When AANMA discovered that some national and independent home healthcare and pharmacy businesses were giving patients nebulizer medications that were NOT proven safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we sounded the alarm. Not only is the practice unlawful, it places patients in harm's way and prescribers at increased liability risk.

We asked Senator Charles Grassley to help protect patients and prescribers. Senator Grassley took action to find out why Medicare was paying for unlawfully manufactured nebulizer medications when FDA-approved medications were commercially available. He also asked FDA why they weren't taking action to put a stop to unlawful manufacturing practices.

As a result of Senator Grassley's investigation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have changed their reimbursement policy to eliminate payments for compounded nebulizer medications (as of July 1, 2007) and the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to three businesses to stop making unapproved nebulizer medications.

For his leadership on drug safety issues and patients' rights, AANMA is proud to award Senator Charles Grassley with this year's Mothers' Choice Award.

AANMA President Nancy Sander (right) and Director of Government Affairs Sandra Fusco-Walker (left) present Senator Charles Grassley with this year's Mothers' Choice Award.