Lewis opposes Medicaid changes

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Today, Georgia Congressman John Lewis backed small pharmacies in their fight against Medicaid officials.

The dispute is over a plan to change Medicaid reimbursements for generic prescription drugs.

The National Community Pharmacists Association invited Lewis to the Little 5 Points pharmacy. The store's owner says up to 25 percent of the prescriptions he fills are for Medicaid recipients. He says it will become more expensive to fill those prescriptions under a bill pending in Congress.

The legislation bases Medicaid reimbursements on the manufacturing price for the drugs instead of what pharmacies pay for them.

Lewis says the proposed change is not fair.

LEWIS: These men and women that operate these independent facilities they're closer to the patient. They're in the neighborhoods. They need to be recognized and treated with dignity.

However, Medicaid officials say the change is needed to help cut the nation's deficit. The bill is on hold in Congress until 2009.