Kansas pharmacists ask lawmakers for help as pharmacies throughout the country continue to close – Lawrence Journal -World

Photo from: Jen Clark / Kansas Pharmacists Association

Hundreds of pharmacists and pharmacy employees gathered in Capitol in Topeca on Wednesday to require reform of pharmacy managers.

Hundreds of Kansas pharmacists in white coats gathered in Capitol in Topeka on Wednesday to meet with legislators and advocate for restrictions on pharmacy managers or PBM.

In the meantime, they temporarily closed their pharmacies – more than 100 of them throughout the country – to show legislators and customers what a world will look without local pharmacies, they said.

“I really hope that we are able to educate and make a change and that the future of pharmacy in Kansas and across the country is looking up from here,” says Christian Williams, an Osawatomie pharmacist.

Williams worked at Rockers Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy in Paola with retro soda and an ice cream fountain. Last year, Williams became the co -owner of rockers. Its purpose was to become a full owner.

But over the last five years, the pharmacy market and the way pharmacies are recovering from insurance companies that make it difficult for them to keep their doors open, she said.

In December, Williams said rockers should close their doors forever.

“It hurts a lot. Injure our patients. He hurt us like pharmacists, “she said. “But without a fair refund, which allows us to maintain the lights and pay for our staff, we cannot provide a pharmacy service that is safe and appropriate.”

The closure of pharmacies is becoming more and more, which makes it difficult for people in Kansas to have access to care. Pharmacists and pharmacies employees who participated in the rally blame PBMS, stating that their practices force them to work at a loss.

What is PBM?

PBMS work behind the scenes and brokerage deals between drug manufacturers, insurance companies and pharmacies. They play a big role in determining what you pay for prescription medicines, how much insurance they pay and what medicines they cover and what pharmacies they earn from sales of medicines released on prescription.

The first three pharmacy managers are CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum RX. They are owned by large insurance companies. And two of them also have major pharmacies, including CVS pharmacy and express scripts pharmacy, pharmacy for mail order.

Gordon Carroll, who works with Auburn Pharmacy, said PBM was designed to save insurance companies and employers money from medicines released on prescription.

“But what really happens is that they put a bunch of funds in a black box, have no regulation, unattended, no accountability and eventually wash their hands in a lot of money,” Carol said.

Carol said PBM pay pharmacies as its under below costs, which makes it difficult to function. He attended the rally with a handful of other members of the Auburn pharmacy. Auburn has about 30 seats, most based in Kansas.

“We are advocating for our lifestyle, essentially maintaining our surgery in sailing in a sustainable and just environment,” he said.

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association or PCMA, a commercial group that is overlapping on behalf of PBMS, said PBMS appreciates its partnerships with “quality, low -cost pharmacies” in Kansas.

“When patients in Kansas have access to pharmacies at affordable prices in the networks of our members, each Cannes benefits. There are many factors for the closure of pharmacies, including the size of the population, “says Greg Lopez, a PCMA spokesman, email to The Kansas News Service.

Lopez said they support local pharmacies in rural areas through programs to increase recovery.

“We remain engaged in the ongoing partnership with pharmacies in rural areas to support Kansas’s families,” he said.

What did other pharmacists say

Tessa Schnel is the immediate previous president of the Kansas Pharmacists Association, the intercession group that hosted the rally.

She said 52 pharmacies have been closed in Kansas in the last 10 years.

“At this point, it is like going or dying for our members,” Schnel said.

Schnel said that chain pharmacies that are not related to the best PBMs are also fighting, but independent pharmacies are hitting the most.

“They lose financially, but the whole overall safety net of supplying access to medicines in Kansas sits at the top of independent pharmacies,” Schnel said.

Schnel said the closure was related to the future of pharmacy.

“Nobody wants to buy a pharmacy and continue the next generation of pharmacy when they do not know if they will be able to hold their doors open,” she said. “That’s scary.”

Eli Flynn is a student pharmacist at the University of Kansas. She attended the rally with several other pharmacists in training and pharmaceutical technicians.

Flynn said she was concerned about the future of pharmacy if things didn’t change.

“This may be discouraging, but I think there is an element of excitement, thinking that we can be those who change this, not only for ourselves and for our professions, but also to take better care of Our patients, “Flynn said.

Flynn said a large part of the PBM reform that state legislators want to help is transparency. She said that PBM should be disclosed to patients, pharmacies and insurance companies how much everyone pays and where the money goes.

“If the pharmacy does not make enough money to stay open and patients have to pay all the money, who is getting the money?” She said.