Pharmacists may see their Medicaid reimbursements reduced if a proposed new rule becomes a reality.
The Kaiser Network reports (via the New York Times) that the Bush administration proposed a rule that would save the government $8.4 billion over the next five years. This would allow the government to offer drug discounts to beneficiaries similar to those offered in the private sector.
The proposed rule would limit the federal government’s share of Medicaid costs, which would reduce Medicaid reimbursements to pharmacies. Bruce Roberts, executive vice president of the National Community Pharmacists Association, told the New York Times, “The proposed rule would have the perverse effect of discouraging the use of generic drugs. The new limits on Medicaid reimbursement will be way below what drugstores typically pay for those drugs.â€