HFS REIMBURSEMENT PARITY

Urges the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to ensure that pharmacies participating in Medicaid managed care networks are reimbursed for covered outpatient prescription drugs at a rate no less than the reimbursement that would be paid under the Illinois Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy program. Urges HFS to implement such reimbursement parity through Medicaid managed care organization contracts and pharmacy benefit manager agreements. Urges HFS to monitor and report to the General Assembly on the impact of reimbursement parity on pharmacy network participation, patient access to medications, and pharmacy closures within the State. Encourages HFS to evaluate the effect of reimbursement parity on pharmacy deserts, rural health access, and Medicaid beneficiary access to pharmacist-provided patient care services.