|
|
|
| For more information contact: Joe Thornton For immediate release Wise establishes pharmaceutical council to help control prescription costs Governor Bob Wise today announced that in accordance with House Bill 4084, the West Virginia Pharmaceutical Cost Management Council has been established. The council is scheduled to conduct its first meeting April 20 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Governor’s Press Conference Room. "This is a monumental step in the right direction," said Governor Bob Wise. "The way things are progressing in terms of prescription drug costs in the state, we had to establish a means to study and administer cost saving measures. This council will provide us with the flexibility to help alleviate some of the financial burden on the residents of West Virginia." House Bill 4084 allows for adoption of a federal discount prescription drug price list for state programs and residents. The bill creates a council that must establish a pricing schedule using either the federal supply schedule, Canadian drug prices or other appropriate standard and submit the schedule and an implementation plan to the legislature by September 15, 2004. The schedule and plan will take effect only if the legislature approves it by concurrent resolution. The bill gives the legislature until the end of the 2005 session to pass or reject the resolution, but also allows it to pass the resolution subsequently. Members of the council include: Charles Burdette, Fruth Pharmacy; Heather Bresch, vice president, government and public relations, Mylan Laboratories; Wayne Spiggle, M.D.; Kevin Outterson, associate professor of law, West Virginia University College of Law; and Steve Neal, The Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley; Tom Susman, acting cabinet secretary/director PEIA; Felice Joseph, pharmacy benefits administrator, PEIA; Paul L. Nusbaum, cabinet secretary, Department of Health and Human Resources; Nancy Atkins, commissioner, Bureau for Medical Services; Gregory A. Burton, executive director, Worker’s Compensation Commission; and Ann Stottlemyer, commissioner, Bureau of Senior Services.. – 30 – |