How the HEROES Act Would Impact Pharmacists and Techs

Legislation has been introduced in Washington, D.C. that could affect pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as the COVID-19 battle continues. The Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations (HEROES) Act of 2020, introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), would create a tax holiday for health professionals and first responders who continue to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes…

Read More

President Trump Legalizes Hemp with Farm Bill Signing

On Thursday, Dec. 20, President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law. The bill passed out of the House last week with a vote of 369-47 and passed the Senate on Tuesday with an 87-13 vote. Among its many agricultural measures, the bill removes hemp from the Controlled Substances Act – effectively legalizing hemp…

Read More

Changes to DIR Fees Featured in CMS’ Proposed Rule for 2020

On Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their proposed rule for 2020 titled Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses. The proposed rule supplements President Trump’s Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs that was released in May 2018…

Read More

President Signs ‘Gag Clause’ Bills into Law

Today, President Trump signed two bills into law that will allow pharmacists to disclose the lowest cost of prescriptions to their patients. Previously, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have enforced so-called “gag clauses” that prohibited pharmacists from informing their patients if they could purchase their prescriptions for a lower cost out-of-pocket vs. through insurance. The Patient…

Read More