Apothecare Pharmacies owner Gary Hamm said he thought it was important for customers and consumers alike that he and members of his team reach out to area representatives and senators during Pharmacists Day in Frankfort last week to discuss State Bill 188, which relates to patient access to pharmacy benefits.
Hamm said the bill’s main focus is to keep people from being taken advantage of.
“There’s a lot of patient steering that’s going on,” Hamm said. “For example, if you come to us, you may pay one price or pay a copay, you may be able to go to another pharmacy and get it at no charge, or vice versa, or you could only get the best deal if you go mail order, which those mail order pharmacies many times are owned by the insurance company.”
Hamm also said the bill creates a more even playing field, which will keep shops like Apothecare Pharmacies more competitive.
“The main thing is a lot of local pharmacies are having to close for poor reimbursement,” Hamm said. “For example, we have a store here in Vine Grove. That’s the only pharmacy in this town. So a lot of people love their hometown pharmacies. We feel like we give better service, better customer care, and if they want to come to us, they should have the right to.”
Hamm said the members of the Kentucky General Assembly he spoke with were receptive to his team’s concerns, and ultimately understand that the bill puts more decision making in hand of the customer.
“I had a lady say this the other day,” Hamm said. “She comes to us because she prefers us, but she has to pay a little bit more, so people can go where they choose, that kind of freedom of choice and pay the same price. If they want to go mail order, they can, it’s not limiting that. If they want to go to a chain pharmacy, they can, and if they want to come to an independent pharmacy, they can.”
The bill will go up for discussion in the Kentucky Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee.
