Massachusetts Pharmacy Chains Submit Data To Help State Determine New Tax

Massachusetts pharmacies on Nov. 5 submitted to the state Division of Health Care Finance and Policy data the state will use to determine the size of a new prescription drug tax, the Boston Globe reports. The tax, approved as part of this year's state budget, is meant to raise $36 million over the next six months through fees from pharmacies for non-Medicaid and non-Medicare prescriptions. The state plans to use the assessment to fund Medicaid. While the state expects an equal match with federal dollars, some drug store officials have said the federal government may not match the funds. CVS spokesperson Todd Andrews "expressed doubt" that federal officials "would ever approve the measure," the according to the Globe. He added, "It's very much up in the air whether this tax will ever become operative." Still, state Medicaid officials said they do not foresee a problem receiving federal approval and "hope to move ahead quickly" with the program, according to the Globe. The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy plans to analyze the data, figure the size of the assessment and then hold a hearing on the assessment "shortly" (Mohl, Boston Globe, 11/6).