State Comptroller Kevin Lembo proposed legislation Thursday that would expand his offices drug purchasing authority, which is currently restricted to state employees, to Medicaid patients, a move that could save the state as much as $66.5 million annually.
Currently the Department of Social Services purchases drugs for participants of the Connecticut Medical Assistance Programs including Medicaid, HUSKY, ConnPACE, and Charter Oak.
Under Lembo’s plan DSS’s purchasing authority would be consolidated into the comptroller’s office, which currently purchases prescription drugs for state employees and retirees through a contract with Caremark.
Lembo said the move could result in “tremendous savings” through volume-related discounts.
“I am calling for a consolidation of state purchasing – saving Connecticut taxpayers as much as $66.5 million annually in prescription drug costs,” Lembo said. “This state streamlining would eliminate duplicative drug purchasing and provide significant savings through volume-related discounts.
