Pharmacists call for Patient Access to Pharmacy Act to pass

On Monday, pharmacists from across New York State were urging lawmakers to pass a bill that they say will help them stay in business.

That bill is called the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis.

“We just saw the news about a week or two ago that 185 Rite Aid Pharmacies in New York are closing,” said Skoufis. “We are seeing a lot of our community local pharmacies closed on Main Streets because they’re literally filling prescriptions at a loss.” 

Pharmacy Benefit Managers, often referred to PBMs, are middlemen that set prescription reimbursement rates. Skoufis would like those rates to be more fair.

“All that we’re saying here is these middlemen that set the prices should not be reimbursing at rates below the cost to the pharmacist,” explained Skoufis.

Assemblyman John McDonald, who is a pharmacist himself, said reimbursement rates can differ from pharmacy to pharmacy. 

“The solution is actually quite simple,” said McDonald. “Pay every participating pharmacy in a commercial health plan which is approved by the Department of Financial Services, the same rate and the same cost.”

According to the Assemblyman, the state already does this for Medicaid reimbursements.

Pharmacists want to see this bill passed before the legislative session ends in mid-June.