In 2022, some suffered, and lives were lost due to delays in receiving medications or from receiving less potent medications. Also, many local pharmacies were forced to close due to an unfair playing field.
Lives may have been saved if patients had been allowed to get their medications from the local pharmacy of their choice.
As we enter 2023, we have a lot of work to stop the forcing of mail order pharmacies and to save local pharmacy access.
In 2022, supporters of the petition submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and comments were also submitted from the Facebook Groups that highlight the many issues patients are experiencing with Optum RX and Express Scripts.
Several organizations also worked together to get a variety of patients, caregivers, employers, and healthcare professionals heard.
Every month, the FTC holds public meetings for the public to speak on issues concerning consumer protection and unfair trade practices. Please use your voice to speak on these issues.
In 2022, I spoke at a district meeting for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) in Oklahoma. I discussed my son's experience with unsafe temperature storage. After I spoke, students from Southwestern Oklahoma State University shared the results from their study showing that 80% of medications are not kept at the safe temperature guidelines per FDA's recommendations. The FDA and State Boards fail to regulate.
The State Board of Pharmacy formed a temperature committee in Oklahoma. Now, Oklahoma will be the first state to attempt to ensure safe medication temperatures during delivery. Sadly, many who use mail order pharmacies are unaware that the temperatures of medications matter as most medications are stored in only a bag and exposed to unsafe extreme temperatures year-round. We have a lot of work to educate the public and see Oklahoma through the regulation, as the Governor will be required to sign off. We have seen many times that these companies will apply pressure on regulators and legislators of all political affiliations not to take action. We also have 49 states to go.
Messages are also being received from pharmacists whose pharmacies are closing due to unfair reimbursements from these same corporations. The depression these pharmacists face as they are forced to close is real. Many say they only wanted to serve their communities as their family has for many generations.
Competitors overseeing their own reimbursements and their competitors should be illegal and a direct conflict of interest. These companies that have merged with insurance companies can set a low/no copay at their pharmacy while reimbursing their pharmacy many times more than they would their competitor's pharmacy. You can help us highlight this issue if you have used multiple pharmacies for the same medications. Please share the notices/letters received by mail or on your online portal that shows how much each pharmacy was reimbursed.
Pharmacists of chain pharmacies are leaving the field due to unsafe staffing. As many news headlines in 2022 claimed a pharmacist shortage, many chain pharmacists shouted, "It's not that there is a shortage of pharmacists. The only shortage is a shortage of pharmacists who refuse to work in unsafe environments at the corporate chains!" These pharmacists would work in other pharmacies when provided the opportunity. Sadly, the door of opportunity is quickly closing due to the monopolization of the industry, so some are choosing to leave the profession.
America's pharmacy access is in crisis. Although it seems impossible as we stare at the mountain ahead, we know that we can improve and save pharmacy and medication access for future generations by uniting together.
In 2023, I hope to see more organizations unite to create change and put differences aside.
We need more people who are simply compassionate and empathetic about the suffering of others, even if the issue hasn't impacted them directly. We are also missing many people who do not have access to social media. How can we reach them?
In 2023, I'll continue working with the producers of the documentary "Would You Like Shots With That" which will break down all of the issues in pharmacy in a way that the public will understand and hopefully take action.
We will continue to pressure regulators and legislators to protect patients from harm.
Will you please help by uniting together and doing the same?
If you would like to share your story or have suggestions or ideas on how we can improve our advocacy, please outreach to me directly loretta@uniteforsafemedications.com
Thank you,
Loretta Boesing