Authorizes the reimbursement of R.B. Williamson, Inc for filling medicaid-eligible prescriptions

3 Co-sponsors

• Ruben Diaz
• George Onorato
• Dale M. Volker

Title of bill

An act to authorize the reimbursement of R.B. Williamson, Inc. (d/b/a Congress Pharmacy) for filling medicaid-eligible prescriptions

Purpose or general idea of bill

Provides for the reimbursement of R. B. Williamson, Inc. (d/b/a Congress Pharmacy) for filling medicaid eligible prescriptions for the period of 9/1/98 through 2/18/99.

Summary of specific provisions

Provides that, notwithstanding any inconsistent provision,of law, rule, regulation or administrative determination, R. B. Williamson, Inc. (d/b/a Congress Pharmacy) is hereby determined to be entitled to reimbursement, and shall be reimbursed, for filling medicaid-eligible prescriptions during the period from September 1, 1998, through February 18, 1999.

Justification

Congress Pharmacy, currently owned by R. B. Williamson, Inc. has been serving the Bronx community for nearly a century. In September of 1998, Congress Pharmacy was placed on suspension from New York State's Medicaid program after an unsatisfactory on-site inspection revealed inadequate inventory and security controls. All of the deficiencies were remedied and Congress Pharmacy was reinstated to the Medicaid program in February of 1999. During the period of its suspension, Congress Pharmacy continued to fill the medicaid-eligible prescriptions of its regular customers in the unrealized hope that its ultimate reinstatement to the program would be retroactive. Over the six-month period, the pharmacy filled over 1.2 million dollars worth of prescriptions for its Medicaid-eligible customers, many of whom are elderly and disabled and lack convenient, affordable access to other participating pharmacies. Given its long history of service to the Bronx community, Congress Pharmacy should be allowed and encouraged to move forward without being unduly penalized for mistakes that it has already corrected.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.