OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) – Alanbama Lawmakers are pushing for an Alabama pharmacy bill to be reformed.
Many local drug stores are closing or struggling to stay afloat. Pharmacy Benefit Managers or PBM’s are the center of the issue. Lawmakers are fighting for reform. PBM’S serve as the middle-man between pharmacies and insurance companies.
“Well, eventually, it may eliminate the community pharmacy,” said Pharmacist Roger Burnett.
Every local pharmacy works with Pharmacy Benefits Managers, otherwise known as PBM. PBM’s act as the middleman between pharmacy’s and insurance companies. They decide how much the patient will pay out-of-pocket and how much the pharmacy will be reimbursed. Pharmacist Roger Burnette says PBM’s are making it hard for pharmacies to stay afloat.
“Our greatest issue is they dictate pricing at a price that’s below what we pay for it,” Burnett said. “For example, on a 100 dollar drug they may say it costs 90 so that’s what we’re going to pay you, even though they know we’re paying more than that for it.”
There are two bills pushing for PBM reform to allow pharmacies to stay alive. There is one at the state level and one on a national level. We asked local patients and customers what they would do if their community pharmacy would go under.
“Oh my god, I just love this place,” said Janie Allen. “I’ve been coming here for years. The people are very nice, they have a nice attitude, I love the cards they have in here. I just love coming here…if they were to close…it would be devastating for me.”
Burnette says they need the bill to pass so they can have relief.
“As soon as it’s actually in effect, supposedly it will require them to be transparent in actually using true pricing,” he said. “I believe the bill is written so that it addresses prices that are actually available to Alabama Pharmacies.”
“I just hope and pray that it don’t close,” Allen said. “That’s what I’m praying for because it would affect a lot of people.”
The PBM reform bill is designed to ensure fair reimbursements, increase transparency and protect patients access.
Stay with News Leader 9 for more updates regarding this bill.
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