Bill > HR0746

This resolution urges the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to ensure that pharmacies participating in Medicaid managed care networks receive reimbursement for prescription drugs at a rate no lower than what would be paid under the Illinois Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) pharmacy program. The FFS program is described as a transparent system that reimburses pharmacies based on ingredient costs and a professional dispensing fee, which covers the costs of safely dispensing medications and maintaining pharmacy operations. The resolution aims to implement this "reimbursement parity" through contracts with managed care organizations (MCOs) and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which are entities that manage prescription drug benefits. Furthermore, HFS is urged to monitor and report to the General Assembly on how this parity affects pharmacy participation, patient access to medications, and pharmacy closures, and to evaluate its impact on areas like "pharmacy deserts" (areas with limited access to pharmacies), rural healthcare, and access to pharmacist-provided patient care services.