Bartell Drugs (5605 22nd Ave NW) will stop filling Medicaid prescriptions effective Feb. 1, 2010. The decision was made because the state has reduced compensation for pharmacies filling Medicaid/DSHS prescriptions. “This is a painful decision and one we do not take lightly,” George D. Bartell, chairman and CEO said, “We want to be clear that the decision has nothing to do with our DSHS customers, but only with the State.” Bartells is discontinuing the Medicaid prescription program at 15 of 57 locations. The other 14 stores affected are: Roosevelt, University Village, Magnolia, Admiral Way, Bellevue Village, Bridle Trails and Houghton, Inglewood, Bella Bottega and Redmond Town Center, Sammamish Plateau, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Seattle Hill Road. (The entire release here. Thanks, Alvin!)