Cambridge, MA – As policymakers and other stakeholders look for ways to control rising healthcare costs in their state workers’ compensation system, physician-dispensed drugs has gained attention as a rapidly growing cost driver in states all across the country.
As of September 2013, 14 states in the U.S. have changed reimbursement rules to reduce the costs of physician-dispensed drugs. Georgia is among the states with reforms. Issues related to physician dispensing have been debated in Maryland and Pennsylvania, but no change has been made.
Join the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s (WCRI) senior researcher, Dongchun Wang, for an informative one hour webinar on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 1pm ET (12pm CT, 11am MT, and 10am PT) as she discusses the growth of physician dispensing in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the impact of recent reform in Georgia.
Ms. Wang will share findings from three WCRI studies (Physician Dispensing in the Maryland Workers’ Compensation System, Physician Dispensing in the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation System, Impact of Reform on Physician Dispensing and Prescription Prices in Georgia) as well as her insights on the subject, and have an interactive discussion with participants about this important issue.
“In many states across the country, policymakers are debating whether doctors should be paid significantly more than pharmacies for dispensing the same drug,” said Dr. Richard Victor, WCRI’s executive director. “One question for policymakers and other stakeholders is whether the large price difference paid when physicians dispense is justified by the benefits of physician dispensing.”
Things you will learn:
- Prevalence, costs, and recent growth of physician dispensing in Maryland and Pennsylvania;
- Impact of reimbursement rule change in Georgia on the frequency and costs of physician-dispensed prescriptions; and
- Price differentials between physician- and pharmacy-dispensed drugs.
Webinars are $35 for WCRI Members; $70 for Non-Members; and no charge for members of the press, legislators as well as their staff, and state public officials who make policy decisions impacting their state’s workers’ compensation system. Attendance is limited to 100 people and all attendees receive a free copy of the slides. For those unable to attend the webinar on the day it’s presented, a recorded copy will be available for purchase after the event.
Register now by clicking here: WCRI Webinar: Physician Dispensing in Maryland, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
Source: WCRI