WV Pharmacists Association

WVPA Update

April 8, 2010

Message from CMS:

CMS Releases Parts C & D Regulations and Guidance…

CMS has recently released several documents of interest to the pharmacy community. Please see the links below for additional information.

1. Regulation - Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs CMS released the regulation on April 6 and it has numerous topics of interest for pharmacies. The CMS press release is available at http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp and a fact sheet with additional details is available at http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp. To view the regulation, click on the federal register link here http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx#special or on the CMS website at http://www.cms.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/Downloads/CMS4085P.pdf.

2. Final 2011 Combined Call Letter
CMS released the Call Letter on April 6. Please see this link, beginning on page 80, for more information.
http://www.cms.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/Downloads/2011CombinedCallLetter.pdf

3. Part D Data Symposium Information
CMS would like to cordially thank you for attending the 2010 Part D Symposium on March 18, 2010. We received very positive feedback from participants and presenters. The Part D Symposium presentations are now available online under the download section at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/09_ProgramReports.asp#TopOfPage. We hope you found the symposium a valuable opportunity to discuss Medicare Part D trends and experiences with the community.

4. Reminder of the Part D Transition Policy
Please see the attached document MemoTransition 03.25.10.pdf. This memo includes a link to the Part D transition policy in Chapter 6 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Manual and a summary chart which outlines CMS’ transition policy as it applies to specific subgroups of beneficiaries as well as CMS’ expectations of Part D sponsors. The transition policy represents an important beneficiary protection to prevent serious adverse health consequences from occurring as a result of enrolled beneficiaries – who may be unfamiliar with the plan’s formulary requirements – being unable to obtain their needed prescription medications at the point-of-sale. We expect plans to carefully track their performance and to take immediate action when they identify problems related to their adherence to the Part D transition policy. Please note that we intend to closely monitor plan performance in this regard. Where plan performance is interfering with enrollees’ rights to obtain the drugs they need on a timely basis, we will take prompt action.

Click here to see attachment.