By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The Legislative Council has placed new restrictions on the state's Medicaid prescription drug program. On a 16-7 vote, the council decided to restrict patients to four brand name prescriptions per month. The number of generic drugs are unlimited ... and children and nursing home patients are exempt from any restrictions. The council will also study a provision that would allow exemptions from the "four per month" rule, if the medicines are needed to fight potentially fatal illnesses. The changes take effect July 1st. They are expected to save about 4-point-6 million dollars in 2004 and 7-point-3 million in 2005.