Pharmacy organizations, including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association, were quick to applaud the Food and Drug Administration’s revision late Wednesday of the emergency use authorization for Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir).
This revision authorizes state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients, with certain limitations to ensure appropriate patient assessment and prescribing of Paxlovid. However, the groups also are urging the federal government to take steps to address reimbursement challenges to support pharmacists in prescribing antivirals.
“The FDA’s action is an extremely important revision for patient access and for equity in the use of COVID-19 antivirals,” said NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. “The fact that there is a pharmacy within 5 miles of 90% of Americans led to remarkable effectiveness on behalf of the American people in the COVID-19 vaccination effort. This action on COVID-19 antivirals is a crucial step forward, and one for which NACDS has advocated in the best interest of patients throughout the nation. Now, to make better access for the public a reality, we encourage the federal government to take the necessary next steps to support pharmacy-based assessments that guide the use of this lifesaving therapy.”
NACDS noted that it consistently had urged the FDA to support pharmacist prescribing of COVID-19 antivirals to improve access and foster equity, in alignment with authorizations granted to pharmacists by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act in September of last year. A recent poll, conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS, found that a majority of American adults said that pharmacists’ prescribing of antivirals would have a mostly positive impact on each of the following: COVID-19 hospitalizations, ability to find care for COVID-19 symptoms, health equity, the convenience of receiving care for COVID-19 and correct use of COVID-19 antiviral medications.
However, NACDS said that it is asking that outstanding reimbursement challenges be immediately addressed to help effectively support pharmacist prescribing of COVID-19 antivirals to enhance public access and foster equity. The organization is encouraging lawmakers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service and commercial payers to immediately support coverage for the pharmacy-based assessments that inform the appropriate prescribing of this lifesaving therapy.
NACDS said that in the longer term, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (H.R. 7213) would provide coverage under Medicare Part B for pharmacist services including treatment for certain conditions, such as COVID-19. More information on this critical legislation is available online.
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