http://pcmanet.org PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D. PCMA is dedicated to enhancing the proven tools and techniques pioneered by PBMs that generate savings and access for consumers and payors. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:35:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en "Generic Carve-Out" Legislation Ignores Existing Laws in All 50 States  FDA, Medical Groups, and Others Support Generic Substitution  (Washington, DC)- Legislative proposals to exempt certain classes of drugs from generic substitution laws would increase costs by more than $29 billion over ten years if enacted nationally and provide no safety or clinical ... http://pcmanet.org/new-pcma-research-state-legislative-proposals-restricting-access-to-generic-medicines-would-increase-costs-29-billion-over-10-years/ Undermining Generic Drug Substitution: The Cost of Generic Carve-Out Legislation http://pcmanet.org/undermining-generic-drug-substitution-the-cost-of-generic-carve-out-legislation/ (Washington, DC)- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement in response to a new analysis released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that estimates the costs associated with sweeping antitrust exemptions for independent pharmacies: "The new CBO analysis confirms that sweeping antitrust exemptions for independent pharmacies would increase ... http://pcmanet.org/pcma-new-cbo-analysis-confirms-independent-pharmacy-%e2%80%98collective-bargaining%e2%80%99-legislation-increases-costs-for-consumers-and-payors/ Proposed DEA Rule Would Not Improve Adoption of E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances (Washington, DC)- The proposed rule from the Justice Department's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) for controlled substances cannot be effectively implemented and would not enhance adoption of the technology for these medications, the Pharmaceutical Care Management ... http://pcmanet.org/pcma-safe-and-secure-prescribing-of-controlled-substances-should-be-permitted/ PCMA Letter to the DEA on E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances http://pcmanet.org/pcma-letter-to-the-dea-on-e-prescribing-for-controlled-substances/ HHS and CMS Hosting National E-Prescribing Conference http://pcmanet.org/hhs-cms-hosting-national-e-prescribing-conference/ 3 Keys Points in Law Include Sufficient Reimbursements, Standards Consistent with Part D, and Securing Full Physician Adoption  (Washington, DC)- With passage of the historic new law requiring electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) in Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) today applauded the Administration's continued leadership to ensure broad physician adoption ... http://pcmanet.org/pcma-hhs-conference-on-e-prescribing-will-accelerate-physician-adoption/ New Medicare Requirement Includes Financial Incentives for Physician Adoption (Washington, DC)- The new law requiring electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) in Medicare is spurring physician groups across the country to adopt the technology.  The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is the first state medical organization to join a growing roster of national medical groups ... http://pcmanet.org/new-medicare-law-igniting-physician-groups-to-adopt-e-prescribing/ (Washington, DC)-Mark Merritt, President of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, issued the following statement in response to new comparative effectiveness legislation introduced late this week by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Senate Budget Committee Chair Kent Conrad (D-N.D.): "We applaud Senators Baucus and Conrad for helping advance the ... http://pcmanet.org/pcma-statement-on-baucus-conrad-comparative-effectiveness-legislation/ Merritt: ‘Part D Plans Delivering Broad Access, Deep Savings for Seniors & Disabled, While Reining In Overall Program Costs’ PCMA Outlines Additional Policy Options for Improving Medicare Part D (Washington, DC)— Testifying today before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt reported ... http://pcmanet.org/pcma-president-and-ceo-mark-merritt-testifies-before-house-oversight-government-reform-committee-on-medicare-part-d/