U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and a bipartisan group of her U.S. Senate colleagues urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to lower prescription drug costs for America’s senior citizens.
The senators want CMS to either work with Congress to eliminate direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees to help lower prescription drug prices for Medicare Part D beneficiaries or take administrative action to address the problem, according to an Oct. 14 letter Sen. Capito and her colleagues sent to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
“The alarming trend of increasing seniors’ out-of-pocket costs in the face of the current public healthcare crisis and the closing of pharmacies throughout the U.S. highlight the critical need for DIR reform to be implemented as soon as possible,” wrote the four lawmakers, who also included U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Jon Tester (D-MT).
“We urge you to work with Congress to require pharmacy price concessions, payments and fees be included at the point-of-sale under Part D of the Medicare program,” wrote Sen. Capito and her colleagues. “It is time we stand up for seniors and address this broken system that sees people paying far too much for prescription drugs.”
The senators also pointed out that Congress already has provided CMS with sufficient authority to make the necessary changes administratively. “With multiple avenues available to fix this problem, it is imperative that we work together to reform DIR fees, reduce drug costs, and protect pharmacies,” they wrote.
Additionally, Sen. Capito and her three colleagues in May introduced the bipartisan Pharmacy DIR Reform to Reduce Senior Drug Costs Act, S. 1909, which would reform requirements regarding DIR under Medicare part D.
“S.1909 is estimated to reduce seniors’ Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs by $7.1-$9.2 billion while also helping preserve access to pharmacies by providing them with needed predictability,” wrote the lawmakers. “This bill achieves these outcomes by requiring pharmacy-negotiated price concessions, payments, and fees to be included at the point-of-sale under Medicare Part D, requiring disclosure to pharmacies of price concessions and incentive payments; and establishing pharmacy performance measures under Medicare Part D.”
The measure, which has gained eight more cosponsors since its introduction, remains under consideration in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.