Michael Larkin and B. Douglas Hoey: Congress should let seniors choose pharmacy

Most of us are probably familiar with Medicare and the vital role it plays in keeping our seniors healthy. Unfortunately, not everyone is familiar with the restrictions many Medicare prescription drug plans place on beneficiaries, effectively making it too expensive to use their pharmacy of choice.

Such limitations often force beneficiaries to either leave their longtime pharmacy or pay higher out-of-pocket costs if they wish to remain with their chosen provider. Locally owned pharmacies in Kansas are usually left out of these exclusive arrangements whereby health insurance middlemen designate “preferred” pharmacies – in most cases national chains and big-box stores. Locally owned pharmacies are frozen out even when they offer to accept the same contractual terms and conditions as the plan’s preferred pharmacy.

For many seniors who are already on fixed incomes, living in a vast and largely rural state such as ours, this could mean that they or their caregivers must either travel 20 miles or more to reach a preferred pharmacy or pay more out of pocket to choose a more convenient provider.

Yet Congress has the opportunity to address these access issues for our seniors by supporting H.R. 4577, the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act. This bill would allow any pharmacy located in a medically underserved area the opportunity to participate as a preferred pharmacy and offer the same out-of-pocket prices to beneficiaries so long as the pharmacy accepted the plan’s terms and conditions. This addresses pharmacy access concerns in our most vulnerable areas, ones defined as medically underserved or suffering from a shortage of health care professionals.

This bipartisan solution was introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., and has earned the support of 58 additional congressional co-sponsors from across the political spectrum. It also has demonstrable support by consumers. Organizations such as the Medicare Rights Center, National Rural Health Association, National Grange and Consumers Union have all endorsed H.R. 4577, and a recent survey by the polling firm Penn Schoen Berland found 76 percent of likely voters support this legislation, regardless of political party.

Furthermore, the legislation addresses more than pharmacy access issues for seniors. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – the agency that runs Medicare – has stated that allowing any pharmacy willing to accept the contractual obligations the opportunity to participate as a preferred pharmacy is the best way to promote competition and lower costs in the prescription drug program so this would potentially lower the burden for taxpayers as well.

Many of our Kansas pharmacists are ready and willing to accept the terms and conditions of Medicare prescription plans if given the opportunity to do so. It’s time for our congressional delegation to add their support to H.R. 4577 and put the choice of pharmacy in the hands of our seniors, not the insurance companies.

This story was originally published October 12, 2014 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Michael Larkin and B. Douglas Hoey: Congress should let seniors choose pharmacy."