All PoconosB2B, News, Classified and all about life in Poconos
  

Read News

Pocono News Section

Family Owned Drug Stores Hurt by Mail Order Prescriptions

Family Owned Drug Stores Hurt by Mail Order Prescriptions - Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 04:02AM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Wednesday May 12 2010
0/ 5 rating

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- A petition protesting mail order prescriptions sits on the counter of Sheely's Drug Store in Scranton.

The store is against Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania's request for insurance members to choose mail order prescriptions. A lot of customers, they don't care if there's a $5 savings. It means more to them, they can pick up the phone, call the pharmacist, talk to a pharmacist without getting on hold."

Hart says mail order prescriptions could hurt mom and pop drug stores. Hart says about 40% of her customers use Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Blue Cross is sending letters to about 75,000 members asking them to consider mail order prescriptions. The example Blue Cross gives is from the company it utilizes for mail order prescriptions, express-scripts. com. A cost example of $10 for 30 days from a pharmacy would cost $20 for 90 days through a mail order.

That example is for maintenance medications, which are the most common meds. Blue Cross says these letters help members realize how much they can save.

But at Andrew Browns pharmacy, management says switching to mail order hurts business. Mike Brown, co-owner of the drug store said, "Have a tremendous impact on the amount of prescriptions we fill. We employ you know, 25 to 30 people here. it will have an impact on the local economy just the amount of people that we employ."

Blue Cross members will have to decide soon. Members can re-fill their prescriptions three more time before it's mandatory to make a choice.
 


Discuss this news

Your Name (nickname):
Your Email: (will remain private)
Your Comments:
  


Home | News | Businesses | PA places | Classified | Cars for Sale | Account | Products | Home Recipes | Manuals | Stock Images | Earn Commissions | Advertise | Contact Us | Search
Raw Hack

© 2024 AllPoconos.Com All rights reserved.