The Hill: Op-Ed: Give seniors more pharmacy choice in Medicare
By Reps. Morgan Griffith & Peter Welch
Maintaining the health of our seniors and lowering overall health costs depends upon the proper use of prescription drugs. Yet, many seniors are prevented from going to their local, community pharmacy and being able to talk about their medication face-to-face with a trusted pharmacist. This is why we have introduced, H.R. 4577, the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act.
Today, Medicare beneficiaries are often on complex medication regimens to combat life-threatening diseases. We should make it easier, not harder, for these patients to get the most out of their medication and to avoid much costlier, invasive treatments, such as hospitalizations.
H.R. 4577 would expand patients’ access to discounted, or “preferred”, co-pays in medically underserved areas. This would save beneficiaries money while giving them the ability to use a pharmacy that best meets their individual health needs.
In many underserved, especially rural areas, patients or their caregivers are surprised to learn the community pharmacy they have used for years, even decades, may not be "preferred" by their Medicare Part D plan. In fact, a senior may discover that they live 20 miles or more from a “preferred” pharmacy. Being forced to drive great length – often over mountains or in inclement weather in our districts – to pick up medication or for consultation with a pharmacist is an issue of mobility and safety for seniors.
Some might suggest that it is acceptable to force seniors in rural and other underserved areas to pay more to continue to use their local pharmacy. However, many beneficiaries require multiple medications. Even a $10 or $25 co-pay differential per prescription can force those on fixed incomes to make tough fiscal decisions, and there’s no fair reason to put a senior in such a situation just because of where he or she lives when there might be a better option for them in their community.
Others might argue that this legislation will increase costs. But the truth is that this legislation only requires that community pharmacies are offered the same terms that preferred pharmacies receive—it does not force them to accept the contract terms and conditions. In addition we believe that H.R. 4577 will reduce costs as more seniors can consult their trusted community pharmacists, get the most out of their medication therapy, and reduce the need for costlier care.
Some of the nation’s foremost consumer, health and rural advocacy organizations share our view with the problems with the current “preferred” pharmacy system and the solution our bill provides. The Consumers Union, HealthHIV, Medicare Rights Center, National Grange, National Rural Health Association, and the National Senior Citizens Law Center have all endorsed H.R 4577.
We believe it is time for Congress to closely examine these plans and to enact the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act so that seniors in medically underserved areas have more convenient access to discounted or “preferred” co-pays.