Senator Pryor Hopes to Improve Medicare Drug Benefit System

Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor has partnered with Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi to introduce the Pharmacist Access and Recognition in Medicare Act, also known as the PhaRM Act. This act will serve to help and support pharmacists in rural communities as well as to provide adequate care for senior citizens and the disabled.

The bill will allow pharmacists to receive timely payment from participating Medicare health plans only two weeks after submitting their claims. This will help to cure the negative repercussions of the Medicare prescription drug benefit act of 2006, which has created delays in payments and has caused 1,100 pharmacies to close in the past year.

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing health insurance companies take advantage of a flaw in the law, which is forcing independent pharmacies out of business,” Pryor said. “This legislation puts a stop to the monkey business.”