NCPA Statement on House Passage of GOP American Health Care Act

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (May 4, 2017) National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, issued the following statement today in response to passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628):

"This vote marks the next step in a lengthy, multi-step process set forth by Republican Congressional leaders. As part of that, the Senate is expected to make substantial revisions to the legislation for it to have any chance of advancement.

"House Republicans considered and passed this legislation under a process that greatly limited what provisions and policies could be considered germane, excluding virtually any of interest to community pharmacies. Lawmakers intend to develop subsequent health care legislation to fill in the gaps. NCPA and its members will continue to engage lawmakers to champion priorities for community pharmacies during this process.

"We encourage community pharmacists to contact their Representative and Senators and reiterate the importance of our pro-patient, pro-pharmacist policies. These include maintaining prescription drug coverage and ensuring adequate pharmacy reimbursement for patient care as well as sufficient access to community pharmacies and bipartisan transparency provisions related to PBMs in federal exchange programs.

"NCPA has urged these common-sense policies to lawmakers. And NCPA will continue to advocate them on behalf of our members and the patients they serve."