NEW OIG REVIEW

In addition, please visit GrizRPh NEWS on www.grizrph.com for the new Office of Inspector General (OIG) report for the new figures on Medicare reimbursement to community pharmacies. Thanks to Tobey Schule for sharing this report with us. Please click on the pdf link to veiw the full document.

Here is a very brief summary:
This review was conducted at the request of 33 Senators. Medicare Part D payments, excluding dispensing fees, to local, community pharmacies exceeded the pharmacies' drug acquisition costs by an estimated 18.1 percent when the analysis included rebates that drug wholesalers paid to pharmacies. Excluding rebates, Part D payments exceeded drug acquisition costs by an estimated 17.3 percent. The estimated difference between Part D payments and drug acquisition costs was $9.13 per prescription including rebates and $8.78 excluding rebates. The estimated average Medicare Part D dispensing fee paid to local, community pharmacies was $2.27 per prescription, about $2 less than the average Medicaid dispensing fee. It was recommended that Congress and CMS consider the results of the review, including the data provided, in any deliberations regarding Medicare Part D reimbursement. CMS concurred with the recommendation.