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NPR’s Investigation Finds “Extreme Temperatures May Pose Risks To Some Mail-Order Meds”

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association or PCMA is the Association for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are unethically forcing patients to the pharmacy benefits managers’ own affiliated mail-order pharmacy. Despite PCMA’s claims that they adhere to all FDA regulations related to mail-order pharmacy, PCMA fails to inform the public that the the FDA doesn’t regulate mail-order pharmacy. Upon reaching out to the FDA, the FDA informed me that my son’s medications were unsafe and told me to discard them.

A hero reported on one of the mail-order pharmacy issues. 

Alex is a brilliant reporter and investigator. He didn’t fall into the trap of them saying they keep a close eye on medications. He quickly uncovered that this “close eye” only applies to the small percentage of refrigerated medications. It did not at all apply to room temperature medications, like children's room temperature liquid oral medications (Smith,2018)

Also, supporters are thankful to Stephen Eckels University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill who wasn’t afraid to speak the truth. Yes, medications could get damaged in the extreme temperatures. He went on to say that “A lot of people enjoy the convenience of mail order, but there are some risks they’ve got to understand," and "it’s possible that drugs in oral suspension form, like the ones Wesley was taking, could be damaged by exposure to extreme heat or cold (Smith,2018).”

To keep his reporting neutral, he interviewed Adam Fein, a longtime paid consultant of the insurance companies PBM. Adam Fein stated medications have been shipped for years “without evidence of widespread harm.” How can he make such a suggestion whe patients were not warned that medications could lose potency or even become toxic when stored in temperature extremes of up to 120-170 degrees. Freezing can also alter some medications. Our physicians also are not being warned. Although some physicians who practice in states that face extreme temperatures more frequently have caught on to the issue.

I wonder would Adam Fein say the same if this was his child who went into transplant rejection after medications were delivered unprotected on a 102-degree day? The trucks were much hotter than 102 degrees.

What happened to integrity or doing what is right even when people are not watching?

Also appalling is that many of the medications that PBMs are taking away and moving to their owned pharmacy from our specialty pharmacies/pharmacies are medications that our trusted pharmacies are more than familiar and qualified to handle. The pharmacy that we use, a children's hospital pharmacy, works mostly with children and often fills the medications of cancer patients, and critical life-saving medications. They work closely with my sons' doctors and physicians. There isn't a safer option to have our medications filled. Often, big corporate mail order pharmacies are taking the medications that are the most expensive to fill away from our pharmacist who serve with their hearts and don’t make us take unnecessary risks with our medications.

To the PBMs and delivery truck services (UPS, USPS, Fed Ex), Patients should always come before profits. Many petitioners and pharmacist have taught me that temperatures are just one of the many issues with mail order pharmacy. I advocate for options and choice. Insurance company’s PBMs should never be allowed to only offer coverage or deeply incentive coverage to only their OWNED mail-order pharmacies. We should have options in our coverage.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Please share your stories and issues with mail order pharmacy with the media & legislatures in your state. 

If you would like for me to share them for you, please message me. You can:

Email: loretta@uniteforsafemedications

Twitter: @BoesingLoretta

Facebook Page: Issues With Mail Order Pharmacy @UniteForSafeMedications

Pharmacists united for truth and transparency powerful Legislative Summit with those who care about the PRIORITIZATION of patient care

This week, I flew to Austin Texas and attended a most powerful Legislative Summit hosted by Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency (PUTT). I connected with leaders across our country who have successfully passed some of the toughest legislation thus far to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that force patients to their owned mail-order pharmacy. CVS Caremark, Optum RX, and Express Scripts are PBMs who oversee access and reimbursements to medications and pharmacies. As they remain loosely regulated, they force many to their owned mail-order pharmacy for life-saving medications. To learn more about what PBMs are, please click here.

At the summit, legislators, both democrats and republicans attended. The legislators had a hopeful and underlying statement that sounded similar. The personal introductions clarified that the PBMs actions of forcing patients to their own mail-order pharmacy and PBMs have the power to unfairly reimburse their competition were not democrat and republican issues but patient care issues. Clearly, the legislators that were in favor of the passed and proposed legislation across our nation were there for the patients and their constituents.

Upon hearing them speak, an overwhelming amount of hope filled the room. I was able to speak to some of the legislators one on one for quite some time. These legislators cared and listened as we shared your stories. I shared many.

There were groups and heroes from pharmacists, physicians, professors, and many others from New York, Georgia, Arkansas, Illinois, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida & Missouri. Many are the leaders who are creating real change to ensure that pharmacy benefit managers are held accountable.

With your help, momentum is building!

Please share your story loretta@uniteforsafemeds.com

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