Facing Computer Problems, Idaho Temporarily Suspends Prior Authorization for Medicaid Prescriptions

Idaho officials have suspended for 30 days a requirement that doctors prescribing more than four medications per month per Medicaid beneficiary obtain state authorization because state computers are not able to process the required information, the Spokane Spokesman-Review reports. The requirement, part of a Medicaid reform package approved by lawmakers this year, was expected to save the state $8 million next year. Part of the problem is that the state's computer system currently is unable to access a patient's medication history quickly, forcing officials to "dig through [paper] records." Idaho Health and Welfare Department spokesperson Ross Mason said the state will take about a month or longer to "tweak" the computer system. In the meantime, pharmacists will be able to dispense more than four prescriptions per beneficiary per month without state authorization, though the department still will review prescriptions to see if any should be "cut off," the Spokesman-Review reports. Despite problems with the current system, Mason said the program did find "a good number of overprescribing situations." He added that some patients were denied medications, but specific figures were not yet available. But JoAn Condie, executive director of the Idaho State Pharmacy Association, said the system was "becoming a nightmare," adding that it was not in operation long enough to know if it made improvements (Russell, Spokane Spokesman-Review, 4/10).