PCMA: DIR Legislation Would Increase Premiums, Medicare Part D Costs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement on H.R. 1038, legislation introduced by Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Peter Welch (D-VT), that would prohibit Medicare Part D plans from using direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) for pharmacies in Part D: 

"Medicare Part D is overwhelmingly popular with a 90% satisfaction rate among enrollees. While this bill might increase drugstore profits, it would raise premiums for beneficiaries and increase costs for taxpayers.

A recent report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services highlights how DIR reduces premiums for beneficiaries, which also leads to lower costs for the federal government."

PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 266 million Americans who have health insurance from a variety of sponsors including: commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, union plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), state government employee plans, managed Medicaid plans, and others.

SOURCE Pharmaceutical Care Management Association

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https://www.pcmanet.org