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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a coalition of leading patient advocacy organizations sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, calling on the agency to improve access to long-term care (LTC) pharmacy services for Medicare beneficiaries who choose to receive care at home. The letter, signed by over 20 national patient organizations, highlights the critical need for specialized LTC pharmacy services to support medically complex patients in community settings The coalition emphasized that many patients living at home — including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those managing multiple chronic conditions — face significant challenges accessing LTC pharmacy services that are readily available in institutional settings like skilled nursing facilities. The groups urged CMS to utilize its existing authority to address this disparity and align federal policy with the growing demand for home-based care. "Long-term care pharmacies play a vital role in enabling patients to live safely and independently at home," the letter states. "They provide essential services such as 24/7 access to medications, specialized packaging to promote adherence, caregiver consultations, and vaccine administration — all of which improve patient outcomes and reduce preventable hospitalizations." The patient organizations cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point that underscored the importance of home-based care, with an increasing number of patients expressing a preference to receive care in their homes rather than in institutional settings. Despite CMS guidance issued in 2021 acknowledging the ability of LTC pharmacy services to extend into community settings, many Medicare Part D plans have yet to adjust reimbursement structures to support this level of care. "This policy gap leaves some of the most vulnerable patients without access to the pharmacy care they need," said the undersigned organizations, which include the Alliance for Aging Research, American Geriatrics Society, Cancer Support Community, National Alliance for Caregiving, and Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, among others. "Closing this gap will not only improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries but also drive cost savings by reducing adverse drug events and unnecessary hospital admissions." The letter calls on CMS to take immediate action to ensure that Medicare Advantage and Part D plans adequately support LTC pharmacy services at home, aligning with the agency’s broader goals to enhance access, promote innovation, and support patient-centered care. About the Alliance for Long-Term Care Pharmacy @ Home The Alliance for Long-Term Care Pharmacy @ Home is a coalition of LTC pharmacies, professional associations, and care management groups advocating for increased access to LTC pharmacy services for medically complex patients living at home. Our mission is to promote equitable access to healthcare services that allow patients to remain safely in their homes and communities. For more information, visit www.pharmacyathome.org. 
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