Click here to view as a web page. Dear IACP Member,
IACP Pharmacists' eLink - October 14, 2009
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IACP Board of Directors Meeting: October 7, 2009 -
IACP Staff Update -
Health Care Reform Measures Continue to Move Through House and Senate Chambers -
House Health Care Reform Status -
Avastin Reimbursement Challenged by CMS -
Intrathecal Custodial Legislation Remains on Congressional Agenda -
Welcome New Members -
Step Up to The President’s Challenge
IACP Board of Directors Meeting: October 7, 2009
The IACP Board of Directors met at IACP headquarters in Missouri City, Texas, on Oct. 7. Chaired by President Diane Boomsma, the Board unanimously passed new Bylaws for the organization. The IACP Bylaws are available on our Web site—click here. The new Bylaws provide for a more participatory framework for IACP membership. If you are interested in becoming a more involved member of IACP, please contact Elizabeth Proctor (Elizabeth@iacprx.org) to discuss available committee assignments. The next meeting of the IACP Board of Directors will be held on Jan. 30, 2010.
IACP Staff Update
Please help us welcome IACP’s newest staff member, Lindsey Turnau. In her position as Member Relations Coordinator, Lindsey is responsible for membership recruitment, retention and engagement programs for IACP. She will be working on new opportunities to enhance the IACP member experience and value, so please share your ideas with her (Lindsey@iacprx.org or (281) 933-8400).
Prior to coming to IACP, Lindsey worked in Dallas, Texas, as a Political Fundraiser. Her previous experience also includes being the Political Director and Director of Member Relations at the North Carolina Republican Party.
Last week IACP bid farewell to Jessica Hennessy who is pursuing an opportunity in another industry. Jessica worked as IACP’s Writer/Editor for a year and a half, with large responsibility for our Web site and e-communications. We wish her luck in this new endeavor.
Health Care Reform Measures Continue to Move Through House and Senate Chambers
The Senate Finance Committee on Oct. 13 marked up its version of health care reform (without a public health care plan option) and now plans to merge this document with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (H.E.L.P.) Committee’s version of a reform bill. The Senate Finance Committee passed their version of their $829-billion bill by a vote of 14-9.
The Senate H.E.L.P. Committee passed in late summer its version of health care reform, which included a public health care plan option—something Democratic Senate leaders say is essential to any plan that makes it to a final vote. However, the Senate H.E.L.P bill has a hefty price tag because of the public option. The Finance Committee bill has received significantly more support in light of the cost savings it would bring to the federal government as compared to the H.E.L.P bill.
However, IACP is concerned about a provision in the bill regarding a physician’s disclosure deemed the “physician’s sunshine provision.” The Senate Finance legislative language has yet to be released, but one possible section would provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and applicable manufacturers regarding payments, transfers of value, and investment interests. This sunshine provision calls for annual transparency reports, penalties for noncompliance, procedures for the submission of information and public availability of this information.
In related Senate legislation, compounding had been identified as a “manufacturing” process—a definition that IACP has been working hard to dispel. IACP is watching the legislation closely and will also be working through the Senate H.E.L.P. Committee when the two versions are merged to ensure that compounding is not redefined as a manufacturing practice.
Current legislative predictions indicate the earliest the two Senate versions will be merged for further votes is December. If finished by then, the legislation could then be conferenced with the House version of health care reform and presumably sent to President Obama for his signature.
House Health Care Reform Status
The progress on House health care reform is more complicated since there are three separate bills to merge for a House floor vote. The bills were amended and marked up by three separate committees: the House Education and Labor Committee; the House Ways and Means Committee; and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. All three committees are now working to merge together the three varying versions of those bills.
However, recent Hill reports indicate there could be a new bill from House “leadership” that is entirely different from any of the three versions currently circulating. IACP will continue to follow the House bills’ progression.
One of the House bills also contains the above-referenced sunshine language which contains compounding under the definition of manufacturing. IACP has been working closely with Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wisc.) office to ensure that the language does not redefine compounding as manufacturing.
