COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Changes in the way doctors can bill Medicaid for an expensive painkiller addiction treatment have boosted use of the drug in Ohio.
Under the new system pharmacies can now bill Medicaid directly for Vivitrol and have the drug delivered to a doctor's office without an upfront payment.
Injections of the drug can cost as much as $1,000 a month.
Ohio's Medicaid office says it processed 86 paid claims for Vivitrol last year thanks to the billing change which took effect Oct. 1.
Doctors used to have to pay for Vivitrol injections out of pocket, then seek reimbursement through Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for poor children and families.
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