Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act

Bill 119 s 927 aims to make changes to title XIX of the Social Security Act in order to ensure that pharmacies are receiving accurate payments under Medicaid and to prevent the use of abusive spread pricing practices within the Medicaid program.

The bill addresses concerns about the way pharmacies are reimbursed for medications provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. It seeks to increase transparency and accountability in the payment process to ensure that pharmacies are fairly compensated for the services they provide.

Additionally, the bill aims to crack down on abusive spread pricing practices, which occur when pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) charge Medicaid a higher price for a medication than what they pay the pharmacy for it. This practice can result in pharmacies being underpaid for the medications they dispense, leading to financial strain and potentially impacting patient access to care. Overall, Bill 119 s 927 seeks to protect pharmacies from unfair payment practices and ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries have access to affordable medications. It is an important step towards improving the integrity and efficiency of the Medicaid program.