State of Georgia to Reimburse Pharmacists for Costs of Prescription Drugs for Medicare/Medicaid Dual Eligible Beneficiaries

State of Georgia to Reimburse Pharmacists for Costs of Prescription Drugs for Medicare/Medicaid Dual Eligible Beneficiaries

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the state of Georgia will reimburse pharmacies for the costs of prescription drugs provided to dual eligible Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries (low-income and disabled). Pharmacies will be reimbursed for dual eligible beneficiaries that have not been enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan by the federal government.

“The state has followed the Medicare Part D implementation very closely over the last several weeks, and my primary concern is that Georgians get the prescription medications they need,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We have repeatedly requested that the federal government reimburse the state for the cost of helping pharmacies provide temporary prescription drug coverage for low-income and disabled Georgians. Today the federal government has approved our request.”

Governor Perdue announced that $6.6 million in his amended FY06 proposed budget for Medicaid operating funds will be allocated for this temporary assistance, and will be fully reimbursed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Governor Perdue’s plan ensures that dual eligible beneficiaries receive critically needed medication and that the costs to pharmacies are reimbursed. The plan is effective until February 15, 2006.

Pharmacists will be required to follow the steps released by CMS on January 18, 2006 to ensure that the beneficiary is eligible for Medicare. Once they have followed the federal steps, the pharmacist will contact the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to verify that the beneficiary is a dual eligible whose name has been given to CMS for automatic enrollment in Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Once this is verified, the state will reimburse the pharmacy for the medication.

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