Barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, customers of Louisiana’s largest private health insurer won’t be able to get coverage for prescriptions at the state’s dominant pharmacy chain in the new year, The Times-Picayune reports. That’s because Express Scripts, which manages pharmacy benefits for customers of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and HMO Louisiana Inc., and Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, have been unable to reach an agreement on reimbursement. The current contract expires Saturday. Walgreens and Express Scripts have been unable to reach an agreement on reimbursement. The snafu affects about 1 million people insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. But the dispute goes beyond Louisiana because Express Scripts participants across the country stand to lose coverage for their prescriptions at Walgreens pharmacies. Both sides estimate that about 90 million prescriptions have been filled nationally every year at Walgreens outlets for Express Scripts participants. Many, but not all, Blue Cross affiliates use Express Scripts to manage drug benefits. Each side blames the other for the impasse. Read the full story here.
Today’s poll question: Will you be adversely affected if Walgreens and Express Scripts don’t come to an agreement?
