States Prepare to Create Prescription Drug Purchasing Pool

West Virginia and five other states are preparing to create a multistate drug purchasing pool of Medicaid patients and state employees that would increase their purchasing "clout" and allow them to negotiate discounted drug prices, according to West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency Director Tom Susman. The AP/Charleston Daily Mail reports that Susman told a legislative committee yesterday that the coalition would be led by West Virginia and would include South Carolina, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri and Mississippi. Seventeen other states and the city of Baltimore may also join the pool (AP/Charleston Daily Mail, 8/22). Susman said, "It's not just, can we get the best price for an aspirin or a Claritin, it's how can we better manage our drug spending?" He added, "It's like a union. You have to have a bargaining unit." He said that his agency is studying what methods have been used by other states to "increase their buying power" (Kabler, Charleston Gazette, 8/22). However, he added that no agreement has been reached. "Nobody has signed anything on the dotted line. West Virginia may not [join the coalition] if we can't save money." Susman's announcement that a coalition had been formed "suprise[d]" South Carolina officials, who have "not committed" to join any purchasing pool. While that state has been involved in the discussions, Mike Sponhour, a spokesperson for the state Budget and Control Board, said, "There's no program to enter" (AP/Charleston Daily Mail, 8/22).