SURVEY LOOKS AT DISPENSING COST

The Coalition for CommunityPharmacy Action (CCPA) is askingfor pharmacists' help. The coalitionis conducting a national survey todetermine the cost of dispensingprescriptions. The results will helpfight further reductions in Medicaidreimbursement. The accountingfirm Grant Thornton will conductthe survey.

Congress passed legislation thisyear that will cut Medicaid paymentsto states from the federalgovernment, starting in 2007. TheNational Community PharmacistsAssociation (NCPA) was able tospare an average of $11,000 perpharmacy from being slashed.Many state officials, however, willbe contemplating how the stateswill reimburse pharmacies forMedicaid prescriptions.

The CCPA survey is only one ofthe costs-of-dispensing evaluationsthat have been conducted.Data in the 2006 NCPA-PfizerDigest, for example, put the cost ofdispensing at $10.53 per prescription.Yet, pharmacy opponentsoften criticize that figure becauseit is calculated by the group representingcommunity pharmacy. TheGrant Thornton evaluation is beinghandled independently and willdetermine the cost of dispensingfor all retail, chain, and independentpharmacies, by state.