AAHomecare Comments on Proposed Part B Drug Payment Changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2016)—This week, AAHomecare submitted comments on the proposed demonstration to revise Part B Medicare prescription drug payments under the Agency’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). CMS proposed to implement the demonstration in two phases. The first phase will target the current reimbursement model that pays suppliers, providers and pharmacies the average sales price (ASP) of the drug plus a 6 percent mark-up. The  second phase will use value based purchasing (VBP) strategies to reduce costs for Part B drugs. CMS anticipates the demonstration will begin soon after the Agency finalizes this proposed rule. In the comments AAHomecare urged CMS to caution with any attempts to modify the dispensing fee for Part B inhalation drugs.

AAHomecare finds the Agency’s aggressive timeline for implementing this demonstration troublesome, especially considering the limited opportunity CMS has afforded the public to weigh in on the proposal. AAHomecare recommended CMS refrain from implementing any proposal that would reduce or eliminate dispensing fees for inhalation drugs.

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