May 21: ASCP Spring Conference: Provider Status and New Payment Models for Pharmacists
May 23: ASCP Spring Conference: ASCP Policy & Advocacy Update
June 7: P&A Monthly Briefing Call (RSVP) at 1 p.m. Eastern
July 21: ASCP Midwest Conference: ASCP Policy & Advocacy Update
New!! CMS Publishes Response to Independence Proposal
The final rule for the Medicare Program Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs for Contract Year 2013 and Other Changes (PDF) was published in the April 12 Federal Register. This notice contains the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) response to public comments received regarding their proposal to require consultant pharmacists to be independent from long-term care pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and wholesalers. The section pertaining to consultant pharmacist independence begins on page 29 of the PDF, or page 22100 of the Federal Register Notice, "5.Independence of LTC Consultant Pharmacists (Sec.483.60)". (PDF)
Read ASCP President Penny Shelton's response to CMS proposal comments.
For more information, please visit the LTC Rule page.
New!! CMS Publishes CY2013 Part D Reporting Requirements

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Federal Register notice on April 18 outlining Medicare Part D reporting requirements for calendar year 2013. In response to industry questions about this notice, CMS stated that the agency is not currently proposing any specific data collection on unused drugs, but will address that in future guidance. CMS plans to issue guidance on prescription drug event (PDE) reporting from claims data and will quantify unused drugs in long-term care through data reported to CMS from a variety of sources. CMS does not plan to create a separate reporting requirement for Part D participating pharmacies and sponsors specifically for unused drugs at this time.
CMS Questions for Public Comment
On April 12, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final rule for the Medicare Program Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs for Contract Year 2013 and Other Changes (PDF) in the Federal Register. This notice contains CMS’s response to public comments received regarding their October 11, 2012 proposal to require consultant pharmacists to be independent from long-term care pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and wholesalers. CMS has requested additional comments from the public on a series of questions (PDF). ASCP is currently developing comments in response to these questions, which are due on June 11, 2012.
Thanks to all our supporters who contributed to our Fall 2011 PAC Fundraising Drive at the Annual Meeting!
We had a good time in May, too--read the 2011 Spring Meeting Fundraiser Recap: Pineapple Trees, Polyester Ruffles, and Smokey Robinson
Make a contribution to ASCP Advocacy today!
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