Introduced January 28 in the West Virginia House of Delegates, House Bill 2700 calls for the WV Public Employees Insurance Agency to begin using the WV Medicaid Prescription Plan as its Pharmacy Benefits Manager for all persons, employees and retired employees entitled to prescription drug benefits provided the costs to the end consumer are lower.
The proposed legislation was introduced by Delegates Gary Howell (R-Mineral), Dean Jeffries (R-Kanawha), Jeffrey Pack (R-Raleigh), Chris Phillips (R-Barbour), Evan Worrell (R-Cabell), Terri Funk Sypolt (R-Preston), John Paul Hott (R-Grant), Carl Martin (R-Upshur), Scott Cadle (R-Mason) and Mark Dean (R-Mingo).
The Medicaid agency terminated its contracts with PBMs in 2017, resulting in a $72 million savings in one year. Many lawmakers believe PEIA can generate similar savings by utilizing the Medicaid model. Medicaid officials have been requested to present their model to several states around the country.
