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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > October > 28
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
BWC blows off $14.5 million in drug rebates, report says
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation missed the chance to recover $14.5 million in rebates from drug manufacturers between July 2005 and September 2008 and took eight months to get around to limiting payment for three expensive drugs at a cost of more than $5 million, a new report from the state inspector general said on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
The 19-page report said BWC officials fixed most of the weaknesses identified in an internal audit of the agency’s pharmacy benefits program for injured workers but missed these two items.
The bureau is an insurance pool for workers injured on the job in Ohio.
An earlier BWC contract with its pharmacy benefits manager called for the manager to be paid with drug company rebates. BWC switched in 2005 to paying the manager flat fees and giving the state the right to seek the drug company rebates. But the state failed to go after the rebates, the report said.
BWC Administrator Marsha Ryan said, “When this administration arrived at BWC in mid-2007, we found a pharmacy program in disarray and suffering from severe neglect. Since 2007, substantive and efficient pharmacy reform has occurred. We commissioned a complete study of the program, made improvements where they were desperately needed and added leadership and staff. I am confident the care we have administered to the pharmacy program over the past two years is providing efficient service to Ohio’s injured workers.”
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Backers, foes plan dueling ‘high noon’ rallies on casinos
It’s high noon on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the battle over whether Ohio should allow casinos in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo as supporters and foes plan dueling rallies.
Ohio horsemen - men and women employed in the state’s horse racing industry - will drive trucks and horse trailers in laps around Capitol Square downtown to draw attention to the thousands of jobs they say will be lost if the issue passes.
They’re tagging their rally the “Issue 3 Job Killer Drive-By.”
Meanwhile, at the same time and about four miles north of downtown at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189 Union Hall on Kinnear Road, casino backers will hold a “Last Push” rally featuring Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavalierrs, former Ohio and U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow and others.
Similar rallies have been held in Cleveland and Toledo and a final one is set for Thursday in Cincinnati.
The casino plan, a proposed constitutional amendment, is Issue 3 on the Tuesday, Nov. 3 ballot.
