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FMI Joins Other Groups to Support Medical Equipment Bill

The Food Marketing Institute here has joined with pharmacy industry groups to support the introduction of legislation by Reps. Marion Berry, D-Ark., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., to stop unnecessary regulations that could limit Medicare beneficiaries’ access to durable medical equipment (DME) from retail pharmacies.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute here has joined with pharmacy industry groups to support the introduction of legislation by Reps. Marion Berry, D-Ark., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., to stop unnecessary regulations that could limit Medicare beneficiaries’ access to durable medical equipment (DME) from retail pharmacies.

The bill recognizes pharmacists’ role as health care providers who offer valuable services to Medicare beneficiaries.

This legislation would exempt pharmacy suppliers from accreditation requirements for the Medicare Part B durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) program by including pharmacists and pharmacies in the list of health care providers that CMS has already exempt from meeting the quality standards for DMEPOS accreditation.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, recently issued guidance for exempting certain suppliers from the new accreditation requirements. However, CMS decided not to include licensed professional pharmacies and pharmacists.

Other trade groups applauding the legislation include the American Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.

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