WASHINGTON — Legislation that could ease the pharmacy concerns that they could not meet today’s deadline for requiring that all Medicaid prescriptions be written on tamper-resistant paper has passed both houses of Congress and now awaits the president’s signature. Industry groups are hopeful that it will happen today. The laws were held up last week when the House and Senate approved the request for a six-month delay, but did so in different legislative forms. The Senate subsequently passed a second bill. "The delay would provide welcome relief for low-income Americans who depend on Medicaid to afford vital medicines," said Tim Hammonds, FMI’s president and chief executive officer. "We strongly encourage President Bush to sign it into law before the Oct. 1 implementation date. This vote is a tribute to the combined clout of the supermarket and pharmacy industries. The prospects were uncertain until FMI and pharmacy associations joined together last week and delivered a strong message that the delay was urgently needed. FMI members were able to make the case to many members of Congress we work with on other issues but do not focus day to day on pharmacy concerns."

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