In Review: The Virginia Joint Committee on Health Care released its “Access To Pharmacy Services In Virginia”. The study presented the following policy options to the legislature for consideration during the upcoming general assembly.
- Option: Submit a budget amendment to set a reimbursement rate floor, including drug ingredient costs and professional dispensing fees, for community pharmacies for all Medicaid members. (Option 1, page 24)
- Option: Introduce legislation and submit a budget amendment to establish an incentive program to provide funding for pharmacies operating in localities with low access to community pharmacies. (Option 2, page 27)
- Option: Submit a budget amendment to increase funding to the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and the Virginia Community Healthcare Association to expand access to pharmacy services provided by existing clinics and community health centers to localities with no operating community pharmacies. (Option 3, page 28)
During the Committee debate on Wednesday, December 3, an additional policy option was added to include higher dispensing fees for all payors, including the commercial market. Since the amendment was done on the fly, it is not clear at this time the full extent of the provision, but it is safe to say that they would like to create higher reimbursement rates for the commercial market, including ERISA plans.
If you have any questions, please contact Sean Stephenson at sstephenson@pcmanet.org.
