WESH 2 investigates prescription pill pricing
Local patients complain of expensive medication
What is being missed here.. is if the pt has insurance.. and the pharmacy is listed on the insurance company’s website as part of their participating pharmacy network.. then they are contractually obligated to fill/bill and accept the insurance company’s allowable amount for a particular Rx and prohibited by their contract to charge the pt any more than that amount allowed by the insurance company. So if the insurance company is not enforcing their contracts with pharmacies.. they are collecting premiums and not making sure that their pharmacy network is living up to the terms of the contract.. meaning that the insurance company collects premiums and doesn’t have to pay out for products/services covered by the person’s policy… isn’t that a fraudulent behavior… shouldn’t the state insurance commissioner, Attorney General or www.CMS.gov be investigating these issues.
The issue of supply and demand is prevalent at some Central Florida pharmacies.
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WESH 2’s Matt Grant went undercover with Lorraine White, who suffers from severe osteoporosis, to five pharmacies, only three of which carried the medication she needed.
White was quoted $2,184 for 30 milligrams of oxycodone, which amounted to $13 per pill, at two pharmacies on State Road 50. That is the same price the drug sells for on the street, according to the DEA.
“We live on less than what they’re charging for one prescription,” White said. “(The pain) is gouging. They’re taking advantage of the people who need the pain medication.”
Another local pharmacy quoted White $223 for 30 milligrams of oxycodone ($1.33 per pill), which according to experts is the average price.
“They’re taking advantage of the restrictive climate and who’s suffering? Patients who have a right to get the medicines that they need. It hurts me to the core to see people in my profession behave in this matter,” University of Florida Pharmacy School professor Paul Doering said.
Pharmacists discuss issues causing prescription drug problems
“I already choose between my health and my food,” White said.
The state’s pharmacy laws and rules do not address pricing for medications, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The attorney general’s office said they’ve received four complaints so far this year regarding prescription drug prices.
Filed under: General Problems
They’ve only received four price gouging complaints all year?? That’s crazy! People please, turn these a**holes in!