Walgreen’s Threat To Drop Delaware Medicaid Customers Looms
An ongoing disagreement between Delaware's Medicaid program and Walgreen Co. over how much the state-run health program will pay for drugs will not leave low-income beneficiaries without access to medications yet, though if an accord isn't reached, the pharmacy company says it will stop filling prescriptions on Aug. 11, Reuters reports.
The disagreement began when the state cut the rate it pays the pharmacy for drugs to 84 percent of the average wholesale price, down from 86 percent, in April. Walgreen said it would stop filling prescriptions for beneficiaries of the program in July. The state walked that cut back to 85 percent, and Walgreen pushed its cutoff date to August 5.
A Walgreen spokesman said he hopes the company and state plan can reach an agreement before the latest, Aug. 11, deadline. Walgreen has more stores in Delaware than its rivals, such as Rite Aid. Other major pharmacies have continued to fill Medicaid prescriptions (8/5).