To guide your navigation of the legislative process and assist your advocacy efforts, please visit the following state websites:
STATE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE EVENTS
How a bill becomes a law in Massachusetts
MPhA Policy Stances:
I. Payment for Pharmacist's Patient Care Services
MPhA advocates for APhA’s policy stance on Payment for Pharmacist's Patient Care Services. Currently, these are not included in key sections of the Social Security Act (SSA), which determines eligibility for health care programs such as Medicare Part B. In the case of Medicare Part B, the omission of Payment for Pharmacist's Patient Care Services limits Medicare beneficiaries’ access to pharmacists’ services in the outpatient setting. Pharmacists have demonstrated their value while playing a crucial role in COVID-19 pandemic response by being available and accessible as front-line health care professionals.
Like APhA, MPhA encourages Congress to pass legislation that recognizes Payment for Pharmacist's Patient Care Services in Medicare Part B and as integral members of the health care team to provide patients with access to and coverage for our quality patient care services. Additionally, MPhA also encourages Massachusetts to pass similar legislation to ensure that the state population is protected and that Massachusetts pharmacists are practicing at the top of their license.
II. Pharmacist and Pharmacy Payment Reform
The pharmacy reimbursement and drug pricing scheme lack the necessary oversight to ensure improved patient outcomes and lower costs. As APhA has voiced, these misalignments are causing pharmacies across the country to shut their doors, leaving patients without access to their local pharmacies.
MPhA supports transparency and accountability in reimbursement and pricing and is thus concentrating policy efforts to 1) support pharmacists’ ability to focus on patient care and to be appropriately paid for these services and 2) reform pharmacy payment and PBMs’ actions and activities that are disrupting the pharmacy ecosystem. To do so we are encouraging Massachusetts policymakers to confront fair and adequate reimbursement for commercial insurance and MassHealth to create more balance for the Massachusetts healthcare marketplace.
III. Increased Access for Pharmacists to the Patient’s Healthcare Team
For too long patients have been steered by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) into care that is neither cost efficient, nor in the patient’s best interests. We share APhA’s belief that as scientific innovation continues to evolve, pharmacists as the medication experts, need to be key players on patient healthcare teams. Having a complete patient healthcare team will allow the patient to take full advantage of all of the healthcare options available to them. As such MPhA will continue to advocate for any willing provider requirements that are favorable for pharmacists that will ensure access to PBM contractual terms and conditions for network participation. We will also advocate tirelessly for PBM transparency.
IV. Compounding
MPhA adopts the compounding stance that APhA has publicly stated. APhA urges policymakers to defer to existing state laws related to traditional compounding, including laws related to “office-use,” and has asked FDA to clarify that its guidance is not designed to infringe on the practice of pharmacy as historically regulated by the states. APhA also remains concerned that arbitrary limitations on the out-of-state distribution of compounded drug products may adversely impact patient access to medically-necessary medications. MPhA will continue to advocate in Massachusetts for transparent and clear guidelines in compounding by engaging with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy.