An Arizona budget proposal would limit how much nonprofit healthcare clinics like Planned Parenthood can bill the federal government for medications provided to Medicaid recipients, The Arizona Republic reports.
Here are five things to know about the proposal.
1. Currently, nonprofit health clinics in Arizona purchase certain prescription drugs at a discount. However, some facilities have allegedly provided discounted prescriptions to Medicaid patients and billed Medicaid providers for the full price of the medication, according to the report.
2. Arizona, in its original state budget proposal, restricts the amount all nonprofit medical facilities can bill Medicaid providers for discounted medications, The Arizona Republic reports. However, an amendment introduced by Arizona Republican lawmakers would exempt licensed hospitals, as well as outpatient facilities owned or operated by a licensed hospital, from the pricing restrictions.
3. Additionally, the proposed budget amendment calls for a study of whether the practice of giving discounted prescriptions to Medicaid patients and billing Medicaid providers for the full price is happening at hospitals and smaller clinics alike, according to the report. Depending on what the study finds, the pricing restrictions could be applied to hospitals in the future.
4. Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod supported the proposal, saying it does not target Planned Parenthood or any other single provider, but assures all providers are treated in the same way, according to the report. She also noted the proposal is intended to protect taxpayer dollars.
5. But Planned Parenthood lobbyist Jodi Liggett spoke against the proposal in The Arizona Republic, claiming it does indeed target healthcare providers serving some of Arizona's most vulnerable.
More articles on finance and revenue cycle management:
Obama administration grants Texas 15-month Medicaid waiver extension
Riley Hospital to offer maternity services
MedData acquires Duet Health