AffirmedRx, a Public Benefit Corporation’s Post

To date, all 50 states have enacted legislation regarding PBM regulation, with 156 laws in total. Despite increasing these regulations, low reimbursement rates continue to be a driving force for pharmacy closures in 2024, particularly with independent pharmacies. Read more about pharmacy closures sparking even more need for PBM reform at https://bit.ly/4aNNP0H

#pbms are #dictatorships in what is supposed to be #free countries and free #economy trading rules , #competition laws are violated. are we really #free as #patients ? or is it a #myth ? all #communitypharmacies are created equal except when #pbms enter the market , guess who outlawed them ? #Quebec ! while 12 #provinces and terrotires still debating! educate your #politicians now , #MPs and #MPPs , if you are an MP or MPP and need some education on this subject DM me , it is a free course ! #pharmacists and #pharmacystudents who don't act now ,should not complain when the profession is monopolized by well corrupted organizations that don't see you as human beings or ##healthcare professionals..check what is happening in the US and now many parts of Canada you will know what is monopolization of #patient choices mean. patient #autonomy is a myth now . Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l’Ontario Competition Bureau Canada Ontario College of Pharmacists

Independent pharmacies continue to be crushed by the monopolistic big 3 PBM’s. If their unfair practices are allowed to continue the effect on our healthcare system will be devastating. Plain and simple, patients deserve choice. Having access to their local independent pharmacy where they receive significantly better care then the big box retail pharmacies is paramount. Work with a PBM that is not beholden to Wall Street or Private equity and being independent themselves are huge supporters of locally owned pharmacies. Serve You Rx American Pharmacists Association #transparency #independentpharmacy #smallbusiness #healthcare

Recently, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) conducted a poll to assess the impact of the DIR hangover on independent #pharmacies. At the American Associated Pharmacies (AAP) annual conference, Drug Topics sat down with Douglas Hoey, CEO of NCPA, to discuss the results of the poll and what both #congress and CMS can do to help mitigate the impact of the #DIR hangover on independent pharmacies. https://lnkd.in/enSKjxXm

What has been hidden is now revealed this week with the Federal Trade Commission's interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), but what does it mean for the future of independent pharmacies? Learn more in our latest blog. https://lnkd.in/eQG8UwuQ

A great read in the Star Tribune — reporter Christopher Snowbeck nailed it on the challenge of sky-high Rx costs for consumers. The fact is it’s not always easy to save on prescriptions through your pharmacy benefit manager alone. One solution I often recommend is to use discount cards like GoodRx to find lower prices at the same pharmacy. At HealthEZ we have several convenient solutions to help consumers shop and find the lowest cost for their medications:   Our pharmacy solutions help members set up copay assistance to lower their out-of-pocket costs. All of our Pharmacy Benefit Partners offer a cost comparison tool so consumers can look at the contracted price of drugs within their pharmacy network. HealthEZ encourages members to use discount cards when necessary and provide a reimbursement form for our membership. Be on the lookout for more innovative solutions from HealthEZ!   Read the Star Tribune’s article: https://lnkd.in/gbGnbdhc

Infusion Providers Alliance Responds to the FTC’s Interim Staff Report on PBMs. In response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent Interim Staff Report () on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the Infusion Providers Alliance would like to highlight an important issue that while addressed in the report, has not received much attention: the PBM ownership of “specialty pharmacies” that provide yet another kickback to the PBMs at the expense of patients and health care providers. As the FTC continues its investigation of how the growing “vertically integrated and concentrated market structure has allowed PBMs to profit at the expense of patients,” the agency should shine a bright light on specialty pharmacy ownership and adverse implications of “white bagging” prescriptions from PBM-owned specialty pharmacies -- in particular when the medication is not delivered timely or the improper dose is delivered for the patient due to changes in patient weight or lab values, both of which may delay patient treatment and result in waste of that shipment.

If you're part of the independent pharmacy community, you've probably heard of the FTC interim report all about pharmacy benefit managers and their detrimental impact on so many pharmacies. In case you haven't had a chance to read through the report, this blog post on our IPC site covers some of the main points. One concerning practice that the FTC highlights is favoritism towards affiliated pharmacies. "PBMs favor their own pharmacies, which can drive up drug costs for patients. This practice often results in higher payments to PBM-affiliated pharmacies compared to unaffiliated ones." This practice is unfair to independent pharmacies and provides support to the pharmacies that usually need this support the least. If we want to improve patient care, we have to start with reforming PBMs. #PharmacyBenefitManagers #PBMReform #FTCReport

Infusion Providers Alliance Responds to the FTC’s Interim Staff Report on PBMs. In response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent Interim Staff Report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the Infusion Providers Alliance would like to highlight an important issue that while addressed in the report, has not received much attention: the PBM ownership of “specialty pharmacies” that provide yet another kickback to the PBMs at the expense of patients and health care providers. As the FTC continues its investigation of how the growing “vertically integrated and concentrated market structure has allowed PBMs to profit at the expense of patients,” the agency should shine a bright light on specialty pharmacy ownership and adverse implications of “white bagging” prescriptions from PBM-owned specialty pharmacies -- in particular when the medication is not delivered timely or the improper dose is delivered for the patient due to changes in patient weight or lab values, both of which may delay patient treatment and result in waste of that shipment. https://lnkd.in/ecPb88py

What are your ideas which could impact the rampant closings of independent pharmacies? Pharmacy deserts are spreading. The article below unpacks the reasoning behind this trend. Share your thoughts! #pharmacydesert #pharmacylife #pharmacist #IndependentPharmacy