What CVS is doing to mom and pop pharmacies will make your blood boil

[Cee-two]

Im too new to post a link, but Business Insider just did a story on how CVS is lowering reimbursements to small pharmacies and they time the reimbursement changes to coincide with offer letters to buy up these pharmacies.

The article is titled "
What CVS is doing to mom-and-pop pharmacies in the US will make your blood boil"
It's very much worth reading"

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[WVUPharm2007]

So, the same thing that happens in every industry is happening to pharmacy? That's capitalism. Wealth consolidates.

What I don't get in all the complaining is the handwringing over Caremark giving CVS better rates on drugs over independents. They can charge whatever they want and the money stays somewhere in the CVS corporate heirarchy. No matter if they reimbursed them less, more, or the same.

 

[Cee-two]

I guess it's easy to justify the theft of public funds if you work for the company doing it.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I don't really see the theft of public funds as much as I see a giant corporation using its economic leverage to dominate smaller players. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather own my own pharmacy and receive awesome reimbursements...but, again, in America we let the rich get richer...and those that hold capital win in the end. It's the same thing that happened to the downtowns of America when Walmart arrived. Economies of scale always win. If it makes you feel any better, Amazon is probably going to come along and conquer our industry, CVS included. Of course, they'll probably reimburse even less.

But, yes, it isn't fair. Yes, it sucks. But if you really want things to change, you need to change the entire economic system. Which might wind up happening later in our lifetimes if the way things are going with labor efficiency keep going the way they are going.

 

[RxPreceptor]

"Luke, join the dark side..."

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Here's a better article

The pharmacy squeeze

 

[imcallingcorp]

I don't really see the theft of public funds as much as I see a giant corporation using its economic leverage to dominate smaller players. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather own my own pharmacy and receive awesome reimbursements...but, again, in America we let the rich get richer...and those that hold capital win in the end. It's the same thing that happened to the downtowns of America when Walmart arrived. Economies of scale always win. If it makes you feel any better, Amazon is probably going to come along and conquer our industry, CVS included. Of course, they'll probably reimburse even less.

But, yes, it isn't fair. Yes, it sucks. But if you really want things to change, you need to change the entire economic system. Which might wind up happening later in our lifetimes if the way things are going with labor efficiency keep going the way they are going.

The points you make don’t apply to the problem here. The merger that created your current employer should’ve never been allowed to happen. The way they are manipulating the market is not how a frair economy should be nor does it promote competition.

 

[maria1oh]

The business insider news site bashing cvs is owned by amazon ceo jeff bezos.

Even if people hate cvs they still end up going there due to insurance caremark requiring cvs/mail order for maintenance meds. Also cleveland clinic employee insurance only can fill at cleveland clinic pharmacy or cvs.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

The points you make don’t apply to the problem here. The merger that created your current employer should’ve never been allowed to happen. The way they are manipulating the market is not how a frair economy should be nor does it promote competition.

Ha. Fair. I don't think you know what country you are in.

 

[imcallingcorp]

Ha. Fair. I don't think you know what country you are in.

Well aware my friend. Thanks for the reminder. You keep laughin at it

 

[imcallingcorp]

Ha. Fair. I don't think you know what country you are in.

Well aware my friend. Thanks for the reminder. You keep laughin at it

 

[Cee-two]

The business insider news site bashing cvs is owned by amazon ceo jeff bezos.

It doesn't matter, as long as what is being said is true.

 

[Mambo#5]

That’s what you get in predominantly capitalistic countries. The same thing has happened in the airline industry, cable TV, the cellphone industry, healthcare etc. It’s the reason why you get 50 to 70 something an hour and your tech makes 7 to 10. That’s capitalism. It’s what Americans want.

In Western European countries, people have reasonable cable bills, way cheaper cell phone bills, as well as cheaper drug prices, no school loans and there is no CVS or Walgreens on every corner. As a matter of fact, because these countries don’t want the large companies, for example fast food restaurants like McDonalds to destroy the businesses of small mom and pop stores, in some places these companies are not aloud to set up shop. An example of this is along the coastal areas in Spain.

But all these benefits to society are due to government REGULATION, also something that Americans don’t want. And so you have your high priced drugs, a Walgreens on every f**kn corner, sky high cable bills, a $300,000 school loan, 3 cell phone carriers to choose from, a cell phone bill that costs 4 times as much as what you would pay in Europe, and a new tech every 8 months due to the low pay. Oh, and how could I forget? You have no real lunch break, a two week vacation(lol that’s like 19th century), a 40 hour work week, and no real sick leave.....I could go on....

European countries have a mix of capitalism and socialism. But whenever Americans hear the word “Socialism” they think of the extreme form of Socialism. Americans that have never lived abroad have no idea. Having lived in former West Berlin, having been to the former East Berlin, as well as Cuba, and having traveled the world, I know the difference governments play in the quality of life of the individual and the negative impact that purely capitalistic or purely socialistic societies have on the people that live in them.

A mix of both capitalism and socialism, is the best for society, or, the average individual, but more importantly, society as a whole.

The Lorenze curve, something you might have learned in economics, shows the vast differences in the distribution of wealth amoungst populations in capitalistic countries such as the US.

 

[Cee-two]

Just because there's some crappy companies, that doesn't mean we need to change our entire economic model. We just need to make sure the bad companies fail.

 

[deleted480308]

That’s what you get in predominantly capitalistic countries. The same thing has happened in the airline industry, cable TV, the cellphone industry, healthcare etc. It’s the reason why you get 50 to 70 something an hour and your tech makes 7 to 10. That’s capitalism. It’s what Americans want.

