Buffalo, New York — evergreen health Harlem-based health care providers have also filed a lawsuit to stop the New York State Department from implementing a carve-out to Medicaid pharmacy benefits.
This lawsuit was filed on behalf of a patient who relies on 340b for necessary medical services.
Beginning April 1st, Medicaid users will be transitioned to the new pharmacy plan. These changes mean that health care providers like Evergreen Health in Buffalo will no longer be able to buy medicines to fill Medicaid prescriptions at discounted rates, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions a year.
Evergreen Chief Operating Officer Mike Lee said in a statement: “We are talking about communities of color, LGBTQ people, people living with HIV, refugees, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are disproportionately affected by this ‘carve-out’. Does that sound fair? We begged Albany to listen to us, but they haven’t. ”
Back in November, WNY health organizations, including Evergreen Health, launched a campaign called “Leave340B.”of campaign goal Bringing the voice of patience into the conversation about proposed policies for Medicaid users.
Many organizations, including the Jericho Road Community Health Center, rely on 340b funding to survive.
Dr. Myron Glick, Founder and CEO of Jericho Road Community Health Center, said in a statement last fall: “The programs our patients have come to rely on, many of whom are refugees and asylum seekers, will be cut and scaled back dramatically if a carve-out takes place. This is a sad state of affairs. And now that the voices of patients and providers are being heard, we hope Governor Ho-Chol does the right thing and withdraws the proposed 340B carve-out.”
Health officials say the “carve-out” will take funding away from many programs that provide emergency housing, dental services, nutrition, care coordination, and mental and behavioral health services.
The lawsuit also says it will disproportionately affect refugees of color and the LGBTQ+ community. About 8 million people are enrolled in the Medicaid program.
