NRHA applauds Rep. McMorris Rodgers for work on the Medicare Pharmacy Transparency and Fair Auditing Act
NRHA applauds Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) for introducing H.R. 4215, the Medicare Pharmacy Transparency and Fair Auditing Act which addresses the lack of transparency on the part of the pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the Medicare prescription drug program, better known as Medicare Part D. Rural Americans face a unique combination of factors that create economic, educational, and social disparities that all conspire to impede in their struggle to lead a normal healthy life. The obstacles faced by health care providers and patients in rural areas are vastly different and greater than those in other geographic areas. We know rural independent pharmacies play a critical role, often as the sole health care provider in remote and sparsely populated rural areas. NRHA believes H.R. 4215 is essential to preserve continued access to rural Americans. There are just slightly over 1,800 independent community pharmacies operating as the only retail pharmacy within their rural community. Inadequate access to a community pharmacist can reduce medication adherence and by definition, limits the ability of patients to benefit from the health care services provided by community pharmacies. Rural independent pharmacies help improve outcomes for these patients by using their expertise and knowledge to promote the optimal use of drugs while helping to minimize adverse drug effects in these under.