Changes at UMMC could raise drug prices for uninsured

A policy change at Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center aimed at helping pharmacists manage patient eligibility may increase prescription drug prices for patients without prescription insurance, reports The Clarion-Ledger.

Below are three things to know about the policy change.

1. The hospital offers a discounted drug program to help underserved populations gain access to necessary treatment. Under the new policy, UMMC will only allow patients who see physicians at its hospital-based clinics to be eligible for discounted drug programs, meaning some uninsured patients will be denied discounts for drugs.

2. Regarding UMMC's policy change, hospital CEO Kevin Cook told The Clairon-Ledger, "This changes where patients are served to make it simpler for pharmacists to know which patients are covered."

3. UMMC officials said they do not know how many patients the policy change will affect because, prior to the change, there was no clear designation which prescriptions were being filled by what type of clinic.

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