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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2009, at 20:45:35
For those in Washington State. Seems pharmacies are cutting out medicaid as well as CVS and otheres What does this mean for other states? Phillipa
Walgreen to Cut Washington State Medicaid Business
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SEATTLE (Reuters) Mar 31 - Drugstore company Walgreen Co said on Monday it would pull almost half its pharmacies in Washington state from the U.S. Medicaid program in protest against the state's plan to cut reimbursements for drugs.Cash-strapped Washington state plans to insist on cheaper, generic drugs for low-income Medicaid clients whenever available and equivalent to brand-name drugs, and is also cutting the rate of reimbursements on all drugs to pharmacies which supply them.
Cutting the reimbursement rate of generic and brand-name drugs would severely impact the "economic viability of doing business in Washington," Walgreen said in a statement.
Walgreen, one of the largest U.S. pharmacy chains, is to withdraw 44 of its 111 pharmacies in the state of Washington from the Medicaid program. Medicaid provides health insurance to low income individuals.
Unlike Medicare, the federal health program for seniors, Medicaid is partially funded by states. In order to cut the costs of the program, Washington state announced last week it would cut Medicaid reimbursements for brand-name prescription drugs by 6 percent, effective on Wednesday.
Walgreen said it would withdraw the 44 pharmacies from Medicaid as of May 1, a month after Washington introduces its plan. It said those pharmacies represent more than 60 percent of its total Medicaid business in the state.
There is a chance other pharmacies such as CVS Caremark Corp and Rite Aid Corp will follow suit in pulling out of Washington's Medicaid program.
(Reporting by Bill Rigby; Editing by Andre Grenon, Bernard Orr)
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Posted by 10derHeart on April 1, 2009, at 23:37:30
In reply to Walgreens Cutting Medications for Medicaid as well, posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2009, at 20:45:35
Depends on each state's budget for healthcare for those who qualify. It will probably vary widely. A political hot potato, no doubt. I live in Washington and had not yet heard this. No signs up in my 2 Walgreen's so far. Bearing a 6% cut doesn't seem so awful for Walgreen's, but I don't know enough about it to say. Maybe it will really hurt their ability to operate at a decent profit, beats me. This area has many on medicaid and medicare. I am glad medicare isn't included at this point. We shall see. I don't think the current administration, or Congress, will allow seniors to have funding for their drugs cut, but I can't be sure. Congress does odd things frequently!
Hopefully, Wal-Mart and Costco won't pull out as many folks seem to use them, and for good reason. But maybe even without the public assistance payment, they offer a cheap enough program to help some people? I don't know as my private insurance is so good, I am blessed not to have to find out. I know one med I take costs me $9.00 a month and it would cost $214.00 - full price. Insane, isn't it???
It's really going to be rough on a person who say, needs ONLY the name brand med and uses Walgreens. Lots of changes.
It just all sucks sometimes.
Posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2009, at 23:46:46
In reply to Re: Walgreens Cutting Medications for Medicaid as well » Phillipa, posted by 10derHeart on April 1, 2009, at 23:37:30
10derheart it's pretty scarey. I just don't know. Maybe it's an April Fools joke I'd like to think so at least. Oh the stories I could tell of the working of hospitals and money sickening. Love Phillipa
Posted by Zana on April 2, 2009, at 9:02:50
In reply to Re: Walgreens Cutting Medications for Medicaid as well » Phillipa, posted by 10derHeart on April 1, 2009, at 23:37:30
It's insane, wrong and scarey!
Zana
Posted by Neal on April 4, 2009, at 0:31:58
In reply to Re: Walgreens Cutting Medications for Medicaid as well, posted by Zana on April 2, 2009, at 9:02:50
_
It's stupid, insane, wrong and scarey!While we in the US worry if the big drugstore chains are making enough profit, we pay the highest price for meds anywhere in the world.
_
Posted by desolationrower on April 4, 2009, at 22:42:25
In reply to Re: Walgreens Cutting Medications for Medicaid as well, posted by Neal on April 4, 2009, at 0:31:58
all of the waste in the system is someone's profit stream...
-d/r
This is the end of the thread.
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