Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Plans to release a report documenting the costly practices of pharmacy middlemen were shelved by Ohio Medicaid officials at the request of a judge reviewing claims by CVS Caremark that the analysis contains confidential information and trade secrets (Source: “Report on Pharmacy Middleman Pricing to Stay Secret—for Now,” The Columbus Dispatch, July 17, 2018).
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jenifer French asked for the delay to allow CVS Caremark time to identify information in the 51-page report that it considers proprietary and believes should be redacted before the report is released to the public and lawmakers.
French did not rule on CVS’ request for a temporary restraining order to block the report’s planned release late Tuesday afternoon. Instead, she ordered Medicaid and CVS officials back to court on Wednesday, July 25, after they’ve had a chance to discuss the concerns. She also asked to privately review a copy, which shows higher-than-industry costs paid by taxpayers to cover Medicaid patients’ drugs.