Tuesday, September 23, 2014

9/23/14 - Bypassing pharmacies boosts workers' comp prescription costs in Pa. [The Philadelphia Inquirer]

Sept. 23Nearly half of what Pennsylvania's workers' compensation program pays for prescription drugs goes to physicians who dispense them directly to patients, bypassing pharmacies, a lucrative practice that is limited by many states and not reimbursed at all by private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, according to a new report.
Although few doctors take advantage of the loophole, the cost differential can be enormous. A single Percocet cost an average 64 cents at a pharmacy last year, the Workers Compensation Research Institute reported Monday, vs. $3.55 when dispensed by a physician. Patients typically don't know the difference; there are no copays in workers' comp, which is funded by businesses.


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