The co-payments were part of a compromise to restore funding to the state's medically needy program.
By Associated Press
Published January 4, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Just a day after its inception, the state has ended a new program that forced private pharmacists to decide whether poor and medically needy patients should pay fees for prescriptions that have been free.
Under the system, which went into effect Thursday, Medicaid and medically needy patients were to be charged co-payments of 2.5 percent of the prescription price for drugs costing up to $300 and a flat charge of $7.50 for medications costing more than that.
The fees were part of a legislative compromise last year that restored funding for the medically needy program. State figures show Medicaid expected to collect $27-million from the co-payments.
Late Friday, state officials halted the fees after questions were raised about whether they violated the law by failing to notify patients of the charges. A number of pharmacies reported they were charging the co-payments before being told to stop at 8 p.m.
Health advocates and state lawmakers said the system is illegal and could force thousands of poverty-stricken people to pay fees they can't afford - or, at worst, deny lifesaving drugs to critically ill patients.
"They say, "I can't give you the pills you need to stay alive. Reach in your pocket and pull out seven bucks.' It's wrong," said Mary Ellen Ross, executive director of the Florida Transplant Survivors Coalition. "I'm getting phone calls from across the state from people saying, "I don't have the money to pay.' "
