As healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders, we are all carefully watching the development of the biosimilars market in the United States. As policymakers look at ways to control spending growth in the healthcare sector, biosimilars offer a unique opportunity to create savings and improve patient access, similar to what the generics market has done for small-molecule therapies.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) appreciates that the Senate and House have each passed S. 524 and it is now under consideration by your Conference Committee. We wanted to take this opportunity to renew our strong support for passage of S. 524. AMCP supports a holistic, comprehensive, and multi-stakeholder approach among health care providers and patients that truly addresses the opioid epidemic.
On behalf of the American Pharmacists Association (“APhA”), the National Community Pharmacists Association (“NCPA”) and the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (“AMCP”), we appreciate the opportunity to provide input on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (“SAMHSA”) proposed rule, Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders (“Proposed Rule”).
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) thanks the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for its work in developing strategies to address the growing opioid epidemic in the United States and for the opportunity to provide comments in response to the proposed rule “Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders (RIN 0930-AA22)” published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2016.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) appreciates the opportunity to comment on Sub. H.B. No. 505 regarding the regulation of biological products and the substitution of interchangeable biological products when dispensed by pharmacists. AMCP is opposed to this legislation as it places an undue burden on the dispensing of interchangeable biological products once approved by the FDA.
We, the undersigned organizations representing a research and policy organization, healthcare plan sponsors, managed care pharmacists, and pharmacy benefit managers, urge conferees to include a provision in the final legislation that would authorize the use of patient review and restriction (PRR) programs by Medicare plan sponsors.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is writing to express our concerns with House Bill 791 – an act mandating that health plans and other health insurers follow a government mandated Step Therapy Exception Determination process.