This was the message to CMS from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). In comments submitted to CMS on its proposed rule for accountable care organizations (ACOs), NCPA's Executive VP and CEO Doug Hoey pointed out that improved patient outcomes would be more likely if community pharmacists are included in ACOs. "By better incorporating pharmacists, patients and taxpayers will benefit," Hoey says. The NCPA position voiced is that "the rulemaking process for ACOs must focus on removing logistical and financial impediments that could limit pharmacist participation."

NCPA wants pharmacists participation in ACOs to be authorized by CMS. And ACO providers/suppliers should be required to provide patients with specific and clear notification so that patients who opt out of an ACO may continue to use the pharmacy of their choice, whether or not it is contracted with that ACO.

Another message from NCPA to CMS was that in order to facilitate medication therapy management, "CMS should establish mechanisms to help ACOs determine where to allocate resources in advance or adopt a prospective patient assignment system so that the resources are targeted appropriately."