Kentucky Pharmacists Urge Senator McConnell to Put Pati...(Removing discounted mail order and pharm...),Health

-- Requiring Medicaid payment to be calculated using the weighted average of the Medicaid generic drugs based on utilization.

-- Restoring the previous practice of using three available generic products in calculating the Federal Upper Limits that are used for setting adequate pharmacy reimbursements.

-- Increasing Medicaid reimbursement from 250 percent of the AMP to 300 percent in order to ensure pharmacies are not reimbursed below their acquisition costs.

-- Encouraging more inexpensive generic drug usage by requiring prior authorization of brand name drugs.

"Who can stay in business at 36% below cost?" said Brad Hall, executive director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. "The federal government's AMP formula does not properly measure retail acquisition costs for community pharmacies like Capital Pharmacy and Medical Equipment here in Frankfort. The real world consequences of this disastrous federal policy will be felt most profoundly by patients, who will see their access to prescription drugs and the valued expertise of their trusted local pharmacists undermined. When that happens these patients will be forced to more expensive options such as visiting emergency rooms. This can all be avoided if Congress acts before the rule is fully implemented on January 30, 2008."

Also in attendance was Larry Hadley, co-owner of Wayne's Pharmacy, which is also in Frankfort, Ky. He provided additional insight into the fallout his business and patients would experience if Congress doesn't act to change or at least delay the AMP rule. "After five years of working to build up my business, I am very concerned about what the future holds," said Hadley. "All you have to do is a little math to understand the numbers don't add up under AMP. Hopefully, Sen. McConnell wil
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