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Pocono News Section
Drug store owners deliver petitions to Blue Cross
Drug store owners deliver petitions to Blue Cross - Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 04:11AM EST
Reported by: Mike Trim
Wednesday May 19 2010
0/ 5 rating D rug store owners and their employees delivered 3000 signatures on petitions to Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Wednesday morning.
The choice is mail order prescriptions or independent drug store.
Eric Leedock of the medicine shoppe said, "It's going to drive the small guys out of business and obviously make the big companies richer."
Starting May 1st, Blue Cross started sending letters to about 75 thousand members.
It asks them them to consider mail order prescriptions for maintenance medications, the most common meds.
Blue Cross says it could save it's members money.
Blue Cross communications director Michelle Davidson said, "With health care costs rising in the double digits for the past few decades we think it's more important than ever to provide affordable options to members that they can chose to pursue if they want to."
The example Blue Cross gives is a 10 dollar a month supply of medications.
The same meds would cost 20 dollars for a 90 day supply with mail order.
But drug stores say the choice could run them out of business.
Jim Gaudino of Cook's pharmacy said, "I've seen the difference already. there's a lot of customers I'm not seeing anymore. I may see them but they're not getting their prescriptions."
They're asking customers to say no.
Many pharmacies like this one in Scranton put petitions on it's counter.
Mom and pop stores say they give better customer service.
Robert Howell of Howell's Medicine Center said, "We get to know them, they get to know us. we know their conditions. they feel comfortable asking us questions. We're not just someone at the other end of a phone."
But Blue Cross says a phone call and mail order could be easier for members with a chronic illness.
Blue Cross says it will review the petitions and still hopes to work closely with local independent drug stores. | | |
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