Click links below to view Past Newsletters and Past PharmPhlashes
January 19, 2012: Richard Beck to Leave TPBC Executive Post on May 1 November 4, 2011: Important Update on APRx Managed-Care Lawsuit September 26, 2011: APRx Seeks Summary Judgment in Managed-Care Lawsuit; 9 Texas Congressmen Send Letter of Opposition to CMS September 16, 2011: CMS Gives Preliminary Approval for Texas Managed Care; House Committee Gets an Earful on Rx Dispensing Fee September 1, 2011: Legislative supporters important, especially with limited funds August 30, 2011: The Managed-Care Storm is Darkening Our Rx Horizon August 11, 2011: Scaled-Back Dispensing Fee Cut Begins Sept. 1 July 14, 2011: What starts in Texas changes the world June 10, 2011: Pharmacy protection success, but still fighting against pharmacy in Medicaid managed care May 30, 2011: A little bit of heaven, a little bit of limbo May 16, 2011: Good news, not-so-good news, & another request for your phone calls May 9, 2011: Pulling the trigger on back-up plans April 4, 2011: Legislative update: Urge your state representative to co-sponsor CSHB 3678 April 3, 2011: Legislative update: A hard fought battle lost on a technicality, Round 2 Wednesday March 28, 2011: Legislative update February 28, 2011: Throw it on the wall & see what sticks February 22, 2011: Medicaid managed care for pharmacy wastes state $$ February 19, 2011: Pharmacy friends appointed to key House committees January 25, 2011: Hidden tax & staffing restrictions: What are they thinking?! January 13, 2011: They're off and running; Will you be a pharmacy leader this session? December 23, 2010: Medicaid, Medicaid & more Medicaid November 16, 2010: Hot issues for pharmacy: Medicaid 'carve-in' & elimination of Medicaid October 26, 2010: Good news from NCPA annual convention October 12, 2010: Overwhelming Support for Lawsuit September 28, 2010: It's time to help our PharmacyPhriends September 14, 2010: AMP rule trumps PBMs & mail order August 31, 2010: Should community pharmacies be accredited? August 17, 2010: TSBP and TPBC agree to disagree August 3, 2010: The road ahead for pharmacy and the Texas legislature July 20, 2010: State Board of Pharmacy urged to create pharmacy advisory board June 22, 2010: TDI following up on legislative requirements affecting independent pharmacy June 8, 2010: Walgreens dropping Caremark biz; Medco taking on both PBMs May 25, 2010: Have you received your VDP survey? Texas looking at MTM to save $$$ May 11, 2010: Influential D.C. leaders attending NCPA legislative conference April 27, 2010: Corralling a herd of regs & legislation April 14, 2010: Calls continue to come in about CVS Caremark business practices March 30, 2010: Interim hearings & proposed rules keep TPBC hopping March 2, 2010: TPBC draws line in the dirt in PBM battle February 16, 2010: HHSC asks for Medicaid provider cuts February 2, 2010: Taking our story of PBM transparency success to D.C. January 19, 2010: Mission #1: Re-Elect Chuck Hopson December 15, 2009: We're not there yet -- Significant progress made in TRS PBM contract December 1, 2009: Work with Houston station pays off with disclosures about CVS Caremark merger October 6, 2009: Tamiflu compounding issues prove how inflexible PBMs are September 22, 2009: Community pharmacy scores well in Baucus health care reform bill September 9, 2009: "Unjust enrichment" & "windfall profits?!" August 25, 2009: AWP rollback equivalents ignored, plans using WAC-based formula August 11, 2009: TPBC celebrates successes, sets plans for next legislative session
January 20, 2012: House Health Panel to Hear Medicaid Testimony 1/24 November 23, 2011: Vital Details for Those Attending 11/28 Medicaid Hearing November 22, House Panel to Hear Testimony on Managed Rx Care October 20, 2011: Urge Legislators to Keep Up Pressure on Medicaid Rx October 11, 2011: HHSC Adds Medicaid Rx Training Session for 10/12 October 4, 2011: Urge Legislators to Pressure HHSC on Medicaid Rx September 7, 2011: Urge Your U.S. Rep. to Oppose Managed-Care Waiver NOW August 25, 2011: Time Running Out to File Opposition to Medicaid Managed Care August 22, 2011: RSVP BY TODAY TO ATTEND VITAL MANAGED CARE MEETING WITH U.S. REP. DOGGETT IN SAN ANTONIO. August 17, 2011: Join Rep. Lloyd Doggett on August 23 to Discuss Opposition to Medicaid Managed Care & the Carve-in of Pharmacy August 3, 2011: Petition Deadline Extended for Supporting Collective Bargaining July 22, 2011: Support Collective Bargaining for Independent Pharmacies June 28, 2011: Brown Amendment denied, but contractor integrity concept lives June 27, 2011: Email address format for senate and house June 27, 2011: Who stripped the "Contractor Integrity" amendments from SB 7, the biggest health care bill of the session? June 23, 2011: SB 7 on House floor Friday -- URGENT!! June 20, 2011: URGENT!! Put the teeth back in SB 7 'Bad actor' language