The Pharmacy DIR Reform to Reduce Senior Drug Costs Act
Direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees have grown substantially in recent years, jeopardizing integrated cancer care and increasing patient out-of-pocket costs. Ask your Member of Congress to cosponsor the Pharmacy DIR Reform to Reduce Senior Drug Costs Act (S. 1909/ H.R. 3554) to require pharmacy price concessions to be assessed at the point of sale, eliminate retroactive DIR fees, and establish a new pharmacy performance evaluation system.
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The Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act
Genetic testing is a growing part of comprehensive cancer
care, but genetic counselors are currently only able to provide services under
direct supervision by a Medicare-certified provider, which may limit patient
access. The Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act (S. 1450/ H.R. 2144) would
allow genetic counselors to bill Medicare directly and be reimbursed at 85% of
physician payment. Ask your Member of Congress to improve access to genetic
counselors by cosponsoring this bill today.
The Timely Access to Cancer Treatment (TACT) Act
In cancer care, timeliness is critical. Unfortunately, too
many cancer patients have experienced delays in obtaining cancer drugs from
specialty and mail order pharmacies. Introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), H.R. 3258 would require PBMs, plan sponsors,
insurers, and pharmacies, to ensure a cancer patient is able to obtain his or
her medication from the plan-affiliated pharmacy within 72 hours, and, if not,
the bill would allow the patient to obtain the prescription from their provider
or pharmacy of choice.
The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act
Prior authorization requirements continue to delay critical patient care and impose time and cost burdens on healthcare providers. Urge your Representatives to support patient-friendly prior authorization reforms in Medicare Advantage by cosponsoring H.R. 3173, the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act. Introduced by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Dr. Ami Bera (D-CA), and Dr. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), this bill would streamline and standardize the prior authorization process.
The Safe Step Act
Urge your Members of Congress to cosponsor legislation establishing common-sense parameters on step therapy. The Safe Step Act (S. 464/ H.R. 2163), introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representative Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), would create an exceptions process for "fail first" step therapy policies in employer-sponsored health plans.