On Dec. 15, AMCP joined 29 other pharmacy organizations in a letter calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to build upon the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act with guidance clarifying that states should reimburse clinical services provided by pharmacists at the same rates as other non-physician providers.
Given the current complexities of the Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Basic Health Program enrollment processes, AMCP submitted comments in response to a September 7 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Dated November 4, AMCP's comments support the NPRM's proposed goal to simplify the enrollment process for these vital health programs. The comments specifically address the cycle of enrollment and disenrollment that program beneficiaries face, often referred to as “eligibility churn."
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Make Your Voice Heard" on September 6. The RFI sought public input on healthcare accessibility, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity, and assessing the impact of waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. On November 4, AMCP responded with a comment letter offering insights into challenges related to access to medication. The comments also offer recommendations for advancing health equity within CMS.
On August 4, the Department of Health and Human Services released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities. In response, AMCP submitted comments on September 29 which applaud the Department's goal to reinstate regulatory protections from discrimination in covered health programs and activities.
On August 30, AMCP provided comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) following the agency's request for feedback on ways to strengthen the Medicare Advantage program.
On August 19, AMCP joined a wide coalition of pharmacy organizations in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a PREP Act declaration that pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians, as appropriate, can order and administer FDA authorized or approved monkeypox vaccines, testing, and therapeutics.
On June 7, AMCP joined a pharmacy stakeholder letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting clarification that pharmacies will maintain personnel flexibilities granted under the PREP Act emergency declaration through October 1, 2024.
On June 9, AMCP submitted comments to CMS on the 2022 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Public Meeting. AMCP applauds CMS's efforts to standardize coding and billing practices for prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs), and recommends that CMS create additional codes to cover the full range of PDTs.
On April 27, AMCP joined a broad coalition of health care stakeholders in urging Congressional leaders to protect American's access to COVID-19 testing, treatments, and vaccines, regardless of insurance status - by replenishing the COVID-19 Uninsured Relief Fund.
On March 25, AMCP joined a diverse coalition of pharmacy stakeholders in expressing support for the Equitable Community Access for Pharmacists Services Act. This bill would permanently authorize pharmacists' ability to provide health care services during public health emergencies.
On April 19, AMCP joined a pharmacy stakeholder letter addressed to the Biden administration's COVID-19 czar, Dr. Ashish Jha. The letter urged the Biden administration to allow qualified pharmacists to prescribe oral antivirals to treat COVID-19 and maintain PREP Act services provided by pharmacists.
On March 18, AMCP provided comments to the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology regarding electronic prior authorization.
On March 9, AMCP joined 13 pharmacy organizations in urging President Biden to authorize pharmacists to order and administer oral antivirals to treat COVID-19 as part of the administration's Test to Treat policy.
AMCP provides feedback on CMS's proposal to redefine negotiated price as the lowest possible payment that a Part D plan will make to a pharmacy, inclusive of all price concessions.
On March 3, AMCP responded to a Request for Information from the Healthy Futures Subcommittee on Modernization, supporting legislative and regulatory solutions to remove barriers to coverage and payment for Digital Therapeutics in the Medicare program.
On Feb. 14, AMCP joined a pharmacy stakeholder letter supporting Dr. Robert Califf's nomination for FDA Commissioner, a post he previously held in 2016.
On Feb. 9, AMCP submitted comments to CMS supporting the agency's proposal to cover anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies through the Coverage with Evidence Development pathway.
On Jan. 11, CMS released a proposed coverage decision that would cover the costs of monoclonal antibody treatments for Alzheimer's Disease patients only if they are enrolled in clinical trials.
On Jan. 6, CMS released a proposed rule that would require pharmacy price concessions be passed to patients at the point-of-sale and reinstate detailed MLR reporting requirements.