The purpose of my bill is to try and help those elderly patients who have to make a choice between taking their drugs or paying their rent, said Rep. Stokes. A recent article published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution illustrated the problem. Unfortunately, government price controls are rarely the answer. Pharmacists are the folks who have to look into the eyes of Georgia s seniors as they have to make decisions about whether they can afford vital prescription medications. It is the pharmacist who often has to intervene on behalf of their patients and work with physicians to try and change drug therapy so that patients can take needed drugs.
Pharmacists know all too well the problems of high cost medications.
HB 711 attempts to address the high cost of prescription medications for seniors. However, Mr. Oliver stated, this bill is asking Georgia pharmacists to absorb the entire cost of the program. HB 711 requires those pharmacies which are participating in the Georgia Medicaid program to extend the Medicaid rate on to individuals who are 62 years old and older. In other words, HB 711 sets prices for prescription medications and pharmacy services for individuals who are 62 years old and older. If the answer is yes, then it is appropriate for HB 711 to extend to physician s charges, hospital rates, and nursing homes.