It only took two years, but CMS finally approved Texas' increased pharmacy reimbursement granted by the 2007 state legislature!

 

TPBC led the grassroots campaign to convince almost every member of the Texas congressional delegation to sign a letter urging CMS to finally approve the Texas State Plan Amendment, referred to as the SPA. We are deeply appreciative of the support we got from Congressmen Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) and Ralph Hall (R-Rockwall) and their staff to round up the signatures.

 

And thanks to all of you who responded to our July 30 PharmPlash asking you to contact your U.S. representatives. As far as we can determine, this is the only SPA approved since the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006.

 

Texas Health & Human Services complied with the legislature's bill and effective Sept. 1, 2007, the base fixed component of the dispensing fee increased from $5.14 to $7.50, and the variable component increases from 1.95 percent to 2 percent. But because no decision had been made on the SPA, Texas used only state funds, with no federal matching dollars, to pay for the increase. The state was on the verge of taking a $52 million hit, and community pharmacy would have to make difficult decisions about whether they could afford to continue serving their Medicaid patients.

 

This is a great opportunity for you to again contact your U.S. representative and say thank you for your support. Click here to easily find your representatives e-mail address or phone number, and click here to tell us who contacted.