CMS announced yesterday that it will reimburse states that have stepped in to pay for prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries who have been denied drugs through problem-plagued Medicare Part D. A Reuters story reporting on a conference call to reporters by CMS head Mark McClellan said that CMS expects states to first get reimbursement for drug costs from health insurers offering Medicare Part D, and then CMS will make up any shortfall in reimbursement. McClellan asked states to suspend payment for seniors’ prescriptions by Feb. 15.
