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Tampering With Medicine

Ah, the joys of government-run healthcare.

Millions of Medicaid patients and their pharmacists could be in for a nasty surprise Oct. 1.

A tiny provision tucked into a spending bill for Iraq requires that prescriptions for Medicaid patients be written on “tamper-resistant” pads. But most doctors do not use such pads.

The law is designed to make it harder for patients to obtain controlled drugs illegally and easier for the government to save money. The quick start date leaves little time to educate doctors and pharmacists.

“Our members are absolutely flabbergasted that they’re going to be put on the hook for denying prescriptions if something is not on a tamperproof pad,” said Paul Kelly, vice president of government affairs for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. “Our biggest fear is the negative impact this could have on patient care and access to prescriptions.”

Pharmacists’ groups have asked lawmakers and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to delay putting the law in place.

“Millions of Medicaid beneficiaries may not be able to obtain their medications after Oct. 1,” they said in a recent letter to lawmakers. “This could lead to higher Medicaid costs for emergency room visits, hospitalizations and physician office visits if medication cannot be obtained in a timely manner.”

Steve Hahn, a spokesman for the centers, said the agency has no plans now to change the Oct. 1 date. In the interim, it is consulting with health care providers and preparing guidance on how to comply with the law.

Governments can save a hell of a lot of money on prescriptions by simply not giving them to patients who need them.

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