Letters, Statements & Analysis
AMCP communicates the importance of managed care pharmacy by collaborating with members to provide comments, analysis, and testimony to Congress and federal and state agencies on the impact of proposed regulations and laws on managed care pharmacy and patients.
On April 18, HHS' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released a proposed rule titled "Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing." AMCP submitted comments in response to the proposed rule on June 20.
In April, the Department of Health and Human Services published a proposed rule titled "HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy." AMCP took the opportunity to submit comments and suggestions in support of the rule on June 16.
On May 12, CMS released new draft guidance on the Manufacturer Discount Program, enacted into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). In response to the draft guidance, AMCP submitted comments on June 12. In the comment letter, AMCP urges CMS to continue to take precautions against potential unintended consequences throughout its implementation of the IRA.
On May 15, AMCP joined dozens of other health care organizations in a sign-on letter thanking the Biden Administration for relaunching the Cancer Moonshot program. First launched in 2016 with the mission to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer, the program's national goal is to reduce the death rate of cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years. The letter applauds the program's prioritization of cancer prevention, especially though human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
On April 27, AMCP submitted comments in response to the Office of Management and Budget's Initial Proposals for Updating Race and Ethnicity Standards. In the comment letter, AMCP provides several recommendations which align with the organization's strategic priority of Addressing Disparities in Medication Use and Access.
On March 17, CMS announced an opportunity for the public to comment on the agency’s initial guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, as required by the Inflation Reduction Act. Given the anticipated impact of the Drug Price Negotiation program on the practice of managed care pharmacy in the United States, AMCP took the opportunity to submit comments on several provisions outlined in CMS’ guidance. AMCP’s comments cover subject areas such as access to the Maximum Fair Price, manufacturer-specific data required for negotiation, evidence about therapeutic alternatives for the selected drug, CMS’ methodology for developing an initial offer, the removal of a drug from the selected drug list, and Part D formulary inclusion of the selected drug.
On March 31, AMCP joined 10 other pharmacy organizations in a joint letter to Anne Milgram, Director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The joint letter requests that the DEA extend flexibilities for telehealth prescribing of buprenorphine using the opioids-related public health emergency.
On March 31, AMCP submitted comments following a Feb. 2 proposed rule by the Internal Revenue Service, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and CMS regarding coverage of certain preventive services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the comment letter, AMCP expresses support for the Departments' goals to increase access to preventive services.
On March 10, AMCP submitted comments to CMS regarding a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies and CHIP Managed Care Entities, Issuers of Qualified Health Plans on the Federally-Facilitated Exchanges, Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Eligible Clinicians, and Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals. AMCP's comments address whether CMS should consider policies to require payers to include information about prior authorizations for drugs on the Patient Access API, the Provider Access API, and the Payer-to-Payer API and how information on the APIs might interact with existing prior authorization requirements.
On March 6, AMCP submitted a comment letter in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2024 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies. AMCP's comments support CMS' proposed Universal Foundation and commitment to advancing health equity, as well as the use of inclusive and gender-affirming approaches to HEDIS measures.
On March 3, AMCP joined 11 other pharmacy associations in a sign-on letter addressing pharmacy priorities following the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) in May. The letter, addressed to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, requests the Administration take immediate action to ensure continued access to certain critical patient care services delivered by pharmacists under the COVID-19 PHE.
On Dec. 27, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on improvements to the Medicare Advantage and prescription drug programs. In a Feb. 13 comment letter, AMCP offers suggestions for strengthening CMS' Medication Therapy Management program, accessible format requirements, and approved formulary, as well as proposals to increase health equity in Medicare Advantage.
