Medicaid Patients and Prescription Drugs
by: Georgia Legal Services Program
Medicaid Patients and Prescription
Drugs
Linda Lowe Georgia Legal
Services Program Last Revised: May 2005
The state Department of Community Health
is now charging higher fees (copayments) for some Medicaid prescription
drugs.
On July 1, 2003 the minimum fee
increased to 75 cents.
Fees range from 75 cents to
$3.00. Drugs that
are generic, or that are on the state's "preferred" list, or that cost
the state less than $10 will have a 75-cent charge
. Drugs that are not on the "preferred" list will have a
charge of $1.00 to $3.00 depending on how much the drug costs.
NOTE:
You may want to find out from your doctor if a drug that is on the list will
work just as well for you as a more expensive drug you may be taking
now. If you can use a drug that is on the list, your fee will be only 75
cents.
Some Medicaid patients cannot be
charged a fee.
Drug stores cannot charge you a fee if
you are under age 21, pregnant, in a nursing home or in hospice.
They cannot charge any Medicaid patient
a fee for emergency services or for family planning services.
If you are not in one of these situations,
the drug store can charge you a fee. However, you do not have to
leave without your medicine! . The
pharmacist has to let you have your medicine even if you cannot pay.
The pharmacist must take your word that you cannot pay. Federal
government Medicaid rules protect you. (42 C.F.R. §447.15) The drug
store can bill you, but it cannot refuse to give you your medicines.
. If you have problems getting your medicines, ask for
help:
The Department of Community Health:
1-800-282-4536
Your local office of Georgia Legal
Services: 1-800-498-9469
Atlanta Legal Aid: 404-524-5811
(Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and Cobb counties)
The Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
PowerLine: 1-800-822-2539
If you are age 60 or over, The Senior
Legal Hotline: 404-657-9915 or 1-888-257-9519
Linda Lowe Georgia Legal
Services Program Last Revised: May 2005
Last Reviewed On: 05/16/05
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