Kentucky Pharmacists Event Urging Senate Minority Leader McConnell to Fix Flawed Medicaid Drug Reimburs...( FRANKFORT Ky. Dec. 3 -- Kentucky...),Health

FRANKFORT, Ky., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kentucky pharmacist press conference to discuss new Medicaid generic prescription drug reimbursement rule and the need for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to use his power to make sure the legislative fix is considered before Congress adjourns for the year. The rule, scheduled to be fully implemented in early 2008, will grossly underpay pharmacists and puts patient access at risk.

WHO:

Brad Hall, Executive Director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association

Mac Bray, RPh, Owner of Capital Pharmacy and Medical Equipment in Frankfort

Larry Hadley, RPh, Co-Owner of Wayne's Pharmacy in Frankfort

WHEN:

December 6, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Capital Pharmacy and Medical Equipment

662 East Main Street

Frankfort, KY

502-223-2827

WHY:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published the Medicaid reimbursement rule on July 17, and the implementation process will be completed in early 2008. At that time, community pharmacies will be faced with a burden that could not only cause difficulty in participating in the Medicaid program, but sustainability in the business community. These challenges will be due to low reimbursement rates based on an inaccurate Average Manufacturer Price (AMP) formula. According to a Government Accountability Office report, on average, pharmacies will be paid 36 percent below their acquisition costs for the generic prescriptions of Medicaid patients.

Sen. McConnell can help move the legislative fix S.1951, the Fair Medicaid Drug Payment Act of 2007, through the Senate before it is too late. The bill contains measures that achieve fairness with the reimbursement system and preserving patient access to prescription drugs by:

-- Removing discounted mail order and pharmacy benefit manager

prices that are unavailable to community pharmacies and unfairly

'/>"/>