Perspective               

Drugmakers Team with States to Manage Medicaid Patients

The New York Times reports that an increasing number of drug companies have partnered with states to assist Medicaid patients in managing chronic conditions. Whether the programs help patients and save states money, as the companies have claimed, is under question.

Opponents of such partnerships believe the companies will use their new role to block states' demands for lower drug prices and say discounted drug prices would save states far more than disease management programs.

Florida began the program in 2001, followed by Arkansas, and Colorado. Drugmakers hope to establish similar programs in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

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