Victory For Patients In Washington State As Court Rules To Prevent Debilitating Medicaid Reimbursement Cuts To Pharmacy

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 03 Apr 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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The Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) applauded Tacoma Federal Court Judge Robert J. Bryant for issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) halting the Medicaid reimbursement cuts to pharmacies for 10 days, the maximum delay for a TRO. The Medicaid cuts would have been implemented at midnight last night. During the next 10 days, the court will consider whether to issue a preliminary injunction that will halt the cuts indefinitely, and a hearing will then be held on April 9.

WSPA, NACDS and NCPA filed a joint lawsuit on Monday challenging Washington State's plan to cut Medicaid reimbursement for brand name drugs to average wholesale prices (AWP) minus 20 percent. Comments following the TRO ruling from the three organizations are as follows:

"We're gratified by the initial win, which will temporarily protect our patients while we continue the fight," said Jeff Rochon, Chief Executive Officer of WSPA. "But if these medication reimbursement rates are cut, we are deeply concerned about pharmacists' ability to continue to provide care to their Medicaid patients. Medicaid's action would result in reduced access to medicine for our most vulnerable patients which will ultimately increase healthcare costs."

"This is a tremendous victory for patients and pharmacy in Washington State. While we still have a fight ahead of us in permanently preventing these cuts from taking effect, the Court's ruling will help stave off the cuts so that patients are able to access their prescription medications and other services from their neighborhood pharmacy. This poorly-calculated effort to save money only penalizes Washingtonians, and the potential costs to patients and health care over the long term could certainly be more devastating," said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.

"The temporary restraining order granted yesterday is a victory for community pharmacies and their patients," said NCPA President and Seattle, Washington pharmacy owner Holly Henry, RPh. "As the litigation process continues we believe the arguments advanced by pharmacies will carry the day. The alternative would limit Medicaid patient access to prescription drugs, therefore endangering their health."

The Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) is a not-for-profit professional organization representing pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians practicing in Washington State. The mission of WSPA is to support and advance the practice of pharmacy to ensure that the public receives optimal medication therapy management. For more information about WSPA, visit http://www.wsparx.org.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets, and mass merchants with pharmacies. Its more than 160 chain member companies include regional chains with a minimum of four stores to national companies. NACDS members also include more than 1,000 suppliers of pharmacy and front-end products, and 85 international members representing 28 countries. Chains operate 39,000 pharmacies, and employ a total of more than 2.5 million employees, including 118,000 pharmacists. They fill more than 2.5 billion prescriptions yearly, and have annual sales of over $750 billion. For more information about NACDS, visit http://www.NACDS.org.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines. To learn more go to http://www.ncpanet.org.

Source
National Community Pharmacists Association

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