Report: Medicaid Paid for Some Unapproved Drugs
More than one-third of prescription medications paid for by Medicaid in 2008 were not on the National Drug Code Directory's list of FDA-approved drugs or were listed but lacked an approved application number, according to an audit by HHS' Office of Inspector General. OIG noted that Medicaid spent $24 billion on prescription drugs in 2008, but $6.2 billion might have gone toward unapproved medications.
- "OIG: Medicaid Paid $6.2B for Unapproved Drugs" (Commins, HealthLeaders Media, 11/30).