Consumer's Choice

STRONGLY SUPPORT
S. 27/Maziarz
A. 4531/Abbate

This legislation would allow consumers the right to choose their pharmacy by prohibiting health insurers that cover prescription drugs from excluding any pharmacy willing to meet the terms and conditions of any managed care program or network.

Thousands of New York State consumers take multiple prescription medications to help manage chronic conditions or get through an acute medical episode. Some combine prescription drugs with over-the-counter products. Often, these same consumers are confused and concerned about the myriad of pills and different directions. The vast majority of these consumers with complicated drug regimens are seniors who have come to rely on having face-to-face consultations with their local pharmacist. In fact, many of the calls that come into community pharmacies each day are from seniors with questions about their medications. Community pharmacists are always there to help.

Every day Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) force tens of thousands of New Yorkers away from local pharmacies into the mail order pharmacies that are their subsidiaries. Local pharmacies are either prevented from participating altogether, or the PBM issues rules that allow for only a limited quantity of medication from a local participating pharmacy. When the consumer does have a choice, the co-payment is always higher at a local pharmacy. This bill would give the consumer a real choice by allowing more pharmacies to participate in prescription benefit plans.