To the editor:

After thirty years serving the people of Ohio in state government and now volunteering with veterans and seniors in care facilities, I’ve learned that good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes. That’s exactly what’s happening with Medicare Part D drug price negotiations.

Nobody disputes that prescription drugs cost too much. We all want lower prices for seniors. But when Washington cuts drug prices without considering how those drugs actually reach our most vulnerable citizens, we create new problems while solving old ones.

Long-term care (LTC) pharmacies do far more than count pills. They manage complex medication regimens for nursing home residents with multiple chronic conditions. They coordinate with doctors and nurses around the clock. They package medications in specialized ways that help seniors take them correctly. When my volunteer work takes me into care facilities, I see this specialized service in action every single day.

These pharmacies depend heavily on Medicare Part D reimbursements to stay afloat. Recent reports show that by next year, many will struggle to stay afloat. Surveys indicate that six in ten may close their doors, nine in ten will lay off staff, and eight in ten will cut services. For Ohio’s 2.6 million Medicare beneficiaries, especially the 185,000 in rural areas, this is a looming disaster.

When a LTC pharmacy closes, our local pharmacies can’t just pick up the slack. They don’t have the systems, staff, or expertise to serve nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Residents will go without medications or receive them incorrectly. I’ve seen what happens when vulnerable seniors don’t get proper pharmaceutical care, and it isn’t pretty.

Congress has a chance to fix this before the crisis hits. H.R. 5031, the Preserving Patient Access to Long-term Care Pharmacies Act, would provide a modest supplemental fee to cover the specialized services these pharmacies deliver. It’s a targeted solution that protects both lower drug prices and continued access to care.

Our seniors deserve both affordable medications and reliable access to them. Congress needs to pass H.R. 5031 before it’s too late.

Patricia Daniels,

Gahanna