NCPA Commends Senators Tester, Roberts For Proposal To Exempt Pharmacies From Medicare Part B DMEPOS Surety Bond Requirement

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 06 May 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Pharmacies that provide Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) to their patients would be exempt from posting $50,000 surety bonds under legislation recently introduced. U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) have sponsored a companion bill to H.R. 1970, the Preserve Patents Access to Reputable DMEPOS Providers Act of 2009. In response, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Executive Vice President and CEO Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, issued the following statement:

"This legislation is important to maintaining patient access to essential medical supplies, such as diabetes testing strips. It allows patients to continue relying on their trusted local pharmacies as a one-stop shop where prescription drugs, medical advice and supplies are available and health outcomes are maximized. We deeply appreciate the leadership of Senators Jon Tester and Pat Roberts and their continued efforts to help pharmacists continue to play a vital role in the health care chain.

"The bond requirement should not apply to pharmacists, who are already subject to state regulations and are not associated with violations. Fourteen other medical providers are already exempted from this time-consuming and expensive requirement, and this bill would add pharmacists to that list.

"NCPA encourages the Senate and House to move these bills in an expeditious fashion. This will ensure patient access to medical supplies is not endangered."

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a DMEPOS final rule that requires pharmacies to obtain a surety bond to continue selling DMEPOS by October 2, 2009. The average independent community pharmacy's DMEPOS-generated revenue only comprises a small percentage of its gross annual sales. In fact, many independent community pharmacies' percentages fall well below that threshold.

Fourteen other medical professions are exempted from the surety bond requirement because of their state licensure, expertise and training-all qualities that pharmacists share. In rural and urban areas independent community pharmacies are often the only health care provider that provides access to health care supplies.

Source
The National Community Pharmacists Association

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