West Virginia Considers Eliminating Generic Drug Copayment for CHIP Beneficiaries

West Virginia officials have proposed eliminating the copayment for generic drugs and altering the payment structure for brand-name medications under the West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program, the Charleston Gazette reports. Currently, beneficiaries contribute copayments based on their annual incomes; some beneficiaries pay a $5 copay for generic drugs and a $10 copay for brand-name drugs. Under the new system, all beneficiaries would pay $10 for brand-name drugs and $15 for a brand-name drug not included in the program's formulary. The copay for generic drugs would be eliminated. The revision would save the program an estimated $846,000, the Gazette reports. Sharon Carte, executive director of WVCHIP said, "This new copay system is a fiscally prudent move. It will allow us to hold down individual member costs so we can serve more of the working families of West Virginia." The proposed revisions will be submitted for public comment for 30 days, and the West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Board is expected to approve the changes in June (Charleston Gazette, 5/16).