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Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said Monday the Virgin Islands has hired a private health care services company to manage its Medicaid prescription drug program, a move that will reduce costs and improve care to the territory's neediest residents.
The Department of Health will launch the new Pharmacy Benefit Management Program on Friday, April 1. The program, to be managed by CIGNA, will increase efficiency and accountability in providing prescription drugs to people who qualify through the Medical Assistance Program, which is vital to the territory's low-income population.
“Bringing in a private company to manage our Medicaid drug program is something we have been working on for a couple years. I am very pleased to say we have negotiated a favorable rate with CIGNA, and this transition will save money and improve care for the territory's neediest citizens,” de Jongh said.
The Medical Assistance Program (MAP) is the territory's implementation of Medicaid, which helps low-income Virgin Islanders with limited resources obtain medical care. Costs are split evenly between the local and federal government.
Until now, the program's prescription drug benefits have been managed on a paper system, with little oversight of pharmacies. CIGNA's management frees up the Medicaid program from processing paper claims and also reduces costs by monitoring and encouraging more affordable drugs and treatments. The transition to private management also allows for better compliance with federal regulations, putting the territory in a more favorable position to receive federal funding for Medicaid.
The savings should allow the Virgin Islands government to expand benefits, making more drugs available through the program, including some prenatal over-the-counter medications.
“CIGNA, a global health services company, is the health care provider for the Virgin Islands government and its employees, and has experience working with the diverse needs of the territory's citizens. This partnership will benefit Medicaid recipients, and taxpayers alike,” the governor said.
The program is one of several initiatives the governor has launched to reform healthcare in the territory and to improve Medicaid. |
