LTC Pharmacy News December 2024 Another year nearly behind us. As the COVID years begin to vanish in the rear-view mirror it seems like most of life has returned nearly to normal. Washington remains largely dysfunctional, and healthcare continues to get more complicated. A new administration awaits. We wait to see what will change, and what won't. Optimism leavened with realism. In the middle of it all the professionals continue to do the hard, steady work of serving the frail elderly, able to keep the focus on the patient and off the chaos. To all of you, I am grateful, and raise a glass in your honor. Paul How Drug Shortages Spur Compounding We’ve all seen the news stories about drug compounders filling the gap caused by a shortage of the GLP-1 drugs tirzepatide, Lilly’s Zepbound, and semaglutide, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, approved for the treatment of obesity. So, what rules govern how a compounding pharmacy is authorized to legally create a version of a patented drug when the drug is declared to be in short supply? More Subscribe to LTC Pharmacy News! If you received this issue of LTC Pharmacy News from a friend, be certain to get your own free subscription. Easy! Just click the button below and make certain you continue to get all the LTC Pharmacy News as soon as it's published. Subscribe Now! Federal News and Updates Biden Administration Proposes Coverage of GLP-1 Drugs in Medicare/Medicaid The Administration announced a proposed rule to cover anti-obesity medications. Although the Social Security Act does not allow for coverage of weight-loss drugs, the Administration is using creative interpretation to change the policy without Congressional authorization. Coverage would be available only to those individuals who are obese, not just overweight.  CMS Fact Sheet US House Bill Introduced to Break PBM/Pharmacy Relationship A bipartisan group of House members have introduced legislation to prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from having an interest in a pharmacy. The legislation would require existing relationships to be divested within three years. The legislation is reported to be included in the year-end continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown. Healthcare Finance OIG: Fall Semi-Annual Report to Congress The Fall 2024 Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR) highlights over $7 billion in expected recoveries and receivables resulting from HHS-OIG investigations and audits conducted during fiscal year (FY) 2024. Press Release Report CMS Medicaid Releases 2024 Medicaid and CHIP Scorecard The CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP released the 2024 Scorecard, which is dashboard that draws from multiple datasets derived from state and federal reporting efforts. The measures selected for inclusion in the MAC Scorecard represent key data points that reflect CMS’ priorities across different facets of Medicaid and CHIP. Take a look I think you will find this interesting and very informative. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Releases Annual Report The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation released its 2024 Report to Congress, The report covers the Center's activities for 2024, including results of care delivery and payment trials.  FDA Announces Center for Real-World Evidence Innovation On 12 December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the creation of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Center for Real-World Evidence Innovation (CCRI) to coordinate and promote the use of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in regulatory decision-making. More Report: 2024 Network of Patient Safety Databases Chartbook: Medication and Other Substance Events. What's Happening in the States Report: PA Not Equipped to Manage Dementia in LTC The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a state legislative agency, issued a report that states the state is not equipped to deal with Alzheimer's disease and dementia through the state's network of LTC facilities. More CT Nursing Home Closures Spur Concern Despite high occupancy levels, Connecticut industry officials warn that total beds in the state have shrunk by more than 800 since 2018, signaling that there's trouble ahead for senior care. Providers point to Medicaid payment rates and staffing pressures are problems that should be addressed. More Everything Else SCPC Unveils LTC Pharmacy Cost Analysis The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) announces the release of a study showing the cost to dispense a prescription in LTC pharmacy frequently exceeds the reimbursement received from health plans. The trade association calls for action by Congress to fix LTC pharmacy reimbursement in Medicare. AARP: Tech Trends and Adults 50+ Despite the common belief that technology is less interesting to people over the age of 50, this AARP Survey shows that tech adoption continues into this age cohort and presents may opportunities for designers and marketers to tap into the often-neglected group of consumers. Walgreens  Reported to be in Talks to be Acquired by Private Equity With a market cap of $7.5 billion (vs. $100 billion in 2015), Drugstore chain Walgreens is reported to be in negotiations with private equity firm Sycamore Partners. No details available, but this would be a major change for a major drug retailer.  DIR Fees: Where are we Now? Legislation that killed PBM retroactive fees on pharmacies in Medicare never passed. However, CMS enacted a regulatory remedy that didn't allow these fees to be imposed after the script was dispensed. So, how's that working out? More Tarrytown Expocare Completes Acquisition Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy reports it has completed the acquisition of Greater Boston Long Term Care Pharmacy. This marks the 11th acquisition for Tarrytown, a leading provider of long-term care and behavioral healthcare pharmacy organization. More Guardian Adds Freedom Pharmacy Guardian Pharmacy Services announced a strategic partnership with Freedom Pharmacy, serving residents of Northwest and central New Jersey. More MGA  Acquires Ward Road Pharmacy MGA Homecare announced that it has acquired Ward Road Pharmacy of Arvada Colorado. The acquisition expands the portfolio of MGA to include LTC pharmacy and durable medical equipment. More Google Top Search Terms of 2024 The world's most popular search engine has published a list of the things we searched for most frequently in 2024. The list is segmented into general topics (e.g., entertainment, sports, etc.) and includes terms you might expect (elections) and lots of names I have never heard of (I am old). Take a look.