| LTC Pharmacy News
October 2025 |
|
| Well, here we are in October and the chaos continues. The government has shut down, awaiting the inevitable "blink" when Congress determines that public fury will overwhelm partisan interests. So far, no "blinks" have been detected.
Medicare open enrollment is well underway, reminding us to brace ourselves for a momentous reckoning when reimbursements for drugs subject to negotiated discounts drop below our acquisition cost.
This is the point at which I would normally inject a "this too shall pass" encouragement, but none come to mind. I am expecting stories of heroic efforts by pharmacists and pharmacies to serve their patients, but at what cost?
Courage.
Paul |
| |
Subscribe to LTC Pharmacy News! If you received this issue of LTC Pharmacy News from a friend, be certain to get your own free subscription. Easy! Just click the button below and make certain you continue to get all the LTC Pharmacy News as soon as it's published.
|
| | | | Bill Introduced to Preserve LTC Pharmacies Adds Co-Sponsors
The unintended consequences of Medicare price negotiation, specifically the impact on LTC pharmacy reimbursement, has resulted in the introduction of the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act (HR 5031). The bill is truly bipartisan, now with 5 Republican and 5 Democratic cosponsors.
The Hill: Editorial from Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
TrumpRx Has Gone Live
The Trump Administration has published a website called TrumpRx that directs consumers to companies that have established direct-to-consumer access for prescription drugs, often at deep discounts. This mimics a PhRMA effort to create a hub (America's Medicines) to connect consumers with member company resources to access direct pricing of prescription drugs. Both sites are placeholders, no active resources listed yet.
CMS Releases 2026 Medicare Landscape Files
The Medicare Prescription Drug Program open enrollment period has begun. See the 2026 Medicare PDP and MA landscape files here. This is especially important to determine whether auto-enrolled dual eligibles will be rolled over to new plans. this happens when a benchmark plan in which a person is auto-enrolled is currently enrolled in a plan that is no longer available, or when the plan no longer qualifies for benchmark status.
CMS Halts Most Nursing Home Surveys
CMS announced that, due to the government shutdown, nursing home survey and certification activities will be suspended. More
HHS OIG: Medicare Could Have Saved $300 M on Opioid Use Disorder
The HHS Inspector General reports on an audit of Medicare payments for opioid use disorder, discovering that a significant percentage of claims included payment for services not provided. Report |
| | | | | | Rite Aid is No More
Retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid announced that it had closed the last of its retail locations, ending an era for what was once the largest chain drug store in the US. has CVS purchased many of the assets and most prescriptions have been transferred to local CVS pharmacies. USA Today
CVS Pharmacy Acquires Select Rite Aid Assets
AHCA CEO Talks Regulatory Relief
The American Health Care Association's Cliff Porter reflects on the need for a more rational regulatory approach, the effect of Medicare Advantage on senior healthcare, and the challenges ahead. More
Nursing Home Residents Exposed to Potential Drug-Drug Interactions
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reports a study suggesting 62 percent of nursing home residents were exposed to a combination of drugs that carried a risk of drug-to-drug interactions. More
MHA and Navitus Health Solutions Ink Deal for LTC Pharmacies
Post-Acute care GPO and PSAO company MHA announced an agreement with Navitus Health Solutions to protect member pharmacies with adequate dispensing fees for drugs with maximum fair price designation, as well as additional benefits. See Release
Green Bay Pharmacy Quits Retail, Goes Total LTC
After 70 years as a retail fixture in Green Bay, WI, Streu's Pharmacy has made the painful decision to close its retail drug store and focus on serving nursing homes, which it has also done for 70 years. YouTube
US Adults Not Prepared for Aging
The MIT Age Lab released a survey showing that US residents are not well prepared for the rigors of aging. The survey questioned 1300 adults on 8 measures of aging readiness and assigned scores of zero to 100 (100 being fully prepared). the respondents average 60 on readiness, with an average score of 40 on care. More
WeightWatchers Partners with Amazon Pharmacy
The weight loss company has forged a partnership with Amazon Pharmacy to supply weight-loss drugs (GLP-1s) to its members. Amazon will provide customers with updated status of availability, discounts, and home delivery. More
HMA: Analysis of 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings
HMA has released two white papers analyzing changes in the Star-ratings of Medicare Advantage and Part D (PDP) programs. Star ratings are quality indicators that are influential in helping beneficiaries choose Medicare plans. More |
| |
|
