Deadline for pharmacies to meet Medicare’s DMEPOS accreditation requirements extended, Senate lauded

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) commended the Senate for passing a bill extending from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, 2009 the deadline for meeting pharmacy accreditation requirements to continue offering Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS). The bill allows seniors to continue getting these valuable products at community pharmacies and affords lawmakers additional time to exempt pharmacists from the regulation. This action follows the House of Representatives’ unanimous vote on legislation (H.R. 3663) sponsored by Reps. Zack Space (D-OH), Lee Terry (R-NE), Marion Berry (D-AR), Geoff Davis (R-KY), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Walter Jones (R-NC), Charlie Melancon (D-LA), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND).

“The Senate acted wisely to ensure seniors can continue purchasing essential medical supplies from their community pharmacies,” said Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, NCPA executive vice president and CEO. “Senators Max Baucus, Charles Grassley and Jon Tester, in particular, deserve recognition for shepherding the bill through. Without it, thousands of independent community pharmacies would be forced to stop supplying diabetes testing supplies and other products to their patients.”

Nearly every health reform proposal contains some form of a pharmacy exemption, supported by both Democrats and Republicans. The accreditation requirements have proved to be onerous, expensive and duplicative for community pharmacists, who already must meet state licensing requirements. NCPA has helped its members navigate the process and offered online resources. Pharmacists have not been associated with the fraud targeted by the regulations, but are the only health care providers not yet exempted. For these reasons, securing an exemption for community pharmacies has been a top legislative priority for NCPA.

“We appreciate Senators Sam Brownback and Jon Tester, along with Representatives Marion Berry and Jerry Moran, for introducing bills to add pharmacists to the list of exempted health care professionals,” added Roberts. “Hopefully, Congress will enact their legislation before the new accreditation deadline.”

Source: The National Community Pharmacists Association