WASHINGTON — On Saturday, President Bush signed into law a six-month delay of the Oct. 1 deadline requiring that all Medicaid prescriptions be written on tamper-resistant paper. The delay was included as part of H.R. 3668, which also extends certain health care programs that expired yesterday. The pharmacy industry’s concern with the original deadline stemmed from the possibility that doctors lacking the new pads might write Medicaid patient’s prescriptions on plain pads. This would force pharmacists to choose between turning the customer away or being reimbursed for the prescription. “We cannot express our thanks to President Bush enough for helping low-income Americans continue to receive their prescription medications,” said Steven C. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Alexandria, Va. Late last month NACDS joined Food Marketing Institute, Arlington, Va., and the National Community Pharmacists Association, also in Alexandria, to visit with members of Congress and advocate on this and other issues.

Read More of Today's Headlines