Idaho Challenges new Health Care Plan
Idaho is among the 26 states that are challenging the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, implemented by the Obama administration, and set to finalize by 2014. Nicknamed “Obamacare,” the plan requires that every American have health insurance by January 1, 2014 or be penalized. It plans to provide state-run healthcare, funded by federal subsidies to provide cheap health insurance for Americans.
Idaho Governor Butch Otter issued an order through the health insurance companies in Idaho, blocking them from implementing the law, though he has granted a number of federally-funded waivers tied to health care reform.
What Idaho Representatives Think…
R-Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador
Suzanne Budge, Idaho state director for the National Federation of Independent Business
Walgreens Pharmacy No Longer in Health Network
Health insurance benefits in Idaho may be changing for Walgreens prescription holders. Express Scripts (the Blue Cross of Idaho’s (https://www.bcidaho.com/index.asp) pharmacy benefit manager) may no longer include Walgreens pharmacy in their health network. As part of its regular course of business, Express Scripts negotiates cost-competitive contracts in order to retain the lowest prices for their consumers.
Walgreens has ended negotiations with Express Scripts and have until December 31, 2011 to sign their contract. Walgreens will continue to fill prescriptions until then.
If an agreement cannot be reached, Walgreens must provide all of their clients with a list of pharmacies within the health insurance network that are closest to the Walgreens where they purchased their last prescription.
Express Scripts has notified Blue Cross of Idaho that Walgreens intends to let its contract expire on Dec. 31, 2011. In an open letter from the Blue Cross of Idaho, they state that Walgreens demands higher costs of pharmaceuticals, though Express Scripts has no intention of increasing costs.
Walgreens employees have been petitioning their customers, handing out letters and urging their customers to write to Express Script and demand they continue to include Walgreens in the health network.
Express Scripts estimates that the changes that Walgreens wants to the cost of their pharmaceuticals would increase by 7 per cent in 2012 and 15 per cent by 2014. For members of Blue Cross Idaho, this would increase their costs by $3 million in 2012 to almost $5 million in 2014.
Express Scripts stated that if they allow Walgreens to increase their costs of pharmaceuticals, Express Script would not only be breeching their mission to provide low-cost prescription medicine, but that other companies within their health network might want to do the same, thereby increasing pharmacy costs even further.
source: http://adm.idaho.gov
