So you are saying if I have insurance and pay a copay, I wont have to pay this additional fee???

Also If it doesnt affect medicare, medicaid, people with insurance copays and cash paying customers.....Who will be paying this?? who is left???

It does not affect cash patients at all, Medicaid already has a dispensing fee figured in when we fill the medications. This bill in itself will not increase anyone’s copays. Whether part D or commercial plans try to recoup money through an increase in premiums or copays is to be determined.

Glad to see some guys involved in the industry on here disseminating information.

The middleman (PBM) will be the one paying it. They control what we are paid per transaction.

Who pays the middleman?

Why not go to a cash-only business if you are not making money on insurance-covered prescriptions?

I don't have a copay on prescriptions. It's a negotiated rate. My prestigious are all different cost depending on the medication. They will just raise this $10.

We are only 10% cash so giving up all insurances is not an option. We obviously do not lose on all insurance claims but a significant percentage. The PBM sits back and alters the reimbursement on a whim it seems. This bill would alter that.

It is my understanding that it is employers.

I don’t have much to say to you after being called a socialist democrat in another thread. Hard to believe that is the case when all we want is transparency and fairness. Sounds like I’m the capitalist.

This is nothing more than spin. You cannot add a cost into the distribution stream and it not pass thru to the customer. This is the same stupid line of reasoning they toss out when they talk of taxing a corporation. As though any entity is going to just give up profit margin because a bunch of dumb politicians want to pass a bill so they can spend more $.

So that's less salary dollars they pay in wages. As the main HR person in my office, a person costs a lot more than just their salary. There is health insurance, life, disability, retiremebt match plus 7.65 percent to SS and Med.

The biggest expense in a lot of business is HR. So if they have to pay out more, then they don't give raises or they raise prices.

No one is coughing up $10 a script for free.

It is my understanding that the minimum reimbursement will be $10.64. If we are already getting that much no increase will take place. Also, I know employers are likely paying much more than the fee the bill is requesting. PBMs pay us based on one price and charge the employer based on another. This is called spread pricing. They are corrupt to the core. I’d feel better and cleaner if I was pimping out women and trafficking cocaine. The cluster of big pharma, PBMs and other entities involved are that dirty. This bill is simply trying to require a fair reimbursement and make them be transparent.

Politicians did not come up with this bill. It was drafted by the APA (Alabama Pharmacy Association) and APCI (American Pharmacy Cooperative Initiative). It is asking the PBM to take some out of their pocket to make the pharmacy whole. It would also allow us to talk to the customer about cheaper alternatives or possibly not putting the prescription on insurance.

This!!! Alabama has been run by republican for as long as I can remember. We are one of the poorest states and most taxed.

I'll have to change from local independent pharmacy to one across line in Mississippi if it passes. Sure other local people will do the same.No way will I believe the increase will not be passed down to customers.

with my meds and my bride's meds, our standard drug bill will go up $1,200 a year ...

Will Trump fix what’s happening?

Trump Will Bring America First Drug Prices by Knocking Out the Middlemen, Making Europe Pay Its Fair Share
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/...dlemen-making-europe-pay-its-fair-share/

This is trying to save the smaller pharmacies, the larger pharmacies are already getting theirs. The larger pharmacies have a greater voice, thus, they have a better return rate on the prescriptions. The smaller guys just want to make the investment the same.

Next time you go to the doctor and a friend goes that has a different insurance but having the same thing done. Look at the Eob for each of you. You will see what the doctor charged and what the provider actually paid. Why do you think some doctors have quit taking medicare or medicaid patients, the reimbursement isn't worth it to them.

Small pharmacies don't really have that luxury, same as why small hospitals and doctors offices are closing, they can't keep the lights on because of the reimbursement.