OCTOBER • 2012 NCPA PAC UPDATE National Community Pharmacists Association Political Action Committee P1. NCPA Political Action P2. Pharmacy Bills Continue to P4. Analysis of Obama vs. Romney P7. NCPA PAC Supports a Bi- Committee News. Gain Support in Congress. Medicare/Medicaid Proposals. Partisan Roster of Candidates. ELECTION GUIDE NCPA Political Action Committee (NCPA PAC) News IT’S OCTOBER AND THE HALLS OF CONGRESS ARE EMPTY! In addition to the Presidency being up for grabs, one third of the Senate and every member of the House of Representatives is at home pounding the campaign trail as they prepare for the up- coming election. While the majority of the nation’s attention will be on the presidential election, there will be literally hundreds, if not thousands, of races in that have the potential to impact community pharmacy. The results may have significant implications for the future of the Medicare, Medicaid, and the new health care reform law, all programs of importance for community pharmacy. Presidential Race Update Source: The Cook Political Report Thank you to all of our NCPA PAC supporters this election cycle. As a distinguished PAC member, you should hold your head high. Without your support, independent community pharmacy would have gone unnoticed. The race for President is still close, with both party conventions over and the candidates’ bounces having largely subsided. With President Obama needing 270 electoral votes to 100 Daingerfield Road 100 Daingerfield Road Alexandria, VA 22314-2888 Alexandria, VA 22314-2888 win a second term, the map above outlines the current electoral vote ratings. ■ ELECTION GUIDE Senate Races Update Pharmacy Bills Source: The Cook Political Report Continue to Gain Support in Congress NCPA has continued to educate Members of Congress and their staffs about NCPA’s legislative priorities and bills. A list of mem- bers that have signed on to each bill is be- low. Please support these Members of Con- gress that support Community Pharmacy. The Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act (H.R. 1936): H.R. 1936 would ensure that Medicare beneficiaries will be able to continue to obtain diabetes testing sup- plies and counseling services they receive from small pharmacies by exempting these pharmacies from the DME competitive bidding program. Seniors would also be Current Senate Lineup: 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans, 2 Independents (33 seats up in 2012) able to continue to obtain home delivery With Democrats holding a 53-47 majority in the chamber (including independents of their testing supplies from these same who caucus with the Democrats) Republicans would need to gain a net of at least three small pharmacies. seats—four if they fail to win the presidency. And both sides have said it’s about a 50-50 prospect. ■ Lead Sponsors: Rep. Schock, Aaron [IL-18] & Rep. Welch, Peter [VT-AL] House Races Update Rep. Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] Source: The Cook Political Report Rep. Berg, Rick [ND-AL] Rep. Boren, Dan [OK-2] Rep. Castor, Kathy [FL-11] Rep. DeGette, Diana [CO-1] Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] Rep. Ellmers, Renee L. [NC-2] Rep. Gibbs, Bob [OH-18] Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [VA-9] Rep. Harper, Gregg [MS-3] Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] Rep. Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] Rep. Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] Rep. Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep. Latham, Tom [IA-4] Rep. Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] Rep. Lewis, John [GA-5] Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] Current House Lineup: 240 Republicans, 190 Democrats, 5 Vacancies Rep. McKinley, David B. [WV-1] With Republicans holding a 240-190 majority, Democrats would need gain a net of 25 seats Rep. Meehan, Patrick [PA-7] to take the majority. Political pundits are currently predicting a net shift of between two Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] seats for Republicans and eight seats for Democrats. ■ Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] ELECTION GUIDE Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] Rep. Paul, Ron [TX-14] Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [WA-3] Rep. Posey, Bill [FL-15] Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] Rep. Roe, David P. [TN-1] Rep. Platts, Todd [PA-19] Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] Rep. Ross, Mike [AR-4] Rep. Posey, Bill [FL-15] Rep. Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] Rep. Roby, Martha [AL-2] Rep. Johnson, Hank [GA-4] Rep. Schilling, Robert T. [IL-17] Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] Rep. Scott, David [GA-13] Rep. Ross, Dennis [FL-12] Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] Rep. Terry, Lee [NE-2] Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] Rep. Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep. Tonko, Paul [NY-21] Rep. Scott, Austin [GA-8] Rep. Loebsack, David [IA-2] Rep. Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] Rep. Smith, Adrian [NE-3] Rep. Marino, Tom [PA-10] Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] Rep. Welch, Peter [VT] Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] The Preserving Our Hometown Inde- Rep. Young, Todd C. [IN-9] Rep. Scott, Austin [GA-8] pendent Pharmacies Act of 2011 (H.R. Rep. Scott, David [GA-13] 1946): H.R. 1946 would create a more The Pharmacy Competition and Con- Rep. Terry, Lee [NE-2] competitive marketplace for the delivery sumer Choice Act of 2011 (H.R. 1971/S. Rep. Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] of pharmacy services by enhancing the 1058): H.R. 1971/S. 1058 would result in Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] ability of independent community phar- greater choice of pharmacies for consum- Rep. Welch, Peter [VT] macies to negotiate with pharmacy ben- ers. It would provide vital information Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] efit managers (PBMs). to health plans to help them better assess Rep. Young, Todd C. [IN-9] whether their PBM is doing all it can to Lead Sponsor: Rep. Marino, Tom [PA-10] lower prescription drug costs. It would The Medicare Pharmacy Transparency Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4] also create fair standards for PBM audits and Fair Auditing Act (H.R. 4215): H.R. Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] of pharmacies that are understandable and 4215 would address problematic PBM Rep. Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] consistent with state laws governing phar- practices in Medicare by addressing egre- Rep. Barletta, Lou [PA-11] macy practice. gious audits and requiring that PBMs’ Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] audit standards cannot exceed those re- Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] Lead Sponsors: Sen. Pryor, Mark [AR] quired by state or federal law. It would also Rep. Boren, Dan [OK-2] & Sen. Moran, Jerry [KS] require PBM transparency regarding how Rep. Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] Sen. Boozman, John [AR] PBMs determine their Maximum Allow- Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] Sen. Cochran, Thad [MS] able Cost (MAC) pricing. Rep. Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] Sen. Conrad, Kent [ND] Rep. Coble, Howard [NC-6] Sen. Johnson, Tim [SD] Lead Sponsors: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Crawford, Rick [AR-1] Sen. Wicker, Roger [MS] Cathy [WA-5] & Rep. Ross, Mike [AR-4] Rep. Ellmers, Renee L. [NC-2] Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [NV-2] Rep. Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] Lead Sponsors: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] Cathy [WA-5] & Rep. Ross, Mike [AR-4] Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] Rep. Barletta, Lou [PA-11] Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] Rep. Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] Rep. Boren, Dan [OK-2] Rep. Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] Rep. Boren, Dan [OK-2] Rep. Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [WA-3] Rep. Boswell, Leonard L. Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] Rep. Castor, Kathy [FL-11] Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] Rep. Kissell, Larry [NC-8] Rep. Connolly, Gerry [VA-11] Rep. Chu, Judy [CA-32] Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] Rep. Courtney, Joe [CT-2] Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [TN-4] Rep. McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] Rep. Critz, Mark S. [PA-12] Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] Rep. Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [MS-4] Rep. Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [VA-9] ELECTION GUIDE NCPA Analysis of Obama vs. Romney Medicare/ H.R. 1451 Cont’d Rep. Hastings, Doc [WA-4] Medicaid Proposals Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] With Mitt Romney’s selection of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate, Rep. Kissell, Larry [NC-8] the issue of Medicare and Medicaid entitlement reform will be front and center in the Rep. Latham, Tom [IA-4] Presidential campaign. And that should be no surprise. The three main Federal entitle- Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] ment programs – Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security—comprise a majority of Federal Rep. Loebsack, David [IA-2] spending, meaning that any serious attempt at Federal deficit reduction will involve major Rep. Marino, Tom [PA-10] changes to these programs. Rep. Owens, William L. [NY-23] Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] Independent community pharmacy has a huge stake in potential changes to these programs Rep. Poe, Ted [TX-2] given that Medicare Part D and Medicaid prescriptions represent about half of the aver- Rep.