“That is going to have a significant impact, especially on rural communities. Now instead of people driving 10 to 15 minutes to get their prescriptions are going to have to drive 30 minutes, 45 minutes or even an hour.” Eric Artrip
By Kalee Kniess
Published: Dec. 3, 2024 at 8:49 PM CST
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF)—Star Discount Pharmacy and many other small local pharmacies have joined together to fight for what they believe is right.
Local pharmacists say they are treated differently than chain pharmacies, who get reimbursed at a higher rate.
Those rates are set by Pharmacy Benefit Managers, better known as PBMs.
Trent McLemore from Star Discount Pharmacy says PBMs do not take into account the pharmacy or the patient.
“It doesn’t process through the patient’s PBM, it processes through Good RX to find a different price that both benefits Good RX and the PBM,” said McLemore.
This can make rates so low that pharmacies can’t even cover the cost of selling the drug.
Bobby Giles from the Alabama Pharmacy Association says that it is a pharmacist’s job to take care of their patient but with the way things are going that may become a struggle.
“The number one objective of a pharmacist is to take care of their patient. Under the current business model that has been established out there for us to practice under we are not being allowed to do that,” said Giles.
Eric Artrip is the attorney representing the local pharmacies in this lawsuit. He said that his pharmacy closed because of these low reimbursement rates. He adds that he is worried the trend will force even more pharmacies to close in the future.
“That is going to have a significant impact, especially on rural communities,” said Artrip. “Now instead of people driving 10 to 15 minutes to get their prescriptions are going to have to drive 30 minutes, 45 minutes or even an hour.”
McLemore says though this will be a tough battle he is proud to be a part of it.
“The defendants have finally stepped too far out of bounds over the line and there will be a legal recourse for that. I’m honestly proud to be a part of it and I hope maybe others will want to join in,” said McLemore.
Artrip says that this is a very complicated case but he believes that he is fighting for justice for all local pharmacies.
