While most in the pharmacy industry, especially owners, dislike PBMs and their business practices, you must give them credit for finding creative ways to capture revenue. While many have been complaining that DIR fees and vertical integration increase patient costs and drive pharmacies out of business, PBMs have been busy finding new ways to maintain, or increase, their profits.
Over the last several years, the largest PBMs have created new group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to handle rebate negotiations – leveraging their combined medication volume. While Congress and the Federal Trade Commission examine PBMs’ business practices, these GPOs may escape that scrutiny and identify some tax advantages.
As an avid patient advocate, recognizing the value pharmacists bring to improved outcomes, it’s hard to identify the “benefit” PBMs provide the medication side of our healthcare system.
Do you, too, question the timing of this move and who it will ultimately benefit?
A Customer Townhall: Integra & LTC
Wednesday, October 26 | 1:30 PM (ET) | 40-Minute Presentation Followed by Q&A
Join Integra and RedSail Technologies leadership for our quarterly long-term care townhall. Hear the latest product news, get insights from fellow customers, and ask your important questions.
Transition of Care: How Culture and Technology Can Bridge the Gap
Mindy Ferris, RPh, EVP, Operations & Customer Success, and Michael Gerdes, RPh, CCP, Director of Clinical Systems, both at PharmScript, LLC, join us on the Integra X Files podcast for a candid conversation about long-term care pharmacy growth, transition of care, technology, and how the commitment to caring for people remains key.
If someone asked you to describe your market, how would you respond? Maybe something like, "We provide pharmaceutical care for the elderly who reside in an institutional setting." But LTC pharmacies and their consultant pharmacists are experts at managing complex drug regimens, and this could apply to a 35-year-old as easily as a 75-year-old. With the pressures of the current market landscape, have you considered expanding your mission?
Subscribe today and don’t miss out on the conversations that will help to reshape the future of long-term care pharmacy.
Senate Reconciliation Bill and Prescription Drug Provisions
High and rising drug prices have long been a concern. The proposed drug pricing bill includes several provisions to lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and reduce drug spending by the federal government. The provisions would be implemented over several years beginning in 2023.
Main components:
Require the federal government to negotiate prices for some high-cost drugs covered under Medicare.
Impose rebates on drug manufacturers that increase prices faster than inflation.
Limit Medicare out-of-pocket drug costs.
Eliminate cost sharing for adult vaccines covered under Medicare Part D and improve access to adult vaccines under Medicaid and CHIP.
Expand eligibility for full Part D Low-Income Subsidies (LIS).
On July 29, 2022, CMS issued a final rule that updates Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) under the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) for fiscal year 2023. The final rule allows for the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) cut to be spread out over two years and includes a 2.7% pay bump in Medicare Part A payments to SNFs.
CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said, “The action is an important step in fulfilling our goal to protect people living in nursing homes and staff. We are continuing our work to focus on staffing and value, making sure that Medicare nursing home residents can receive high-quality care based on the needs of the whole person, rather than focusing on the volume of certain services provided to them.”
If you’re using a Ricoh P 800 printer, you must have routine 132 above routine 643 in the label design or the Primary Label Form Count has to be 51.
PrimeCare® GUI:
Go to Store Control > Label Options.
At Label Print Options, ensure 51 is in the Primary Label Form Count field.
PrimeCare CHAR:
Go to F9 - System Management > F8 - Identification, and press F2.
At Label Printing Options, ensure 51 is in the Primary Label Form Count field.
Note: If routine 132 needs to be added, call Support at 866.720.6846.
Don’t Lose Your Maps!
DeliveryTrack 6.3.1 is a required update for all users before September 1, 2022, or your map system will stop functioning. The upgrade process takes less than an hour in most cases. Don’t wait until the last minute; choose your preferred time to complete this important software update. Schedule your upgrade appointment today!