Pharmacists 'Bracing' For CMS Rule On Medicaid Prescription Drug Reimbursements, Newark Star-Ledger Reports
Under the rule, pharmaceutical companies would have to offer Medicaid the lowest price offered to any purchaser -- which includes any "rebates, discounts or other price concessions" offered to PBMs or mail-order pharmacies. The rule also would redefine "average manufacturer price" for brand-name and generic prescription drugs. States use average manufacturer prices to calculate Medicaid reimbursement rates for prescription drugs. According to the rule, the federal government would post average manufacturer prices on a Web site that consumers could access. In addition, the rule would limit the federal share of the cost of prescription drugs when at least three generic alternatives are available. States would retain their current authority to determine Medicaid reimbursement rates to pharmacies.
HHS said that the rule could reduce revenue for small pharmacies "in low-income areas where there are high concentrations of Medicaid beneficiaries." Small pharmacies could "mitigate the effects" of the rule through the purchase of lower-cost prescription drugs, HHS said (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 6/20). Comments
Charles Sewell, vice president of the National Community Pharmacists Association, said, "This system will be an absolute disaster," adding, "Community pharmacies are being asked to participate in the Medicaid program and to be reimbursed for services at 36% below costs."
John Coster, vice president of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, said, "Congress could step in and reverse some of this." Coster added, "I am optimistic the new Congress will recognize the implications of what the last Congress did in terms of reducing generic reimbursement" (Newark Star-Ledger, 6/24).
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Farmaciºtii "proaspãt" pentru articolul de pe CMS Medicaid rambursãri de prescripþie de droguri, Newark Star-rapoarte de lespede funerarã - Pharmacists 'Bracing' For CMS Rule On Medicaid Prescription Drug Reimbursements, Newark Star-Ledger Reports - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate