A legislative effort to help independent pharmacies is moving in the general assembly. The measure moves the managed care pharmacy benefit program for Medicaid recipients into a fee for service format. But small safety net hospitals are concerned about the legislation.
Bill Sponsor Max Wise says the State Cabinet for Health and Family Services estimates federal and state government savings at more than 200 million dollars. He says dispensing fees for certain pharmacists would increase significantly.
Kentucky Pharmacists Association President Don Kupper said some independent pharmacies are facing financial uncertainty.
“There’s a lot of pharmacies out there that are the key health care provider for a lot of patients in our Commonwealth. We need to protect those folks,” said Kupper.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee also heard from small hospital and community health center representatives who are worried that a fee for service structure would lessen their savings. The concern is over the bill potentially affecting a federal program which results in discounted drug costs.
Michael Stanley is CEO of Grace Health in Corbin. “We use those savings to develop more clinic sites for improved access and we also use it for additional programs. So our big program is school based health,” explained Stanley.
The bill now goes to the full Senate.
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