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Walgreens will stop taking new WA Medicaid patients

by KING5.com

KING5.com

Posted on March 16, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Updated Tuesday, Mar 16 at 1:00 PM

One of the the state's largest drugstore chains says that beginning next month, it won't accept any new Medicaid patients.

Walgreens has given notice to the State of Washington that its pharmacies across the state will continue filling Medicaid prescriptions for current patients, but effective April 16 they will not accept new Washington Medicaid patients.

Walgreens says the new policy will be in effect at all 121 of its pharmacies in the state.

Walgreens is blaming the change on reduction in reimbursement under the state's Medicaid program.

The chain says the state reimburses at below its cost to break-even on nearly 95 percent of brand name drugs.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

justthemom said on March 18, 2010 at 11:28 AM

Nothing lost there. Walgreens is the worst pharmacy chain we have ever experienced. Didn't they settle a Medicaid fraud suit a few years back??? Adios and Via Con Dios (sp?) and good riddens Walgreens,

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wishfulthinking said on March 17, 2010 at 2:19 PM

Thats to bad. Walgreens has always provided me with prompt good service. They also have great deals in other departments. Rite Aid and WalMart have both several times tried to charge me outlandish prices above what my insurance pays. Only when I refused the product did they say they made an honest mistake. Example was an inhaler that costs about 15.00 without insurance and they tried to charge me 26.00 with insurance. Sad what is going on in the business world.

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jessjustice said on March 17, 2010 at 1:01 PM

It's ridiculous how over priced Walgreens is anyway... My children have state medical and I learned that Walgreens doesn't accept their health plan for prescription drug coverage; so I go to Rite-Aid down the street! They're faster and way friendlier there anyway!

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hastaluego said on March 17, 2010 at 10:22 AM

Walgreen's decision nicely highlights the overall problem DSHS (and soon Medicare with their planned "20 %" cut in reimbursement) creates for the whole healthcare system. They don't reimburse enough to cover overhead costs much less to pay salaries! More and more clinics/providers are dropping Medicaid...its a money loser! We still accept DSHS in our zip code area only and consider it a "community service".

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justthinkin said on March 16, 2010 at 9:14 PM

Not that big of a loss. Walgreen's is one of the worst pharmacy's around!!

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