraud, which is not something associated with pharmacists. However, they are the only health care providers not yet exempted from the requirements. As a result, an exemption community pharmacy has been a primary focus of NCPA’s efforts with Congress and with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).