The latest draft bill IACP saw has actually taken out the definition of manufacturing, which is far preferable to IACP. Regardless, IACP has been assured that the section will be remedied to protect compounding pharmacists from being lumped in with manufacturers. IACP will continue to report on the House and Senate bills as developments occur.
Avastin Reimbursement Challenged by CMS
On Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a new reimbursement coding rules methodology for Avastin, a widely used, highly effective and modestly priced treatment for age-related macular degenerations and other intraocular diseases. The new reimbursement for physicians administering this treatment will be $7.50 which is significantly below what they pay to have the sterile product provided by compounding pharmacies. The memo stated that CMS would continue to pay the full price for Lucentis, approximately $2,000 per dose. Treating one year's worth of new patients with Lucentis costs about $1.2 billion a year, compared with $60 million if they're treated with Avastin, according to Medicare figures. In addition, patient co-pays will increase significantly, further eroding medical access.
In today’s highly charged political environment that is struggling to create a health care system that is cost effective and evidenced-based, this is a surprising administrative decision by CMS. IACP has been working with physicians and advocacy groups to put pressure on CMS to restore the previous reimbursement codes for Avastin. Sen. Herb Kohl's (D-Wisc.) office has sent a letter to CMS requesting that the appropriate CMS staff be prepared to brief the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging regarding this change not later than Oct. 23, 2009.
Depending upon the response from CMS and future strategies determined by the coalition working this issue, we may be asking IACP members to contact their members of Congress to put additional pressure on CMS for a timely response. Stay tuned!
Intrathecal Custodial Legislation Remains on Congressional Agenda
Federal legislation H.R. 3018 to allow intrathecal pump devices to be delivered directly to physicians (rather than patients) for administration is awaiting further action by the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and currently has seven co-sponsors: Reps. Joe Barton [TX-6]; Michael C. Burgess [TX-26]; Ralph M. Hall [TX-4]; Ted Poe [TX-2]; Robert C. "Bobby" Scott [VA-3]; Lamar Smith [TX-21]; and Patrick J. Tiberi [OH-12]. Additionally, IACP learned that Reps. Gene Green (D-Texas) and Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas) will soon be signing onto the bill.
Click here to read H.R. 3018. Click here to read IACP's letter of support on H.R. 3018.
In the Senate, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is also set to introduce a version of the intrathecal bill, but he is awaiting bi-partisan support from Democrats. IACP urges our members in Illinois and Ohio, in particular, to contact one of their key senators on this issue:
Illinois Members: IACP urges members in Illinois to contact Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to ask him to join in co-sponsorship with Sen. Cornyn on intrathecal legislation to mirror the House bill. Durbin’s office should contact Holt Lackey, Sen. Cornyn’s Counsel on the Judiciary Committee, at (202) 224-7840.
Ohio Members: IACP urges members in Ohio to contact Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to ask him to join in co-sponsorship with Sen. Cornyn on intrathecal legislation to mirror the House bill. Brown’s office should contact Holt Lackey, Sen. Cornyn’s Counsel on the Judiciary Committee, at (202) 224-7840.
Welcome New Members
IACP welcomes the following new members who joined during the PCCA International Seminar: Charlotte Handley - The Compound Shoppe; Jacob Jackson - The Apothecary Shoppe; Kasey Jackson - The Apothecary Shoppe; Lucy Malmberg - Wedgewood Pharmacy; Carl McCready - Modern Pharmacy; Andy Ruiz - Oakdell Pharmacy, Inc.; ClearSpring Pharmacy.
Step Up to The President’s Challenge
IACP thanks the following members who stepped up to the President’s Challenge during the PCCA International Seminar: Mark Norris of Beall’s Compounding; Chris Schulte of Pensacola Apothecary; Charles Leiter (renewing his commitment) of Leiter’s Pharmacy; and Doug Chadwick of Meyer’s Drug. For more information on the President’s Challenge Campaign that supports IACP’s public affairs activities, please contact Elizabeth Proctor at Elizabeth@iacprx.org.
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