In Saltville, Clark’s Pharmacy has strengthened our community since 1963. Since the 1960s, a lot has changed. New medicines have created life-changing outcomes for patients. New insurance programs have expanded prescription access to many more Virginians. (Yes, Clark’s Pharmacy was established even before Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.) But our commitment to serving Saltville and our rural community has not changed. Our customers know that we are here for the long haul.
Operating a local community pharmacy is not without its challenges. Currently, Virginia provides local pharmacies with prescription reimbursement months late, and sometimes not even enough to cover the costs to provide medication to our customers.
For example, when I buy the blood-pressure medication that my customers need for five dollars, I might not even get three dollars back as reimbursement from Medicaid. In addition, that reimbursement process can take months to fulfill, leaving our pharmacy holding the bill for months while the pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) contracted with five managed care insurers under Medicaid hold up the payments.
That’s no way to run a business. With red tape and paperwork taking more time away from pharmacists, our customers in Saltville, Smyth, and Washington counties would rather us take the time to consult with their medical needs, rather than deal with out-of-state management companies that just add another layer of problems with our business.
Luckily, a bipartisan group of legislators in Richmond understand the problem and are working towards a solution.
The Save Local Pharmacies Act would create a state-run PBM, cutting out a level of paperwork, saving Virginia money, and rebalancing pharmacy payments so we are not losing money by serving our customers.
This approach has worked in many other states. For example, Kentucky and West Virginia have successfully implemented a single, state-contracted PBM system that works for customers and pharmacies and most importantly saves money for the state and customers.
Moving Medicaid from six PBMs to one state-contracted PBM will revitalize local pharmacies by ensuring financial stability, streamline services, improve patient outcomes by integrating care, and allow local pharmacies to focus on what they do best: caring for patients in our community and offering personalized customer service that you expect from a locally owned store.
A lot has changed since 1963. We are proud to say we’ve been caring for patients in our community since our founding. In order to keep up this level of service, we need to revitalize local pharmacies across Virginia.
Please join Clark’s Pharmacy and many other pharmacies and health care providers throughout Southwest Virginia. Support the bipartisan Save Local Pharmacies Act to keep our businesses strong and our communities healthy for another 60 years.
Steve Hylton has 39 years of healthcare experience and is the owner and Pharmacist in Charge of Clark’s Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy in Saltville.
