PHARMACISTS PRESS OFFICIALS ON PAYMENTS

Congressional leaders in both the House and Senate are gettingan earful from their home-state pharmacists who are seekinglegislative action to reverse the imminent Medicaid reimbursementcutbacks for generic prescriptions.

In Nevada, pharmacists from across the state rallied in CarsonCity to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) to bringcorrective legislation to the floor for a vote. Without passage ofS 1951, the Fair Medicaid Drug Payment Act, "community pharmacy'seconomic viability is threatened, as well as patientaccess to pharmacy services," professional leaders said.

Meanwhile, San Francisco pharmacists gathered to pressureHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) to use her power to ensurethat action is taken to correct the generic-reimbursement problem.Instead of pharmacy-reimbursement cuts that make generic-drug use less likely, the California pharmacists want legislationthat will increase government savings by promoting generic dispensing.