medicare/congress screws old folks

clipped from seattletimes.nwsource.com Walgreens: no new Medicaid patients as of April 16 Effective April 16, Walgreens drugstores across the state won't take any new Medicaid patients, saying that filling their prescriptions is a money-losing proposition — the latest development in an ongoing dispute over Medicaid reimbursement. In a news release, Walgreens said its decision to not take new Medicaid patients stemmed from a "continued reduction in reimbursement" under the state's Medicaid program, which reimburses it at less than the break-even point for 95 percent of brand-name medications dispensed to Medicaid patents. The amount private insurers and Medicaid pay pharmacies for prescriptions isn't the actual cost of those drugs but rather is based on what's called the drug's estimated average wholesale price. But that figure is more like the sticker price on a car than its actual wholesale cost. "Washington state Medicaid is now reimbursing pharmacies less than their cost of participation,"

i don't blame walgreens, congress was well aware what would happen years ago. the corporate whores and jellyfish (congress) stands tall on the bodies of the weakest among us. 'course if they die sooner it will save lots of money!