If the universe is a fair and just place, one day a pharmacist will land the CEO position at Express Scripts. On that day, the practice of pharmacy will be more appropriately valued by a mega PBM CEO. In the meantime, pharmacists and their patients will have to endure public remarks likes those recently uttered by George Paz, Express Scripts current CEO. Continue reading ‘Express Scripts Continues Its Assault on Community Pharmacy’
Archive for February, 2012
Express Scripts Continues Its Assault on Community Pharmacy
Published February 28, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers 24 CommentsTags: pharmacy benefit managers
New Limits on Medicaid Generic Drug Reimbursement Proposed; Same Inadequate Result
Published February 24, 2012 Medicaid 2 CommentsTags: Medicaid
Earlier this month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued its fifth set of proposed Medicaid federal upper limits (FULs) for generic drug reimbursement, but it’s no better than its four predecessors for patients and their community pharmacists, NCPA recently wrote to the agency.
Patient, Pharmacist Complaints Illustrate Dangers of Proposed Express Scripts-Medco PBM Merger
Published February 23, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers 1 CommentTags: pharmacy benefit managers
NCPA, consumer advocates and others oppose the proposed merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts (ESI) and Medco for fear that it would reduce competition and patient choice while increasing prescription drug costs. Some recent complaints voiced by patients and/or their community pharmacists sum up what appear to be common problems with the PBM ‘status quo’—issues that likely wouldn’t improve and arguably would grow worse if these two entities are allowed to become the mega-PBM envisioned by the merger.
New Poll: Patients Want Pharmacy Choice, Restrictions on Perceived PBM Self-Dealing
Published February 14, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers 2 CommentsTags: pharmacy benefit managers
Recent polling conducted at the request of the Georgia Pharmacy Association (GPhA) yielded two primary findings. First, patients overwhelmingly want a choice between local pharmacies and mail order facilities. Second, most patients do not know what a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is and even more disapprove of the common practice of requiring the use of mail order for medications.
More Questions for Express Scripts-Medco Merger; 57th Member of Congress Weighs in
Published February 10, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers Leave a CommentTags: pharmacy benefit managers
A remarkable 57 Members of Congress to date have expressed their bipartisan concern regarding the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco. The most recent being U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), each of whom sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week on behalf of their respective constituents and local pharmacists. Continue reading ‘More Questions for Express Scripts-Medco Merger; 57th Member of Congress Weighs in’
New Survey Reflects Impact of Drug Shortages on Community Pharmacists, Patients
Published February 9, 2012 pharmacist , pharmacy benefit managers 1 CommentTags: pharmacist, pharmacy benefit managers
Patients and their community pharmacists are increasingly dealing with drug shortages, according to a survey recently conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The survey also indicates that health insurance plans and/or pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) could better address problems brought on by the shortages by expanding coverage to pay for alternative therapies and adjusting reimbursement rates to keep pace with market price increases.
Continue reading ‘New Survey Reflects Impact of Drug Shortages on Community Pharmacists, Patients’
Costly “Spread Pricing” Prescription Drug Markups by Pharmacy Benefit Managers Cited by Wells Fargo Analysts
Published February 6, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers 1 CommentTags: pharmacy benefit managers
For years, consumer advocates, independent community pharmacists and others have voiced concerns over the cost-inflating practices of some pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Those worries were recently echoed by two health plan advisors.
43 and Counting – Express Scripts-Medco Merger Triggers More Congressional Concern
Published February 3, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers Leave a CommentTags: pharmacy benefit managers
Three additional U.S. lawmakers have weighed in with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with questions about the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco, bringing to 43 the total number of Members of Congress who to date have expressed concern.
Medicare Report Urges More Oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Published February 2, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers 1 CommentTags: pharmacy benefit managers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a report on 2011 program audits of the Part D prescription drug program and sent guidance to plan sponsors urging more robust oversight of their pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Continue reading ‘Medicare Report Urges More Oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)’
More Voices Join Chorus Questioning Express Scripts-Medco Pharmacy Merger
Published February 1, 2012 pharmacy benefit managers Leave a CommentTags: pharmacy benefit managers
Congressional concern over the proposed mega-merger of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express Scripts and Medco continues to increase as a New York Democrat and a South Carolina Republican became the 38th and 39th Members of Congress to speak up for their constituents and the community pharmacists who serve them.
Continue reading ‘More Voices Join Chorus Questioning Express Scripts-Medco Pharmacy Merger’
