A recent decision by a statewide Medicaid operator has independent pharmacists upset again
Back in January, it was a group of pharmacists who blew the door off the hinges when it comes to problems with Kentucky'?s Medicaid managed care system.
Then, they were angry over a lack of co-pays on drugs. Now, operator Coventry Cares has reversed course, claiming it will now charge co-pays.
But in doing so, Kentucky pharmacist Jason Wallace says the MCO's are just moving money around, not actually compensating pharmacists any better than before.
?This is hardly a win because what they simply will do is deduct it from what they pay us,? he says.
Wallace says the operator will now eliminate a $1 additional dispensing fee in order to make up for letting pharmacists collect co-pays.
?"I know we?'re talking about a dollar here, but when you?'re talking about the cost of dispensing a drug in the 10 to 11 dollar territory and we'?re being reimbursed somewhere around a dollar in terms of a dispensing fee, that extra dollar that we were talking about in House Bill 262, makes a big difference,"? Wallace says.
Wallace says with the defeat of that House bill, he and his fellow pharmacists are unsure of what their next direction is.
