Dear Supporters,
I wanted to provide an update and a reminder that comments for the Texas Board of Pharmacy proposed rule change to temperatures and mail order pharmacy is due tomorrow. If you're in Texas and would like to provide in-person public comment at the 8/1/2023 meeting, you may. You may need to sign up prior to speaking. My statement will be that room temperature medication storage must be taken as seriously as refrigerated medications, and patients need temperature sensors. The fax (512) 305-8061. For those without a fax, I can fax your comments for you if you'd like to email them to me loretta@untieforsafemeds.com
I do plan on attending the Texas Board of Pharmacy Meeting. You may click here if you'd like to help with funding travel to State Boards and advocacy
I spoke at this week's Federal Trade Commission Meeting. This was my comment to the FTC this week. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMS) include Optum RX, CVS Caremark, and Express Scripts. PBMs manage pharmacy benefits. PBMs play a major role in determining which pharmacies patients can use, how much patients pay at the pharmacy counter, and how much their own pharmacies and competitor pharmacies are reimbursed.
"Thank you. I support the FTC removing prior advocacy that led to today's destruction of safe medication access for patients like my son. I have a petition with 220,000 supporters to stop the forcing of mail order pharmacies. My son is a transplant survivor who received a gift of life from a three-year-old little girl. This family didn't give this gift of life to be forced to risk it for PBM's profits.
PBMs mail order pharmacies ignore the importance of storing room-temperature medications properly, like children's liquid oral transplant meds, as PBMs have forced us to swap our pharmaceutical care for flimsy bags, hot mailboxes, and trucks. The trucks reach up to 170 degrees. Meds are left sitting in the hot sun without warning patients that this could be unsafe. This is abuse, neglect, and fraud.
I pushed for regulation, but PBMS power and conflicts of interest have hindered and National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and many state boards from ensuring the basics of pharmaceutical care and safety. Oklahoma is the first to stand up for patients, but that's not the norm. The conflicts of interest have devastating effects on the board's ability to properly regulate safe temperature storage, delays, and even safe staffing.
After uncovering PBM's forcing us away from my son's hospital pharmacy to their own pharmacy, I saw what PBMS was doing to competitors. In a quick Google search in just two days, I found six independent pharmacies closed within 24 hours. Many are now pharmacy deserts and must drive over 60 miles to get meds. Most closures cited PBMs below cost reimbursements.
We need an intervention now to save independent pharmacies while the FTC investigation into PBMs continues. We cannot let another pharmacy close in US from these abuses such as spread pricing, DIR fees, and PBMs forcing to their own pharmacies. On behalf of patients and communities across our nation, I call for emergent immediate action and protection; thank you."
After the meeting, the FTC voted to withdraw prior outdated advocacy statements that the pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs use to persuade legislators and regulators not to take action on PBMs harmful practices. This is a huge win for patients!
Thank you for your support,
Loretta Boesing, Patient Advocate