Walgreens Medicaid deadline extended

    Delaware’s largest pharmacy chain has extended its deadline once again and will continue to fill prescriptions for the state’s Medicaid participants until at least Tuesday.

    Delaware’s largest pharmacy chain has extended its deadline once again and will continue to fill prescriptions for the state’s Medicaid participants until at least Tuesday.

    Walgreens, which owns Happy Harry’s, had originally announced it would withdraw from participating in the state’s Medicaid program beginning July 6. The proposed departure came after the state announced its decision to reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates to drug stores by 1 percent.

    The drug company then extended the deadline to August 5 as it tried to work out a new deal with the state.

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    The second and latest extension was announced today by Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services as negotiation talks continue between the drug company and the state.

    DHSS Secretary, Rita Landgraf, says the state’s plan could potentially affect about 18,000 Medicaid participants in Delaware. “Our priority, first and foremost, is our Medicaid population” Landgraf said, “We remain hopeful to come to a resolution”

    The state’s new reimbursement rules are expected to cost Walgreens about $250,000 a year.

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