Federal Court Enjoins Medicaid Pharmacy Cuts
Bennett Bigelow & Leedom has filed an action against the State to prevent implementation of drastic cuts in reimbursement for certain drugs dispensed to Medicaid patients. Filed on behalf of the Washington State Pharmacy Association, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, five community pharmacies and a Medicaid beneficiary, the lawsuit asserts that the State's action violates federal law, which requires the State to assure that Medicaid patients have access to services of like quality to those generally available in the community, because the cuts will force some pharmacies to drop out of the Medicaid program and will force others to stop dispensing life-saving drugs, such as those commonly prescribed for AIDS patients. On March 31, 2009, U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan granted a temporary restraining order against the State, enjoining implementation of the cuts until a more extensive hearing on the lawsuit. Links to the complaint and temporary restraining order are here and here. For further information, please contact David Robbins, or Renee Howard at 206-622-5511.