NCPA joined the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) in further endorsing the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act (H.R. 5031). The groups called on Congress and the Administration to act quickly, either through this legislation or by using the statutory authority CMS has through a demonstration project or waiver program, to prevent a crisis in long-term care pharmacy access.
Introduced by Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), along with original co-sponsors Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Brian Jack (R-Ga.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), H.R. 5031 addresses this challenge by establishing a targeted $30 supplemental supply fee for prescription drugs subject to Medicare-negotiated prices.
The pharmacy groups recognized that while they strongly support efforts to lower drug prices for seniors, the Medicare Part D negotiated drug prices that will take effect Jan. 1, 2026 will have devastating unintended consequences for older Americans’ access to lifesaving medications. Without a fix, these new policies will disproportionately harm LTC pharmacies, which already face higher dispensing costs due to complex patient needs and stringent regulatory requirements.