June 17, 2011: House and Senate members on break till Monday. This is the time to call them at their district office. June 16, 2011: Submit your opposition to Medicaid managed care June 15, 2011: Now call House conferees AND your state rep about the loophole in contractor integrity amendment June 15, 2011: Tell senators to beware of loophole in contractor integrity amendment to SB 7 June 8, 2011: Call your state rep before noon today June 7, 2011: One more chance to keep bad actors out of Medicaid May 25, 2011: It's not necessary to call Rep. Hopson! House conferees named, please call them, too. May 24, 2011: Protect Medicaid managed care amendments, start calling now. May 20, 2011: 3 out of 5 is pretty darn good May 19, 2011: Call Now! Call your state rep NOW!! May 19, 2011: Watch the Session from your computer May 19, 2011: Hold Your Calls. Medicaid managed care postponed. May 17, 2011: URGENT! Call your state representative beginning NOW in support of amendments to CSSB 23 May 13, 2011: Flood Appropriations Committee with calls to keep pharmacy out of Medicaid managed care! May 10, 2011: Call to support Torres-Hopson AMENDMENT to HB 1951 May 10, 2011: Pulling the trigger on back-up plans May 4, 2011: Is this the end of community pharmacy? May 4, 2011: Call your senator ASAP and urge him/her to vote NO on suspending the rules for SB 546. April 29, 2011: Keep your powder dry till the next PharmPhlash April 28, 2011: Phone!! HHSC throwing community pharmacy to the wolves April 19, 2011: Save $$--Audit PBMs April 14, 2011: Wow! What a difference a phone call can make April 13, 2011: Stop HHSC plan to hand over VDP to PBMs April 12, 2011: Preserve your Medicaid patients' access to quality pharmacy April 8, 2011: Urge your state representative to co-sponsor CSHB 3678 April 5, 2011: Prompt Pay makes it to the World Series! April 5, 2011: Pick up the phone this morning for prompt pay and audit bill March 31, 2011: 2 questions about the future of YOUR pharmacy March 30, 2011: Urge support of Rep. Brown's amendments to keep pharmacy 'Carved Out' of HHSC Vendor Drug March 23, 2011: HHSC/PhRMA rider reimburses at actual acquisition cost March 18, 2011: FTC needs to rule on CVS Caremark investigation March 16, 2011: Proposed cut down to $1. Work still to be done. March 15, 2011: Misinformation leaves $2 Medicaid cut on the table March 14, 2011: Medicaid MCOs on fishing expedition March 13, 2011: $2 Medicaid fee cut still a threat! March 6, 2011: Can you swallow a 37% cut in Medicaid reimbursements? February 1, 2011: Another 1% Medicaid hit January 28, 2011: VDP system unavailable Saturday night December 15, 2010: What a great Christmas present! CMS drops final AMP provisions November 29, 2010: Today best chance to block tax paperwork November 19, 2010: VDP sets new Go Live date November 18, 2010: Tricky Medicaid refill rules November 10, 2010: Urgent Need for CVS Caremark EOBs November 4, 2010: Election results: Good news & bad news October 2, 2010: 6 Texas pharmacists file RICO suit against CVS Caremark September 13, 2010: Call immediately! Don't be buried by paperwork - repeal 1099 June 29, 2010: TPBC urges stakeholder meeting on cost-saving measures May 27, 2010: Heads up: Medicaid/CHIP payments delayed due to holidays Medicaid/CHIP Help Desk tech problems April 30, 2010: CMS excludes certain exocrine pancreatic insufficiency NDCs March 22, 2010: Health care reform bill & pharmacy March 3, 2010: Chuck Hopson wins without runoff! February 25, 2010: Last chance to keep our representative on the ballot! December 7, 2010: Contact state representatives and senators to insist TRS delay PBM contract to allow public comment. December 3, 2009: Senate health reform bill must improve Medicaid generic reimbursement rates November 19, 2009: 31 state leaders call ERS's hand on AWP pricing November 16, 2009: Call state rep & senator to sign letter protesting ERS using pharmacy to fill its budget hole November 6, 2009: U.S. House healthcare vote soon Pharmacy needs greater increase in Medicaid generic drug reimbursement November 2, 2009: Caremark held accountable: ERS covering up shortfall by shortchanging pharmacy October 29, 2009: Call your legislators NOW! Ask for implementation delay October 27, 2009: Will you pull out of ERS/Caremark plan? Even big chains saying "no thanks" October 15, 2009: ERS covers health plan losses slashes pharmacy reimbursements October 8, 2009: Caremark sticking it to Texas pharmacies October 8, 2009: New guidance on DMEPOS participation September 10, 2009: CMS Approves Medicaid Reimbursement Plan September 9, 2009: Don't Fight PBMs by Yourself: TDI is Your Ally September 3, 2009: Ignore that subpoena! August 27, 2009: Received a Subpoena Duces Tecum? July 31, 2009: Committee agrees to PBM & MTM amendments July 30, 2009: Protect TX Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement rate
