Pharmacy Owners Need Help In The Fight Against Big PBM's

The time has come for drug wholesalers, GPO’s and others who sell to and care about community pharmacy to provide their customers with the tools they need to win over the support of consumers and employers in the fight against unreasonable PBM practices.  While the PBM’s may have the money to hire lobbyists, retail pharmacy has a much more powerful tool, the ability to win-over voters.   

This new approach needs to provide pharmacies with flyers, counter cards, brochures, sample letters, newspaper ad slicks, press releases, letters to the editor and other communications tools.  Pharmacy personnel would then be able to put them in the hands of their patients, employers and the local media.  The materials need to be colorful, have a captivating headline and be customized with the names and email addresses of the state and national legislators in their area.  The information would speak to the interest of consumers and employers by documenting how the companies that provide their prescription insurance coverage are grossly over charging them and denying consumers access to the medication their physician feels is most appropriate.

What these materials actually say and how they are designed will require the best thinking of advertising professionals.  But what is clear is that consumer and employers need to have clear cut examples of how PBM rebates, formulary restrictions and other unethical practices negatively affect them.   It is only when they understand this at the personal level will they speak up in large numbers and demand action from their elected representatives, regulators and health insurance companies.  W need to provide pharmacies with the information and the tools they need to help make that happen.

In order for pharmacy to meet the healthcare needs of our country we need to do more and we need to do it more effectively.  That not only means providing new and more healthcare services.  It also means finding ways to engage consumers and employers in the fight to overcome the negative effects of PBM counter-productive practices.  We can, indeed, we must, find ways to get consumers and employers to join us in this fight.    

We Can Win The Pharmacy Profitability Revolution

In the fall of 1777, George Washington and his army of about 12,000 troops retreated to Valley Forge, PA.  He had just been badly beaten by the British who went on to capture Philadelphia, which at the time was the capital of the United States.  Under normal circumstances the revolution would have been over.

But Washington and his battle-weary troops did not surrender. During their time in Valley Forge moral was drained as thousands froze to death or died of starvation.  Those that stayed made soup out of the leather of their boots.  Yet,  during tough times Washington found creative ways to solve problems and prepare for the future.  By thinking outside of the box he marched out of Valley forge with a smaller, but more disciplined, dedicated Army.  Then he and his troops went on to beat the worlds largest Army.   

Here’s the point.  Pharmacy has been severely impacted by PBM abuses.  These powerful companies have driven down reimbursement and negatively affected patient care.  But, fortunately, just like Washington at Valley Forge, independent community pharmacy is finding creative new ways to overcome problems.  

State, national and other pharmacy organizations are beginning to win battles on the legal and legislative front.   And, progress is happening on the cognitive services front. CPESN is training thousands of pharmacists on how to provide new, more and better patient care.  Then, by working together these pharmacies are successfully approaching government agencies, physician groups, and payers and getting paid for providing enhanced care services. 

The challenges confronting independent community pharmacy are enormous.  But the tools necessary to win the battles are in place.  They are tried, tested and proven.  Still, it requires thousands of pharmacies to change their practice paradigm.  Then these pharmacy owners need to "talk-up” and explain the value of their services to patients, family caregivers, commercial payers and prescribers. 

It is a tough job.  We are fighting a payment revolution; but the little guys have a history of winning these kinds of battles.  We can do this if we stick together.