The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) praised the passage of the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act, which has been passed by the Senate Finance Committee.

In a Nov. 8 news announcement, the NCPA said the bill’s provisions “would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS] to define reasonable and relevant contract terms under Medicare Part D and create a process for pharmacies to report contract violations.

“Additional NCPA-supported provisions would give CMS the tools to enforce reasonable and relevant contract requirements and boost oversight of pharmacy benefit managers before the bill is implemented, especially regarding the upcoming DIR [Direct and Indirect Remuneration Fees] hangover.”

The NCPA added that the provisions in that act, combined with the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM [Pharmacy Benefit Managers] Accountability Act (S. 2973), would be “a significant step toward achieving needed PBM reforms at the federal level.”

The Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act reported out of committee on a 26-0 vote, according to a Nov. 8 announcement from the United States Senate Committee on Finance.

Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said in the announcement, “This comprehensive legislation will reduce out-of-pocket medication costs for seniors, enhance accountability in our federal healthcare programs, improve access to high-quality mental health services, and extend critical support for clinicians and suppliers. I thank Sen. [Ron] Wyden [D-Ore.] and every member of the committee for their partnership in this effort, and look forward to advancing this comprehensive, deficit-cutting, bipartisan legislation.”