Is this a concern?

[pharmDNC]

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Members don't see this ad.

I just found this article about a bill that is being debated in Congress that could have some major effects. Any thoughts on this, or has anyone else heard about this at all?


"URGENT ACTION NEEDED TODAY!

A bill before Congress proposes cuts in pharmacists' dispensing fees as a way to reduce Medicaid spending. According to the Committee this will be $5.1 billion of the $10 billion that needs to be cut.

According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, this action could put 40% of community pharmacies out of business. If this act is passed, it will present especially large problems for independent and rural pharmacies, forcing many of them out of business.

Pharmacists are strongly encouraged to call their elected officials and let them know you strongly oppose this plan. This is a grassroots effort that needs the support of all pharmacists.

Find the phone numbers of your representatives in the House and Senate and take aciton! Please call now!"

Below is the link the article provided for direct contact to representatives:

http://capwiz.com/ncpa/callalert/index.tt?alertid=8173546&type=CO

 

[goheel]

Yea, it's a big concern if you plan to work in retail when you graduate. People in my school sent out emails to us students urging us to call/email our Rep./Senators about this.

 

[bananaface]

Medicaid covers more than just drugs. It will be a multifaceted change.

Medicaid pharmacy claims are often nearly charity work, not a cash cow by any means. So, alot of places stop taking medicaid... Unless you are mostly medicaid business you may be able to work less and earn about the same money. If you are mostly medicaid, maybe you just landed a bunch of cash customers. I dunno. Formularies will probably come prior to exclusion of prescription benefits. So, we may not even lose volume after all. Whenever people start predicting disaster, I get very skeptical.

I am sure the quality of healthcare for patients will go down. But how that will affect pharmacies is not really certain. I'm wary to concede that there is an impending disaster.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

Basically what bannana said. Unless your store depends entirely on medicaid patient volume where medicaid patients come in with textbooks of prescriptions, it shouldnt affect you. Most pharmacies and health professional service accepts medicaid as charity and some lose money on it. In fact as health cost rises, medicaid which is seen as a privillage will be cut out of the picture. Medicare on the other hand is a whole different story.