In Western European countries, people have reasonable cable bills, way cheaper cell phone bills, as well as cheaper drug prices, no school loans and there is no CVS or Walgreens on every corner. As a matter of fact, because these countries don’t want the large companies, for example fast food restaurants like McDonalds to destroy the businesses of small mom and pop stores, in some places these companies are not aloud to set up shop. An example of this is along the coastal areas in Spain.

But all these benefits to society are due to government REGULATION, also something that Americans don’t want. And so you have your high priced drugs, a Walgreens on every f**kn corner, sky high cable bills, a $300,000 school loan, 3 cell phone carriers to choose from, a cell phone bill that costs 4 times as much as what you would pay in Europe, and a new tech every 8 months due to the low pay. Oh, and how could I forget? You have no real lunch break, a two week vacation(lol that’s like 19th century), a 40 hour work week, and no real sick leave.....I could go on....

European countries have a mix of capitalism and socialism. But whenever Americans hear the word “Socialism” they think of the extreme form of Socialism. Americans that have never lived abroad have no idea. Having lived in former West Berlin, having been to the former East Berlin, as well as Cuba, and having traveled the world, I know the difference governments play in the quality of life of the individual and the negative impact that purely capitalistic or purely socialistic societies have on the people that live in them.

A mix of both capitalism and socialism, is the best for society, or, the average individual, but more importantly, society as a whole.

The Lorenze curve, something you might have learned in economics, shows the vast differences in the distribution of wealth amoungst populations in capitalistic countries such as the US.

Airlines, cable tv, and health care have all had massive govt interference

 

[PharFromNormal]

That’s what you get in predominantly capitalistic countries. The same thing has happened in the airline industry, cable TV, the cellphone industry, healthcare etc. It’s the reason why you get 50 to 70 something an hour and your tech makes 7 to 10. That’s capitalism. It’s what Americans want.

In Western European countries, people have reasonable cable bills, way cheaper cell phone bills, as well as cheaper drug prices, no school loans and there is no CVS or Walgreens on every corner. As a matter of fact, because these countries don’t want the large companies, for example fast food restaurants like McDonalds to destroy the businesses of small mom and pop stores, in some places these companies are not aloud to set up shop. An example of this is along the coastal areas in Spain.

But all these benefits to society are due to government REGULATION, also something that Americans don’t want. And so you have your high priced drugs, a Walgreens on every f**kn corner, sky high cable bills, a $300,000 school loan, 3 cell phone carriers to choose from, a cell phone bill that costs 4 times as much as what you would pay in Europe, and a new tech every 8 months due to the low pay. Oh, and how could I forget? You have no real lunch break, a two week vacation(lol that’s like 19th century), a 40 hour work week, and no real sick leave.....I could go on....

European countries have a mix of capitalism and socialism. But whenever Americans hear the word “Socialism” they think of the extreme form of Socialism. Americans that have never lived abroad have no idea. Having lived in former West Berlin, having been to the former East Berlin, as well as Cuba, and having traveled the world, I know the difference governments play in the quality of life of the individual and the negative impact that purely capitalistic or purely socialistic societies have on the people that live in them.

A mix of both capitalism and socialism, is the best for society, or, the average individual, but more importantly, society as a whole.

The Lorenze curve, something you might have learned in economics, shows the vast differences in the distribution of wealth amoungst populations in capitalistic countries such as the US.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Extreme free market and the corporate power is doomed and on the other side over regulation by government is doomed. Like all things balance is required. I don’t think many wise people doubt this. Concepts are easy to understand. Implementing them the right way is the difficult part. No one likes to give up something for the greater good, there is always a fight as the greater good might destroy them.

 

[CetiAlphaFive]

That’s what you get in predominantly capitalistic countries. The same thing has happened in the airline industry, cable TV, the cellphone industry, healthcare etc. It’s the reason why you get 50 to 70 something an hour and your tech makes 7 to 10. That’s capitalism. It’s what Americans want.

In Western European countries, people have reasonable cable bills, way cheaper cell phone bills, as well as cheaper drug prices, no school loans and there is no CVS or Walgreens on every corner. As a matter of fact, because these countries don’t want the large companies, for example fast food restaurants like McDonalds to destroy the businesses of small mom and pop stores, in some places these companies are not aloud to set up shop. An example of this is along the coastal areas in Spain.

But all these benefits to society are due to government REGULATION, also something that Americans don’t want. And so you have your high priced drugs, a Walgreens on every f**kn corner, sky high cable bills, a $300,000 school loan, 3 cell phone carriers to choose from, a cell phone bill that costs 4 times as much as what you would pay in Europe, and a new tech every 8 months due to the low pay. Oh, and how could I forget? You have no real lunch break, a two week vacation(lol that’s like 19th century), a 40 hour work week, and no real sick leave.....I could go on....

European countries have a mix of capitalism and socialism. But whenever Americans hear the word “Socialism” they think of the extreme form of Socialism. Americans that have never lived abroad have no idea. Having lived in former West Berlin, having been to the former East Berlin, as well as Cuba, and having traveled the world, I know the difference governments play in the quality of life of the individual and the negative impact that purely capitalistic or purely socialistic societies have on the people that live in them.

A mix of both capitalism and socialism, is the best for society, or, the average individual, but more importantly, society as a whole.

The Lorenze curve, something you might have learned in economics, shows the vast differences in the distribution of wealth amoungst populations in capitalistic countries such as the US.

[Ignoring of non-European countries intensifies]

I presume it's also a total coincidence that SYRIZA was in power in Greece when things *really* went down the toilet.

 

[BidingMyTime]

There is no free market when then are corporations (which by law are protected by government.) A true free market can only exist between individuals. The US is a "freer" market, but it is not by any stretch of the imagination a "free" market. Whether this is good or bad is debatable, but it is certainly not fair to point to problems in the current economic state of the US as problems inherent to the free market.