Generic Rx Dispensing Fee Wins Approval

Community pharmacists in Louisiana will be encouraged to dispense generics for their Medicaid patients under new legislation approved by the state's lawmakers. The bill, which has drawn strong support from independent pharmacy leaders in Louisiana and elsewhere, seeks to address community pharmacy's concerns about the newly enacted Federal Deficit Reduction Act.

Starting next year, the "average manufacturer price" provisions in that law will trigger significant reductions in Medicaid reimbursement rates to pharmacists for generic prescriptions, representatives at the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) said. The Louisiana legislation would authorize a Medicaid dispensing fee of up to $15 for generics?one third more than the fee for dispensing brand name drugs.

"We applaud the Louisiana legislature for taking this important step in working with pharmacists in their state to find the highest level of savings on prescription drugs," NCPA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Roberts, RPh, said.