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March

2012

CMS Proposes Rule to Implement ACA Medicaid Prescription Drug Provisions

Blogs, Health Care

On January 27, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule to implement the Medicaid prescription drug provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The proposed rule, which is entitled “Medicaid Program; Covered Outpatient Drugs”, was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2012. Its initiatives are expected to result in savings of $17.7 billion on prescription drugs bought through Medicaid over five years, increase transparency in drug pricing, and ensure that taxpayers and states aren’t overpaying for prescription drugs. This rule is similar to state initiatives to improve fairness in drug pricing, some of which have resulted in millions of dollars of savings. Stakeholders comments on the proposed rule are due April 2, 2012, and a final rule is planned for issue in 2013. 

See the CMS Press Release for more details.