Public Notice of Final Actions for Pharmacy Benefit Co-Payments

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice of the following actions regarding the prescription co-payments under the State Plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid).

SCDHHS will amend the South Carolina Title XIX State Plan to allow the flexibility for SCDHHS to remove the co-payment for certain medications and medication classes. This amendment is to apply to dates of service on or after July 1, 2017, and aims to enhance access and compliance to medication therapy.

SCDHHS does not anticipate the action above to have a direct fiscal impact. However, the subsequent elimination of co-payment requirements will result in a modest increase in prescription costs. SCDHHS intends to eliminate co-payments only for those medications where the medical savings resulting from improved access and compliance are expected to exceed the cost of the co-payment elimination.

Copies of this notice are available at each County SCDHHS Office and at www.scdhhs.gov for public review. Additional information regarding this action is available upon request at the address cited below.

Any written comments submitted may be reviewed by the public at SCDHHS, Office of Health Programs, Jefferson Square Building, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.