A recent survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) indicates that over 90 percent of independent pharmacies may choose not to stock Medicare Part D drugs that were selected for price negotiation. This reluctance is driven by concerns that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) drug price negotiation program lacks protocols to ensure fair reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers when negotiated prices take effect in January.
With Part D patients comprising approximately 35 percent of an average pharmacy’s business, it is estimated that pharmacies would need to cover about $27,000 monthly out of pocket to keep the selected drugs in stock, with reimbursements often delayed by at least a month. Thus, without guaranteed reimbursement, pharmacies could potentially risk financial strain or even closure in some cases. Read the survey here.
Last Updated on November 22, 2024 by Aimed Alliance
