Letter: Advancing Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacy Services for Home-Based Medicare Patients
Published December 17, 2024
Today, the Alliance and 26 partner organizations sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, urging that the agency take action to expand access to long-term care (LTC) pharmacy services for Medicare beneficiaries living at home who require that expanded level of care.
The letter emphasizes the critical role LTC pharmacies play in supporting patients with complex medical conditions by improving medication adherence, reducing preventable hospitalizations, and enhancing overall health outcomes. Despite progress in recognizing the importance of LTC services in home and community settings, significant barriers remain due to inadequate reimbursement structures within Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.
The Alliance and its partners are calling on CMS to use its authority to close this gap, ensuring that all Medicare beneficiaries — regardless of where they reside — can access the specialized, high-quality pharmacy care they need to live safely and independently at home.