Content about Medicaid Drug Rebate Program

April 8, 2013
Shift to Managed Medicaid shows some effects on patient care, but overall effect unclear, study finds

A growing number of patients on Medicaid are filling their prescriptions through Managed Medicaid plans instead of the fee-for-service model as states switch them over in an effort to improve patient care and cut healthcare costs, but the effects remain unclear, according to a new study.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A growing number of patients on Medicaid are filling their prescriptions through Managed Medicaid plans instead of the fee-for-service model as states switch them over in an effort to improve patient care and cut healthcare costs, but the effects remain unclear, according to a new study.

August 17, 2012
Pharmacists can help reduce 
Medicaid costs

As states grapple with tight budgets, rising Medicaid costs and the anticipated expansion of Medicaid following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, policy-makers should consider how community pharmacists can help reduce expenses.

As states grapple with tight budgets, rising Medicaid costs and the anticipated expansion of Medicaid following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, policy-makers should consider how community pharmacists can help reduce expenses. In addition, new evidence offers a fresh reminder of the perils of managed care in Medicaid and the need for proper oversight of managed care entities.

August 6, 2012
A cool trillion in generic savings: Are the feds taking full advantage?

A cool trillion dollars. That’s what the generic industry said U.S. patients and public and private health plan payers have saved over the last decade by switching from branded to generic prescription drugs at pharmacy counters.

A cool trillion dollars. That’s what the generic industry said U.S. patients and public and private health plan payers have saved over the last decade by switching from branded to generic prescription drugs at pharmacy counters.

Looked at another way, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association trumpeted in a study released last Thursday that me-too medicines saved a half-billion dollars a day between 2002 and 2011.

July 5, 2012
Pharmacists can help reduce Medicaid costs; Urge caution on Medicaid Managed Care

As states grapple with tight budgets, rising Medicaid costs and the anticipated expansion of Medicaid following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, policymakers should consider how community pharmacists can help reduce expenses. In addition, new evidence offers a fresh reminder of the perils of managed care in Medicaid and the need for proper oversight of managed care entities.

As states grapple with tight budgets, rising Medicaid costs and the anticipated expansion of Medicaid following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, policymakers should consider how community pharmacists can help reduce expenses. In addition, new evidence offers a fresh reminder of the perils of managed care in Medicaid and the need for proper oversight of managed care entities.

June 18, 2012
Texas indies decry shift to Medicaid managed care

If you're an independent pharmacist trying to make ends meet in the state of Texas, good luck.

If you're an independent pharmacist trying to make ends meet in the state of Texas, good luck. A shift in the way the Lone Star State pays for Medicaid — as enacted by Texas legislature — is hammering many pharmacies, according to a June 14 report from the Texas Tribune, as reported in the New York Times.

September 22, 2011
Texas congressman urges HHS to reject state's Medicaid-managed care company partnership

A congressman from Texas is urging the Department of Health and Human Services to reject an attempt by the Texas state government to move millions of Medicaid prescription drug beneficiaries into managed care plans.

WASHINGTON — A congressman from Texas is urging the Department of Health and Human Services to reject an attempt by the Texas state government to move millions of Medicaid prescription drug beneficiaries into managed care plans.

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, head of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation, said the move would harm small pharmacies that cater to Medicaid beneficiaries and leave many patients without access to pharmacy services by reducing pharmacy dispensing fees to far below the average pharmacy's cost of dispensing each prescription.

July 27, 2011
ACAP: Drug rebate equalization allows states to restore Rx benefits to managed care

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is producing savings for state Medicaid programs that take advantage of a provision equalizing drug rebates between managed care and fee-for-service programs, according to a fact sheet released Tuesday by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans.

WASHINGTON — The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is producing savings for state Medicaid programs that take advantage of a provision equalizing drug rebates between managed care and fee-for-service programs, according to a fact sheet released Tuesday by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans.

March 28, 2011
Report: State Medicaid programs can reap savings with increase in generic drug use

Ten states could reap significant savings by increasing the use of generic drugs in their state Medicaid programs, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said Monday in response to a report by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

WASHINGTON — Ten states could reap significant savings by increasing the use of generic drugs in their state Medicaid programs, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association said Monday in response to a report by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.

The report, “Overspending on Multi-Source Drugs in Medicaid,” by Alex Brill, identified states that overspend the most on their Medicaid programs, with California, Texas and Georgia topping the list.

February 3, 2011
HHS to state Medicaid programs: Offer more generic drugs

The Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging state governments to save money with generic drugs.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging state governments to save money with generic drugs.

In a document released Thursday, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius urged all 50 state governors to increase the use of generic drugs in their state Medicaid programs.

December 15, 2010
N.Y. Medicaid program could save big through new approach

New York’s state Medicaid program could save $2.2 billion over 10 years by managing Medicaid pharmacy benefits more like private-sector employer plans, state employee plans and Medicare, according to a new study by healthcare policy research firm The Lewin Group.

WASHINGTON — New York’s state Medicaid program could save $2.2 billion over 10 years by managing Medicaid pharmacy benefits more like private-sector employer plans, state employee plans and Medicare, according to a new study by healthcare policy research firm The Lewin Group.

June 7, 2010
Pharmacy groups seek federal medical assistance percentage extension

Five pharmacy associations have submitted a letter to the Senate requesting the passage of a...

January 12, 2010
NCPA, congressmen discuss Medicaid drug reimbursement cuts

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday held a conference call in an attempt to...

December 22, 2009
Senators urge for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement provision in health-reform bill

The mid-December plea by 16 members of Congress to assure a fair payment for pharmacies...

NEW YORK The mid-December plea by 16 members of Congress to assure a fair payment for pharmacies that dispense generic drugs to Medicaid patients was welcome news. But with the movement to pass a health-reform bill reaching a crescendo in the Senate, the flawed Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement system still is a hot potato that too few lawmakers seem willing or able to touch.

 

More aptly, it’s a political football that keeps getting tossed around the House and Senate health-reform debate.