“I’m scared,” Wesley said as he was going under sedation. These were his last words before going back for his biopsy to check for transplant rejection after his labs have been slowly worsening since last year when they shipped his medications in only a bag on a hot day. Holding back the tears, we comforted Wes the best that we could. My fear and sadness for him quickly turned into a reminder of why we are fighting so hard to stop the forcing of mail-order pharmacy. We are awaiting the results. No patient or caregiver should have to question if the reason why conditions are worsening is due to the improper storage of medications. Patients shouldn’t have to risk delays or a less quality product for the profits of the wealthiest billion-dollar corporations in our nation, Optum RX, CVS Caremark, and Express Scripts.
The sad but good news is that I wasn’t the only parent or patient shouting out about the abuses of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) this week. As PBMs force patients to their own mail-order pharmacy, many experience heartbreaking delays. That was the case for a kidney transplant patient whose mother took to Facebook to call out CVS Caremark for risking her child’s life after the child ran out of a medication that was requested by the parents weeks prior to the mail-order pharmacy that they were forced to use. Per the post, the parent was refusing to hang with the representative from the mail-order pharmacy until the medication that their child's life depends on was delivered. Knowing what would happen to a parent if they delayed or withheld a child’s life-saving medication, why are corporations held to a different standard? Click here to read the story.
Next, another parent took a photo of a thermometer placed inside of a bottle of their child’s transplant medications immediately upon arrival off of the hot UPS truck. The temperature registered over 102 degrees. UPS points fingers at the shipper, but delivery services like UPS are aware that PBMs mail-order pharmacies are shipping our medications in only bags. The parent noted that the medication bottle clearly states to store under 77 degrees. You may read his post here.
I’m thankful to the people who are fighting back against forced mail-order pharmacy. If Wesley’s condition improves, I will attend another State Board of Pharmacy meeting this month with an independent pharmacist who is fighting for our medications to be protected during shipment. If you want to get involved in your state, please let me know. We need to unite with others who are fighting against PBMs abuses.
Other ways you can help:
-Share your story: loretta@uniteforsafemeds.com
-Make a donation to our advocacy through our nonprofit, Unite for Safe Medications
Thank you!!