Reps. to CMS: Reconsider delivery restrictions on diabetes supplies
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue May 28, 2013
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of congressmen, led by Reps. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., are questioning Medicare's decision to prohibit independent community pharmacies from providing same-day, home delivery of diabetes testing supplies to homebound seniors, according to an National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) press release. “If implemented in July 2013, this policy will cause disruption in the care provided to Medicare patients,” the letter stated. “Now that retail and mail order suppliers receive the same level of reimbursements, we believe there is no further reason to prohibit home delivery by retail pharmacies.” In the release, Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, NCPA CEO, characterized the policy as “absurd” and “indefensible,” and said it must be overturned. The American Taxpayer and Relief Act, passed in January, lowered the payment rate for diabetes testing supplies obtained at retail locations to the national mail-order program rates.
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