15,000 small independent pharmacies will soon be out of network for veterans. My husband is a veteran. It makes me sad to hear and imagine the sacrifices that they have made for America and to be treated so poorly. Many veterans whose bodies were harmed by war realize that it was for a country that today allows for lifesaving pharmacy access to be stripped away from them. I’ve read the comments and stories of many veterans who feel abandoned for corporate greed. It is beyond disgraceful.
Many will either be forced to mail order or be forced to a corporate chain such as CVS. Some who will not have the physical or financial means will be required to travel 30 minutes to an hour away to the next large corporate chain. This will risk the lives of some who will experience delayed treatment for infections that require medications such as antibiotics.
Independent pharmacists are often locally owned by citizens that are dedicated to their communities. Walgreens and CVS, whose profit margins are in the billions, made headlines for closing pharmacies in underserved rural and urban areas as they appear to be more dedicated to their shareholders.
Corporate chain pharmacies are also making headlines for understaffing and closures as many pharmacists I speak to refuse to work for the large corporate chains that put profits above their safety and the safety of their patients. Many say “there is no shortage of pharmacists. There is only a shortage of pharmacists who are willing to take the abuse of the large corporate chain pharmacies.”
It is time for the Express Scripts and Tricare relationship to be investigated. Many independent pharmacies were already filling prescriptions at a loss but made that sacrifice out of compassion and a sense of gratitude as they were honored to provide critical services to veterans in their communities. This time, Express Scripts didn’t even give most the option to fill medications at a loss and decided to kick most totally out of network.
Since gag clauses have been removed from contracts between insurance companies' pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and pharmacists that kept pharmacists from telling patients that the cash price of their medication can be lower than their copay, PBMs like Express Scripts appear to be using every means possible to shut down independent pharmacies.
This is not okay. Our tax dollars should not be used to harm veterans and small businesses. Patient choice of pharmacy saves lives. Local pharmacy access is not only lifesaving but critical to the public health of America.
Show your respect and appreciation for veterans by fighting for them today.
Please write your legislators. Reach out to news media. The Georgia Pharmacy Association also has a petition that you can sign. You may also share your story and concerns with Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency (PUTT) or National Community Pharmacy Association {NCPA).
As always, thank you for your support.
Loretta Boesing
Founder of Unite for Safe Medications
Contact us: loretta@uniteforsafemedications.com