Recording Link to CVS Executives Calling People Who Complain "Brand Terrorist"
The first time I heard CVS executives calling people like us "brand terrorists," I was shocked. That's very bold yet truth-telling about how CVS is not hearing the thousands of patients, advocates, pharmacists, and physicians pleading for their mercy for the sake of human lives.
Patients, Caregivers, and advocates don't want to feel the need to go Twitter to unite and push for the change we need to save our lives but many have found that it's the only way to get access to the medications that their lives depend on.
Our healthcare system is severely broken.
I personally started my Twitter after a US Dept of Labor official suggested it after informing me that he hears a lot of complaints from patients forced to mail order like what I was hearing. Still, although it's unfair and unethical, it's not illegal. He suggested I start a petition, a Twitter, and a Facebook group. His name was Tony. I'll never forget him.
CVS is obviously not taking patients' and advocates' complaints seriously by labeling us "brand terrorists." It shows the culture of the company to say such hurtful words to describe those that "aren't happy with" CVS and are mad that "they don't have the ability to leave" CVS. CVS uses their pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), CVS Caremark to force to their own mail order and retail pharmacies.
CVS executives should not only apologize but realize that they are the reason for their own implosion, not patients. Forcing mothers such as myself to risk their child's life with delays and improper temperature control, creating pharmacy deserts by forcing to their own pharmacies or purposely reimbursing their competition below their costs, or forcing some patients to pay more in a copay than the cash price. Even with a lower co-pay, CVS has been caught overcharging taxpayers behind the curtain as they oversee their own reimbursements. Twitter is filled with issues of unsafe working conditions for pharmacists. #shewaited and #pizzaisnotworking. Then, there is the restricted lists of medications that are covered chosen not by what will benefit the patient most but which will make PBMs the most profit. Those are just a few of the over 100 reasons why many of America's patients have had it with pharmacy benefit managers such as CVS Caremark that have merged with CVS.
I believe we are making progress and social media is extremely effective. Please keep writing your legislators and teach others about the issues.
Despite what they call those who are fighting for their right to safe and affordable medications, please refuse to remain silent for the future of America's pharmacy access for patients like my son.
Thank you,
Loretta Boesing
Founder of Unite for Safe Medications
loretta@uniteforsafemeds.com