SCPC Praises Broad Bipartisan Support in U.S. House for 21st Century Cures Act

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) today praised House passage of the 21^st Century Cures Act, and thanked lawmakers for both recognizing the unique challenges facing long-term care (LTC) pharmacy patients and providers, and for including bill language exempting Part D beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities and other settings from a previously proposed medication management "lock-in" provision.

"We thank House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and the full Committee for its vision in crafting this bill, and for the dedication to seeing it through to House passage with such sweeping, broad-based bipartisan support," stated Alan G. Rosenbloom, President and CEO of SCPC.   

"Besides being a strong step forward in finding cures to a variety of the world's most deadly, persistent diseases, passage of the 21^st Century Cures Act is a highly significant policy development that protects LTC patient access to essential medications," he continued.

Said Rosenbloom: "With passage today, the U.S. House specifically recognizes the unique characteristics of the long-term care patient population and the distinctions between specialized long-term care pharmacies and more common retail pharmacies -- particularly the additional requirements imposed on LTC pharmacies under Medicare Part D rules."

The SCPC represents companies that own and operate independent LTC pharmacies in roughly 40 states, serving over 350,000 patients in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

SOURCE Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition