Healthcare has its fair share of issues and controversy throughout the country but one such dilemma is the hidden root of pharmaceutical costs, which affect independent pharmacists and patients requiring prescriptions.
As pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have modified their role in the medical world, some independent pharmacists feel these entities found a loophole to not only make extra money but also monopolize the market in the process.
kAm“pD E9:?8D DE2CE65 8@:?8 E@H2C5 6=64EC@?:4 4=2:>D[ E96 !q|D 3642>6 E96 8@\36EH66? 7@C E96 :?DFC6C 2?5 962=E9 A=2?[” D2:5 #2:?DG:==6 sCF8D A92C>24J @H?6C q@33J v:=6D[ H9@ :D 2=D@ 2 DE2E6 C68:DE6C65 =@33J:DE 7@C E96 p=232>2 !92C>24J pDD@4:2E:@?] “~G6C E:>6[ W!q|DX 3682? >2?28:?8 7@C>F=2C:6D 2?5 E9:D :E H96? A92C>24:DED 2?5 5@4E@CD DE2CE65 86EE:?8 AFD965 @FE @7 E96 564:D:@?\>2<:?8]”k^Am
kAm(92E D66>65 E@ 36 C62D@?23=6 >2?286>6?E 2E @?6 A@:?E ?@H :?56A6?56?E A92C>24:DED 766= !q|D 92G6 6IA=@:E65[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 ?@E 4@?D:56C65 AC676CC65 D6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“%96J’G6 364@>6 2 3:8[ 4@?EC@==:?8 >@?DE6C[” y:>’D !92C>24J @H?6C y:> r=2?E@? D2:5] “~?6 @7 E96 3:8 E9:?8D E96J 5@ :D DAC625 AC:4:?8] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 2 5CF8 4@DED Sd 7@C >6 E@ 7:== :E[ E96J’== 8:G6 >6 Sd D@>6E:>6D E@ C6:>3FCD6 2?5 >2J36 S` E@ 7:== :E] $@ E96 4@A2J :D S`_ 2?5 E96J A@4<6E E96 Sd 2?5 E6== E96 962=E942C6 AC@G:56C :E 4@DED S`_ 2?5 A@4<6E 2?@E96C Sd]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ z@<@ |24<:?[ E96 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 4@CA@C2E6 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ C6=2E:@?D q=F6rC@DD q=F6$9:6=5 @7 p=232>2[ !q|D 6?E6C :?E@ D6A2C2E6 4@?EC24ED H:E9 G2C:@FD 492:?D 2?5 :?56A6?56?E A92C>24:6D 32D65 @? E96 ?665D @7 E96 962=E9 A=2?D’ 4FDE@>6CD] k^Am
kAm“#6:>3FCD6>6?E C2E6D 2C6 32D65 @? 2 H:56 G2C:6EJ @7 724E@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 =@42= >2C<6E 5J?2>:4D[” |24<:? D2:5] k^Am
kAmv:=6D AC@G:565 >F=E:A=6 6I2>A=6D @7 36:?8 F?23=6 E@ 7:== 4FDE@>6CD’ AC6D4C:AE:@?D 32D65 @? E96 :?DFC2?46 =@H C6:>3FCD6>6?E C2E6D]k^Am
kAm“yFDE E96 @E96C 52J[ x 925 D@>6@?6 4@>6 :? E@ 7:== 2 86?6C:4 3:CE9 4@?EC@= A2E49 2?5 >J 4@DE H2D S`ccj :?DFC2?46 H2D H:==:?8 E@ C6:>3FCD6 >6 She[” 96 D2:5] “%92E’D E96 H2J E96J 6IA64E J@F E@ 5@ 3FD:?6DD 2?5 :E’D 23D@=FE6=J ?@E 762D:3=6]”k^Am
kAm!q|D 2C6 E9:C5\A2CEJ 8C@FAD E92E >2?286 5CF8 36?67:ED 7@C :?DFC6CD] !C:>6 %96C2A6FE:4D :D qrq$ @7 p=232>2’D !q| 2?5 AC@46DD6D A92C>24J 4=2:>D[ 3F:=5D 6G:56?46\32D65 5CF8 =:DED 2?5 @776CD 4=:?:42= D6CG:46D E@ 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am
