State lawmakers in a budget proposal set to be released in the next week are expected to include a provision meant to support pharmacists in New York after Gov. Kathy Hochul late last year vetoed a similar provision. 

At issue is what's known as fee-for-service parity for pharmacists, who have called for a new law that would require prescription drug middlemen who operate under the Medicaid Managed Care Program to boost reimbursement rates for the drugs they dispense. 

State Sen. James Skoufis at a news confernece on Monday in Albany indicated the measure would be included in the state Senate's one-house budget resolution, set to be unveiled in the coming days. Hochul had vetoed a bill last year meant to address the issue for pharmacists, writing at the time that it needed to be part of the larger budget negotiation. 

"We're doing exactly what the governor had suggested we do in her veto message," Skoufis said. "She made clear in her mind those ought to be taken up as part of the budget conversation. So here we are. We're in the midst of the budget conversation and we're making the push just as she suggested we do."

The budget is expected to pass by the end of the month, when the state's new fiscal year begins. 

Pharmacists in New York over the last sevveral years have decried the arrangement for pharmacy benefit managers and the current reimbursement arrangement under the Medicaid program. Many of have argued small pharmacists are unable to shoulder the costs by the fees put in place. 

"The problem is statewide and needs to be addressed," said Vincent Chiffy, a pharmacist from Utica. "These stores cannot survive unless the state passes this bill in the budget."