{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Monday, lawmakers on the Program Review and Investigations Committee quizzed executives with Coventry Cares, Kentucky Spirit and WellCare of Kentucky, which manages most of the state's Medicaid program, about complaints lodged by Kentucky pharmacists who have told lawmakers that pharmacy-benefits companies sometimes pay less for generic drugs than it costs pharmacies to acquire them. Senator Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs, asked for a show of hands from pharmacists to learn which of the companies they believe underpay on generic drugs. Nearly everyone raised their hands for Medco Health Solutions, which is Coventry's partner, and Catalyst Rx, which is WellCare's. Nobody seemed to object to US Script, which is Kentucky Spirit's partner. Hospitals, doctors, dentists, mental health providers and Medicaid patients have complained to lawmakers in recent weeks that the state's switch to managed care has led to delayed payments and complicated pre-approval processes that makes treatment more difficult to obtain.
