Latest Medicare Part D Stories

Four Independent Pharmacies Sue HHS and CMS for Violating Medicare Part D Law By Allowing Drug Plans To Establish Cartels With Big Box Retailers

2012-03-07 09:00:00

Since 2011, Seven Medicare Drug Plans Have Steered 6.3 Million Enrollees of the 19.5 Million Total Enrollees to Select Pharmacies WASHINGTON, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four members of the Association of Community Pharmacists Congressional Network (ACPCN) have sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The lawsuit charges that CMS wrongfully permitted prescription drug plans (PDPs), run by Pharmacy...

NCPA Blasts Irresponsible Ad by PBM Lobby as an Affront to Fighting Drug Diversion, Pharmacy Crime

2012-03-01 14:45:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) criticized a new advertising campaign launched today by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), the trade group representing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100106/DC33253LOGO) "This divisive and deceptive ad marks a new low," said NCPA Senior Vice President for Government Affairs John Coster, RPh, PhD. "It's like...

Study Finds Alarming Number of Boomers Lack Basic Understanding of Medicare Program

2012-02-27 06:00:00

CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half (56 percent) of America's middle-income Boomers admit to knowing little or almost nothing about the Medicare program and one in seven (13 percent) falsely believe Medicare is free, the latest study released by the Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement (SM) (CSR) reveals. The CSR's Retirement Healthcare for Middle-Income Americans study of 400 pre-Medicare Boomers (age 47 to 64) and 400 older adults (age...

60 Plus Association Applauds Opposition to PBM Merger

2012-02-23 11:24:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 60 Plus Association today sent a letter of gratitude to Members of Congress, many of whom who have contacted the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with concerns over the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions. The organization made it clear "it appreciates these legislators interceding on behalf of their 7.1 million supporters to defend patient choice, pharmacy access and...

PCMA Launches New Maryland Ad Campaign: 'That's What PBMs Do'

2012-02-17 11:31:00

PBMs Will Save Maryland Consumers and Payers $39 Billion Over the Next Decade WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new ad campaign in Maryland that highlights the core value proposition of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The ad campaign - "That's What PBMs Do" - focuses on key themes including: PBMs lower costs for employers, unions, and consumers. PBM mail-service pharmacies improve safety,...

The 60 Plus Association Asks Congressional Leaders To Weigh In Against Controversial Health Care Merger

2012-02-14 08:55:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 60 Plus Association (60 Plus) today sent a letter asking Congressional leaders to weigh in with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against the proposed merger between Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and Medco Health Solutions, two pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that administer prescription benefits for many health plans, including some Medicare Part D plans. 60 Plus is a non-partisan seniors advocacy group, with over 7.1 million...

PCMA Launches New Missouri Ad Campaign: 'That's What PBMs Do'

2012-02-13 11:14:00

PBMs Will Save Missouri Consumers and Payers $40 Billion Over the Next Decade WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new ad campaign in Missouri that highlights the core value proposition of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The ad campaign - "That's What PBMs Do" - focuses on key themes including: PBMs lower costs for employers, unions, and consumers. PBM mail-service pharmacies improve safety,...

Drug Costs, Not Volume, Cause Regional Differences In Medicare Drug Spending

2012-02-09 12:24:04

The cost of medications through Medicare's subsidized prescription drug program varies from region to region across the United States largely due to the use of more expensive brand-name drugs and not because of the amount of drugs prescribed, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH). The authors said that more efficient prescribing practices could have saved the Medicare program and its beneficiaries $4.5 billion. The...

Medicare Part D Preferred Pharmacy Networks Reducing Costs, Popular with Seniors

2012-02-09 11:31:00

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New 2012 Medicare Part D data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show the growing popularity among Medicare Part D beneficiaries in choosing plans featuring lower cost preferred pharmacy network options. Enrollment in plans with preferred pharmacy networks has grown twice as fast as conventional plans and is offered by many of the largest Part D plan sponsors. Now almost a third of all...

PCMA Launches New Pennsylvania Ad Campaign: 'That's What PBMs Do'

2012-02-09 09:36:00

PBMs Will Save Pennsylvania Consumers and Payers $89 Billion Over the Next Decade WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new ad campaign in Pennsylvania that highlights the core value proposition of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The ad campaign - "That's What PBMs Do" - focuses on key themes including: PBMs lower costs for employers, unions, and consumers. PBM mail-service pharmacies improve...