kAm“%96:C ;@3 :D E@ 96=A 6?DFC6 E96 4FDE@>6C 86ED E96 C:89E 5CF8 7@C E96> 2E E96 C:89E E:>6 2?5 2E E96 36DE AC:46[” |24<:? D2:5] “!C:>6 %96C2A6FE:4D 96=AD FD 67764E:G6=J >2?286 A92C>24J 36?67:ED 7@C @FC 4FDE@>6CD]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 !q|D 2C6 ?@E C68F=2E65 6?E:E:6D[ qrq$ 2?5 @E96C 962=E9 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 DF3;64E E@ @G6CD:89E 3J E96 p=232>2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 x?DFC2?46 Ws~xX] k^Am
kAm“%96 DE2E6\C68F=2E65 :?DFC2?46 A=2?D H6 @776C 2C6 7:=65 2?5 2AAC@G65 3J E96 p=232>2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 x?DFC2?46[” |24<:? D2:5] “!92C>24J 36?67:ED 2C6 A2CE @7 E96D6 962=E9 :?DFC2?46 A=2?D 2D 2 H9@=6 2?5 E96C67@C6 A2CE @7 E96 7:=:?8 H6 DF3>:E E@ E96 p=232>2 s~x] q=F6 rC@DD >2:?E2:?D @A6? =:?6D @7 4@>>F?:42E:@? H:E9 E96 p=232>2 sx~ 23@FE E96 :?DFC2?46 A=2?D 2?5 A92C>24J 36?67:ED H6 @776C]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 4FCC6?E=J ?@ =2HD 282:?DE !q|D’ C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D A=2J:?8 >:55=6>2?] x? EFC?[ E9:D :D 6?DFC:?8 !q|D[ H9:49 92G6 @H?6CD9:A @7 =2C86C A92C>24J 492:?D 2?5 >2:=\@C56C D6CG:46D[ 364@>6 G6CE:42==J :?E68C2E65 H:E9 :?DFC6CD]k^Am
kAm“%96J 56E6C>:?6 @FC 4@DE[” v:=6D D2:5] “%96J 5@?’E 2D< FDj E96J E6== FD H92E E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 492C86 FD] $@ 2446DD E@ 42C6 :D E96 :DDF6 96C6 3642FD6 A92C>24:6D 42??@E 5:DA6?D6 2E =6DD E92? 4@DE]”k^Am
kAm%96C67@C6[ A92C>24:DED 766= E96J 42??@E :>A24E E96:C 5CF8 4@DED 2?5 E96 !q|D 56E6C>:?6 E96:C C6:>3FCD6>6?E C2E6D]k^Am
kAm“~?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D 5CF8 AC:46D 92G6 D<JC@4<6E65 :D 3642FD6 E96 5CF8 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 E@ 8:G6 E96 !q|D 2 C632E6 E@ 86E E96:C 5CF8 @? E96 7@C>F=2CJ[ D@ @7 4@FCD6 E96 5CF8 >2?F724EFC6C :?4@CA@C2E6D E92E :?E@ E96 5CF8 4@DE[” r=2?E@? D2:5] “%9:D :D @3G:@FD H96? 2 86?6C:4 4@>6D @FE 2?5 E96 !q| H:== @?=J A2J 7@C E96 ?2>6 3C2?5]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2? 2CE:4=6 @? E96 )x{ r@?DF=E:?8 H63D:E6[ 5:C64E 2?5 :?5:C64E C6>F?6C2E:@? Wsx#X A92C>24J 766D 92G6 D<JC@4<6E65 3J `[e__T :? E96 =2DE 7:G6 J62CD[ E@E2=:?8 Sg]d 3:==:@? D:?46 a_`b] tI46DD:G6 sx# 766D :D @?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D 4:E65 3J A92C>24:6D 7@C H9J E96J’G6 4=@D65 C646?E=J]k^Am
kAm“(6 A2:5 @G6C Scc[___ :? sx# 766D =2DE J62C — D@>6 FA E@ hhT 564C62D6 :? C6:>3FCD6>6?E[” r=2?E@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm~? E96 @E96C 92?5[ |24<:? 766=D !q|D 96=A 4@?EC@= E96 C:D:?8 4@DE @7 5CF8D]k^Am
kAm“!C:>6 %96C2A6FE:4D 5@6D E9:D >@C6 67764E:G6=J E92? H6 4@F=5 @? @FC @H? 3642FD6 E96J D6CG6 >@C6 E92? ad >:==:@? A6@A=6 ?2E:@?H:56[” |24<:? D2:5] “%96J 4@?DE2?E=J D66< D2G:?8D @AA@CEF?:E:6D E9C@F89 ?68@E:2E:@?D H:E9 5CF8 >2?F724EFC6CD 2?5 A92C>24:6D :? 2? 677@CE E@ >2<6 962=E942C6 >@C6 277@C523=6 E@ @FC 4FDE@>6CD]”k^Am
