NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York, California and Washington State were sued on Wednesday by drug store groups that charged the states' Medicaid programs failed to pay them enough for providing prescription drugs.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and other smaller groups said in a statement that the states had not adjusted their reimbursement rates to reflect the new "average wholesale price" for drugs, which was set on September 26.
The lawsuits, filed in federal courts, aim to safeguard drug stores, including major chains such as Walgreen Co, CVS Caremark Corp and Rite Aid Corp, from having to quit the Medicaid program "to maintain their business' viability," the statement said.
(Reporting by Joan Gralla; Additional Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Dan Grebler)
