Partnership for Part D Access
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Patient Communities
    • Our Leadership
  • The Issue
    • Six Protected Classes
    • History
  • Resources
  • Newsroom
  • Stakeholder Voices
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Patient Communities
    • Our Leadership
  • The Issue
    • Six Protected Classes
    • History
  • Resources
  • Newsroom
  • Stakeholder Voices
  • Contact Us

Resources

CMS Rescinds Proposal to Limit Part D Drug Access

3/10/2014

 
Picture
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on March 10, 2014, that they would not finalize a proposal to eliminate protected class status for any drugs under Medicare Part D “at this time.” In a letter to members of Congress, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said that the agency will abandon its proposal to exclude antidepressants and immunosuppressants for the 2015 coverage year (and antipsychotics in 2016) from their status as protected drug classes. In the letter, Administrator Tavenner notes that CMS may look to advance these proposed changes “in future years.” The Partnership for Part D Access applauded CMS on their decision to withdraw this dangerous proposal. Click below to view the letter.


Read More

Senate GOP Leaders Urge CMS to Preserve Six Protected Classes Policy

3/7/2014

 
Picture
In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), key Republican leaders urged HHS to rescind a proposed rule that could threaten access to prescription drugs for seniors and people with disabilities. In the letter—spearheaded by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and signed by 15 Senate Republicans—the Senators urge CMS to retract the ruling immediately, indicating that “the most important pillars of the Part D program have been its robust competition among plans, protection from government interference in contract negotiations, and protection of access to life-saving drugs.” The Senators warn that the proposed rule could “undermine each of these pillars,” resulting in as many as 14 million seniors losing their current drug coverage. Click the document below to view the letter.


Read More

Partnership for Part D Access Submits Comments Urging CMS to Rescind Proposed Change to Six Protected Classes

3/7/2014

 
Picture
On March 7, 2014, the Partnership for Part D Access filed comments urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to rescind the proposed rule that would eliminate protected class status for several categories of drugs under Medicare Part D. The comment letter notes that in the proposed rule, CMS fundamentally misinterprets the intent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by weakening the protected classes policy and transforming a legislative directive to identify classes of clinical concern into one targeting classes of alleged cost concern. The studies cited by the agency do not support its own cost savings assumptions and the rule ignores the substantial spending associated with the destabilization of patient care that it will precipitate. By using it as a tool for cutting costs at the expense of the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries, CMS contradicts Congress’s intent to improve and expand the protected classes policy. Click "Download File" to view the comments.


Read More

Rep. Murphy Probes CMS’ Proposal to Restrict Access to “Life-Saving Mental Health Drugs”

3/7/2014

 
Picture
In a letter to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (PA-18) questions the agency’s decision to eliminate protected access to mental health drugs on Medicare Part D plans. “The Proposed Rule fails to address the Agency’s past acknowledgement that Medicare beneficiaries require access to medications in therapeutic classes where different drugs are not interchangeable,” Rep. Murphy writes. “The CMS proposal appears not to be grounded in a concern over beneficiary health. Instead, the proposal seeks to increase profits through increased rebate-negotiating leverage for private Prescription Drug Plans Sponsors or insurers.”

Partnership for Part D Access Submits Comments Urging CMS to Rescind Proposed Change to Six Protected Classes

3/7/2014

 
Picture
On March 7, 2014, the Partnership for Part D Access filed comments urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to rescind the proposed rule that would eliminate protected class status for several categories of drugs under Medicare Part D. The comment letter notes that in the proposed rule, CMS fundamentally misinterprets the intent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by weakening the protected classes policy and transforming a legislative directive to identify classes of clinical concern into one targeting classes of alleged cost concern. The studies cited by the agency do not support its own cost savings assumptions and the rule ignores the substantial spending associated with the destabilization of patient care that it will precipitate. By using it as a tool for cutting costs at the expense of the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries, CMS contradicts Congress’s intent to improve and expand the protected classes policy. Click ‘Read More’ to view the comments.


Read More

Fifty Bipartisan House Members Defend Protected Classes Policy

3/5/2014

 
Picture
On March 5, 2014, fifty members of the House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees penned a letter opposing a proposed Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that would eliminate protected class status for several categories of drugs under Medicare Part D. The lawmakers say that the rule, which will eliminate protected class status for several categories of drugs, will place harmful limits on Medicare beneficiaries’ access to necessary medications that would otherwise be covered. The group stated that Part D has “demonstrated the ability to provide access to important life-saving and life-enhancing medications for the vast majority of America’s seniors and non-elderly people with severe disabilities.” Click below to view the letter.


Read More

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    January 2020
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    September 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    July 2011
    September 2010
    March 2010
    July 2008
    January 2008
    December 2003

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Learn more

About Us
Patient Communities
​Issues
​Background

What's New?

​Newsroom
Resources
​

Contact

Contact Us
© COPYRIGHT 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.