Mississippi Division of Medicaid' draws industry praise for reversing proposed cuts

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Mississippi’s state Medicaid authority has reversed proposed cuts to the program’s reimbursements, eliciting praise from the retail pharmacy lobby.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association heralded the decision by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid Monday. Had the cuts remained, pharmacies would have had their reimbursements under the program reduced by 15%, which the groups said would force many community pharmacies to limit their participation in Medicaid or drop out altogether.

“The Mississippi Division of Medicaid wisely backed off draconian cuts to pharmacy reimbursements that would greatly compromise the ability of pharmacies to continue serving Medicaid patients,” a joint statement by NACDS CEO Steve Anderson and NCPA CEO Bruce Roberts read. “With the ongoing struggles to emerge from a deep economic recession that has increased the Medicaid rolls across the country, any policy that undermines the healthcare needs of those economically disadvantaged Americans is badly timed and will ultimately cost more money in the long run. If Medicaid patients can’t get their prescription drugs from pharmacies, their health can be compromised further and they will often seek the more expensive emergency rooms and doctor’s offices as a remedy.”