Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan announced an open meeting of the Commission will be held virtually on Thursday, July 1, 2021. This will be the first of a series of monthly meetings that will open the work of the Commission to the public. The open meeting will begin at 12 p.m. ET, and will be followed by a time for members of the public to address the Commission.
Attached is my one-minute video. Please help by sending the Federal Trade Commission your own comment, speaking at the public meeting, or providing a video demanding that the monopolization of the insurance and pharmacy industry be halted to save our healthcare and our lives.
Click here to sign up as a speaker or to provide video or written comments.
We must stop ignoring the issue of the monopolization of the pharmacy, insurance, and PBM industries (Optum RX, CVS Caremark, & Express Scripts). The trucks and mailboxes that many are forced to put their medications in can reach 120-170 degrees. Most medications are shipped in only a bag.
Save America's pharmacy access and right to choose the pharmacy that best meets their needs. Many local pharmacies deliver for free in temperature-controlled vehicles at a scheduled time. This is the only safe way to have medications delivered, and patients deserve the safest options in their coverage. The monopolization is threatening lives as pharmacies have closed in the midst of the pandemic.
Pharmacy deserts are erupting for the greed of these corporations. Link to Chicago Tribune Article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-pharmacy-deserts-chicago-20180108-story.html
Quoted From The Consumer Affairs Report: "Customers posting reviews at Consumer Affairs found a lot to complain about with the big three PBMs. The majority of the complaints fell under the following categories:
Customer service issues: inquiries unanswered, passed on to another support representative, etc.
Fulfillment issues: Customers not getting their medications on time, wrong medications sent, etc.
Billing issues: Prices being changed without the customer’s knowledge, credit cards being billed without permission, etc.
Authorization issues: PBMs speaking to the wrong person at a physician’s office, for example."
Please help me to ensure safe access to medications for patients like my son whose life relies on medications every 12 hours.
You may also help by:
Sharing your story: loretta@uniteforsafemedications.com
Making a Donation to Unite for Safe Medications