Arizona Governor Doug Ducey made changes to the state’s Medicaid program by adding new transparency rules.
He also removed a doctor serving on the state’s Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, which makes recommendations about drug coverage to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)—the state’s Medicaid program.
The governor took actions after an investigative report indicated that drug companies have inappropriate influence on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee through Dr. Mohamed Ramadan.
According to the report, since 2013, Ramadan received as much as $700,000 in perks and compensation from pharmaceutical companies while serving on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
In response to the report, Ducey asked law enforcement officials on Thursday to investigate Ramadan.
His spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato told NPR, “The governor was very alarmed when he saw this report.” He added that Ducey felt that a swift action is necessary to address the issue.
Eliminating potential conflicts of interest on Arizona’s Medicaid program
On Friday, Ducey signed an executive order that “increases transparency and eliminates undue influence by drug and medical device companies on the state’s Medicaid program.”
