On October 5, 2012, CMS released a number of draft Medicaid drug pricing files and related documents for review and comment. Among other things, CMS has posted the June 2012 and July 2012 draft average manufacturer price (AMP)-based Medicaid federal upper limit (FUL) files.  Based on comments that month-to-month fluctuations in the AMP-based FULs “may create problems for pharmacies because they will be unable to predict resulting state reimbursement rates,” CMS has developed a draft three-month rolling average FUL file consisting of the weighted average of the current and two previous monthly draft AMP-based FULs. CMS is posting these draft files, and the draft methodology used to calculate the draft three-month rolling average FUL, for review and comment only. While CMS expects three-month rolling average FULs to fluctuate less than monthly FULs, CMS observes that “the draft three-month rolling average FULs incorporates pricing data older than the current monthly pricing that may be less reflective of pharmacies’ current purchase prices.” CMS is accepting comments on the monthly and three-month rolling average draft AMP-based FULs and the methodologies used to calculate them.

CMS also released for comment draft National Average Retail Price (NARP) data, which reflects prices paid for drugs to retail community pharmacies for individuals with Medicaid, cash paying customers, and those with certain third party insurance. CMS expects the reference pricing to assist states in comparing their current pricing policies to that reflected in the draft NARP. In addition, CMS has posted for comment draft National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) data, which is based on a voluntary survey of pharmacy invoices, and a draft Monthly New Drug Report that shows newly marketed single source drugs that are currently generally available through wholesalers. CMS states that after it considers comments on all of these files (a comment deadline is not specified), the agency plans to release these data files in final form, with updated files posted on at least a monthly basis. States can use the monthly AMP-based FUL, or the three-month rolling average FUL, once finalized, to develop a pharmacy reimbursement methodology that will allow their pharmacy payments to remain within the FUL in the aggregate. CMS points out that any state that wants to change its pharmacy reimbursement methodology must submit a state plan amendment to CMS for review and approval.