kAmq6EH66? yF?6 a_`g 2?5 a_`h[ >@C6 E92? a[a__ A92C>24:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ H6?E @FE @7 3FD:?6DD[ H9:49 C65F46D 2446DD[ 6DA64:2==J :? CFC2= 2C62D DF49 2D %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAm“~?6 @7 >J 4FDE@>6CD 2 76H H66<D 28@ C646:G65 2 =6EE6C E92E E@=5 96C :7 D96 4@?E:?F6D E@ 4@>6 E@ E9:D A92C>24J @C 2?@E96C :?56A6?56?E A92C>24J[ @E96C E92? r'$[ D96 H@F=5 92G6 E@ A2J 7@C AC6D4C:AE:@?D @FE @7 A@4<6E[” r=2?E@? D2:5] “x 2> :? E9:D E@ >2<6 2 =:G:?8 — ?@E E@ 86E C:49 — 2?5 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 A6@A=6] x 42?’E 5@ E9:D :7 x 42?’E <66A E96 =:89ED @?]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 {2<6D9@C6 s:D4@F?E !92C>24J >2?286C zCJDE2= rF>>:?8D 5@6D?’E 766= E96 A6CD@?2= :>A24E @7 2 A92C>24J @H?6C[ D96 D66D E96 :DDF6D 2C:D6? H:E9 5:776C:?8 AC6D4C:AE:@? 4@DED]k^Am
kAm“rFDE@>6CD E92E 92G6 EC2565 96C6 7@C `_ E@ a_ J62CD ?@H 4@>6 96C6 W2?5 E96:C AC6D4C:AE:@?D 2C6 4@G6C65X 2?5 ?@H E96:C AC6D4C:AE:@?D 2C6 Sa_ A6C >@?E9[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 2?5 H6 5@?’E <?@H H9J[” rF>>:?8D D2:5] “(6 E96? DA6?5 cd >:?FE6D @? E96 A9@?6 H:E9 E96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?J E@ 7:?5 @FE H6’C6 ?@E 2 AC676CC65 A92C>24J] %9:D >62?D E96 4FDE@>6C 42? 8@ 6=D6H96C6 2?5 86E E96 AC6D4C:AE:@? 4962A6C] tG6?EF2==J[ E9:D H:== AFE FD @FE @7 3FD:?6DD]”k^Am
kAmqrq$ @77:4:2=D D2:5 :?56A6?56?E A92C>24:6D 2C6 4C:E:42= E@ E96 962=E942C6 DJDE6> 2?5 9@A6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 4@==23@C2E6 @? E96D6 :DDF6D]k^Am
kAm“Wx?56A6?56?E A92C>24:6DX AC@G:56 2446DD E@ :>A@CE2?E >65:4:?6D 2?5 56=:G6C 6DD6?E:2= 42C6 E@ p=232>2 C6D:56?ED[” |24<:? D2:5] “(6 2C6 5@:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 H6 42? E@ <66A E92E 2446DD 2G2:=23=6 2?5 :>AC@G6 E96 962=E9 2?5 H6==\36:?8 @7 @FC 4FDE@>6CD]”k^Am
kAmx?56A6?56?E A92C>24:DED D2:5 E96 56D:C6 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 A2E:6?ED :D 2 E@A AC:@C:EJ 7@C E96> 2?5 5@?’E E9:?< :E 42? 36 5@?6 67764E:G6=J E9C@F89 E96 FD6 @7 >2:=\@C56C D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAm“x7 6G6CJ@?6 EFC?D E@ >2:=\:?[ E96C6 :D ?@ @?6 E@ EFC? E@ 7@C BF6DE:@?D[” rF>>:?8D D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?5 E9:D :D A2CE @7 H92E >@E:G2E6D 4@>>F?:EJ A92C>24:DED]k^Am
kAm“%96 A92C>24J 2?5 5@4E@C 2C6 36:?8 E@E2==J 4FE @FE @7 42C:?8 7@C E96 A2E:6?E[” v:=6D D2:5] “%96 !q|D 2C6 >2<:?8 2== E96 564:D:@?D 7@C 962=E9 A=2?D 2?5 :? 5@:?8 E92E 92G6 7@F?5 2 H2J E@ AC@7:E >@C6 E@ 2 A@:?E E92E A92C>24:6D ?@H 42?’E 6G6? 42C6 7@C A2E:6?ED]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 )x{ r@?DF=E:?8 2CE:4=6[ CFC2= A92C>24:6D 92G6 366? :>A24E65 EC6>6?5@FD=J H:E9 2 `eT 4=@DFC6 C2E6 D:?46 E96 :?EC@5F4E:@? @7 |65:42C6 !2CE s] u:7EJ\@?6 A6C46?E @7 E9@D6 CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 ?@H 4@?D:56C65 A92C>24J 56D6CED 2?5 =6DD A92C>24:6D =625 E@ D:8?:7:42?E 2446DD 2?5 4@?G6?:6?46 :DDF6D]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 E@ EFC? A2E:6?ED 2H2J 3642FD6 E96 !q| :D ?@E 256BF2E6=J A2J:?8 >6[ D@ x 42??@E :? EFC? AC@G:56 E92E 42C6[” v:=6D D2:5] “%96 !q|D 2C6 7:?6 H:E9 >2:?E2:?:?8 AC@7:E23:=:EJ @7 E96 WA92C>24:6DX E96J @H? 3FE ?@E 2==@H =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ A92C>24:6D E@ C6>2:? :? 3FD:?6DD]”k^Am
kAmrF>>:?8D D2:5[ “xE 92AA6?D ?@H >@C6 E92E H6 92G6 E@ 56A6?5 @? C632E6D 7C@> H9@=6D2=6CD 2?5 2 A6C46?E286 7C@> H92E J@F DA6?5 H:E9 E96>] xE D9@F=5?’E 92G6 E@ 8@ @? E92E 2?5 H6 42?’E @A6C2E6 2 3FD:?6DD >2<:?8 =6DD E92? E96 AC@5F4E 4@DED]”k^Am
kAm%9@D6 C6:>3FCD6>6?E 2>@F?ED G2CJ 2>@?8 A92C>24:6D 2?5 E96 !q|D 2C6 =24<:?8 :? 4@?D:DE6?4J 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 4@DE @7 E96 5CF8 E92E’D 4@G6C65]k^Am
kAm“%96J 2C6 AFD9:?8 J@F E@ FD6 46CE2:? A92C>24:6D 2?5 J@F 5@?’E 92G6 2 C:89E E@ 49@@D6 F?=6DD J@F’C6 H:==:?8 E@ A2J >@C6[” r=2?E@? D2:5]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 !q|D 4FCC6?E=J 2C6 ?@E C68F=2E65[ DE2E6 =68:D=2E@CD 2C6 7:89E:?8 E@ 2==@H 4FDE@>6CD E@ 49@@D6 2446DD E@ E96:C @H? A92C>24:6D] k^Am
kAm#6A] t5 ~=:G6C W#\s256G:==6X D2:5 2 3:== C682C5:?8 !q|D H2D :? E96 H@C<D 3FE ?6G6C 8@E :?EC@5F465 3642FD6 @7 E96 4@C@?2G:CFD A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAm“q=F6rC@DD q=F6$9:6=5 :D FE:=:K:?8 E96 !q|D E@ >@?@A@=:K6 5CF8D 2?5 492C86 H92E E96J H2?E E@[” ~=:G6C D2:5] “x C6AC6D6?E E9:D 5:DEC:4E 2?5 E96 =68:D=2EFC6 2?5 x 92G6 E@ =@@< 2E E9@D6 72>:=J\@H?65 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 A6@A=6 E92E H@C< E96C6 2?5 =@@< 2E E96 :>A24E =@D:?8 E96> H@F=5 92G6 @? E96 5:DEC:4E]”k^Am
kAm~=:G6C D2:5 =68:D=2E@CD 92G6 ?@E J6E 7@F?5 2 H2J E@ :?EC@5F46 @AA@D:?8 =68:D=2E:@? E@ 4@>32E E9:D :DDF6 3FE H:E9 @?=J @?6 >2:? :?DFC6C :? E96 DE2E6[ :E’D 2 5:77:4F=E 32EE=6 E@ E24<=6]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ AFD9 @FC 4FDE@>6CD E@ 42== =68:D=2E@CD 2?5 4@>A=2:? 2?5 2C8F6 E92E J@F H2?E E@ 8@ E@ H92E6G6C A92C>24J J@F H2?E E@[” rF>>:?8D D2:5] k^Am
kAm!q|D 92G6 366? 2C@F?5 D:?46 `he_ 2?5 >@DE AC@>:?6?E :? E96 ’g_Dj E96 =24< @7 C68F=2E:@? :D 2 ?2E:@?H:56 :DDF6]k^Am
kAm“(6 ?665 E@ ECJ E@ C6:? :? E96 24E:@?D @7 2?J !q|D E@ 6G6? =:46?D6 E96> @C 7@==@H 2?J CF=6 @C C68F=2E:@? 7@C 72:C EC256[” v:=6D D2:5] “%96 :?7=F6?46 @7 E96 5@==2C :D H92E’D AFD9:?8 E9@D6 564:D:@?D]”k^Am
kAmr=2?E@? D2:5[ “(6’C6 ECJ:?8 C62==J 92C5 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ A92C>24J 2C6?2 E@ 7:89E E96D6 A6@A=6 3FE E96J’C6 C62==J A@H6C7F= 2?5 92G6 2 =@E @7 >@?6J]”k^Am

