Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 2021

Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 2021

This bill establishes a statutory definition for long-term care pharmacy under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Currently, there is no statutory definition. Regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) define a long-term care pharmacy as a pharmacy that is owned by or under contract with a long-term care facility to provide prescription drugs to the facility's residents. Additional requirements are set out in CMS guidance relating to the Medicare prescription drug benefit; pharmacies are also subject to regulations and guidance from other agencies (e.g., packaging requirements from the Food and Drug Administration).    

The bill defines a long-term care pharmacy as a state-licensed pharmacy that is able to provide enhanced pharmacy and clinical services to individuals who have certain comorbid and medically complex chronic conditions and who reside in skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, or any other applicable setting (as determined by the CMS). The term enhanced pharmacy and clinical services includes medication dispensed in special packaging, drug utilization review, and 24-7 availability of medication delivery and on-call pharmacists.

Bill 117 HR 5632, also known as the Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 2021, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to establish a clear definition of what constitutes a long-term care pharmacy in order to ensure that these facilities are properly regulated and held to certain standards.

The bill outlines specific criteria that a pharmacy must meet in order to be classified as a long-term care pharmacy. These criteria include providing medications and pharmaceutical services to residents of long-term care facilities, having a licensed pharmacist on staff, and meeting certain quality and safety standards.

Additionally, the bill aims to improve transparency and accountability within the long-term care pharmacy industry by requiring these facilities to report certain data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This data will help to ensure that long-term care pharmacies are providing high-quality care to their residents and are in compliance with federal regulations. Overall, the Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 2021 seeks to establish clear guidelines for what constitutes a long-term care pharmacy and to improve oversight and regulation within the industry. This bill is currently being reviewed by Congress and may be subject to amendments or changes before it is passed into law.