Bill

Bill > A3872


NJ A3872

NJ A3872
Requires prescription drug services covered under Medicaid program to be provided via fee-for-service delivery system.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires prescription drug services covered under the Medicaid program to be provided via fee-for-service delivery system. Currently, the majority of prescription drug services are provided through managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires that the reimbursement for covered outpatient brand name and generic drugs, as well as covered outpatient specialty drugs dispensed by a mail order pharmacy, is calculated based on the lower of: (1) the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) Retail Price Survey, in accordance with section 1927(f) of the federal Social Security Act or the Wholesale Acquisition Cost in the absence of a NADAC price, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (2) the federal upper limit, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (3) the State Maximum Allowable Cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (4) the State submitted ingredient cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; or (5) the provider's usual and customary charge, including any discount price which may be in effect on the date the drug is dispensed to the Medicaid beneficiary. Furthermore, the bill requires that the reimbursement for covered outpatient drugs dispensed by a covered entity as defined in section 340B(a)(4) of the federal Public Health Service Act is be calculated based on the lower of: (1) the Actual Acquisition Cost, which shall not exceed the federal 340B program ceiling price, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (2) the federal upper limit, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (3) the State Maximum Allowable Cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; (4) the State submitted ingredient cost, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92; or (5) the provider's usual and customary charge, including any discount price which may be in effect on the date the drug is dispensed to the Medicaid beneficiary. And finally, the bill requires that the reimbursement for covered clotting factors dispensed by a specialty pharmacy or a Hemophilia Treatment Center is based on the NADAC Retail Price Survey, in accordance with section 1927(f) of the federal Social Security Act or the Wholesale Acquisition Cost in the absence of a NADAC price, plus the State professional dispensing fee, as defined at 42 CFR 447.502, of $10.92. Under the bill, clotting factors are required to be billed through a Point of Sale System as of January 1, 2020. The transition is expected to generate significant State prescription drug savings, to increase access and savings to prescription drugs for Medicaid patients, and to create a fairer system for pharmacy providers, as demonstrated by other states implementing similar policies. For example, in March 2019, the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services released a report showing savings of $54.4 million to the state Medicaid program due to the carve out of the prescription drug benefit from Medicaid managed care. The report also notes that in addition to the savings, the program resulted in $122 million paid to West Virginia pharmacies in the form of fixed dispensing fees, money that had formerly gone to out-of-state pharmacy benefit managers. Moreover, on April 1, 2023 New York shifted the Medicaid prescription drug benefit from managed care to a fee-for-service Medicaid Pharmacy Program. According to the New York Executive, this program is anticipated to generate a net state savings of $40.0 million in the first year of implementation, and $180.0 million in subsequent years.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that prescription drug services covered by the Medicaid program be provided through a fee-for-service system, shifting away from the current managed care approach, and establishes specific reimbursement calculations for various drugs and dispensing scenarios. For most outpatient drugs dispensed by mail order pharmacies, reimbursement will be the lowest of several options, including the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) or Wholesale Acquisition Cost plus a $10.92 State professional dispensing fee, or the provider's usual and customary charge. Similarly, drugs dispensed by entities under the federal 340B program will have their reimbursement capped at the federal 340B ceiling price plus the $10.92 dispensing fee, among other lower-cost options. Reimbursement for clotting factors dispensed by specialty pharmacies or Hemophilia Treatment Centers will be based on NADAC or Wholesale Acquisition Cost plus the $10.92 dispensing fee, and these factors must be billed through a Point of Sale System starting January 1, 2020. The bill anticipates significant cost savings for the state and improved access and fairness for Medicaid patients and pharmacies, citing examples from West Virginia and New York where similar transitions have led to substantial savings and increased payments to local pharmacies. The Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with implementing these changes through necessary state plan amendments, waivers, and regulatory actions.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (on 01/13/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...