Blog: Ensuring Access to Local Pharmacies

Statement

Recently, I cosponsored the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2015 (H.R.793) to help protect 4th District seniors who live in rural areas and depend upon the local community pharmacy nearest them.

Here's how it works: While Medicare Part D preferred pharmacy network plans were created to help make prescription drugs more affordable, these plans have also unintentionally put some community pharmacies at a competitive disadvantage. Some seniors, especially in rural areas, have reported having to travel upwards of 20 miles in order to get their medications from a preferred pharmacy network because their local community pharmacy was not given the opportunity to participate in such a network.

This bill will help ensure seniors have better access to prescription medications while helping keep rural community pharmacies competitive with larger pharmacies, by allowing any willing pharmacy located within a designated medically underserved or health professional shortage area to participate in the Medicare Part D preferred network program. This helps reinforce and preserve the critical role that local pharmacies play in delivering care to our rural communities.

I will keep you posted on this bill as it progresses through the House.

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