http://www.record-courier.com/news/20180603/pharmacist-says-cvs-strong-arms-cancer-drug-business
Josh Cox says that CVS will go pretty far in trying to wrest the lucrative business of filling cancer prescriptions away from oncology clinics.
The company, which operates a retail pharmacy chain and manages prescription-drug payments for millions of Americans, has long sent unsolicited faxes to cancer doctors, using confidential patient information, in an attempt to steer business to its own pharmacies, said Cox, pharmacy director for the Dayton Physicians Network.
CVS says that it does not engage in deceptive practices.
But two weeks ago, Cox said, the company took things to a whole new level when a representative called and told Cox that he would be breaking the law if he didn’t transfer a particular patient’s prescription to CVS’s mail-order pharmacy. Cox said that claim was false.
And he would know. In addition to being pharmacy operations director for a large oncology practice, Cox sits on the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.
“I was told it was against the law for our pharmacy to fill the prescription, which was very disturbing to me, because not only is that certainly untrue — there are no federal or state of local laws that dictate where a patient can get their prescription — but it took the whole trolling of prescriptions to a whole new level,” Cox said.
CVS has been accused by some pharmacists and lawmakers of using its dominance as Ohio Medicaid’s leading pharmacy-benefit manger to cut reimbursements to competing retail pharmacies and send letters offering to buy them out.
Pharmacy benefit managers are hired by insurers or employers to negotiate prices and rebates with drug makers, decide which medications are covered, and set rates paid to pharmacies.
Ohio pharmacists also say that CVS uses its access to Medicare patients’ information to steer them to its own mail-order and retail pharmacies. Now it and the other dominant PBMs also are being accused by patients and hospital administrators of forcing cancer patients into the PBM’s own mail-order pharmacies, leading to confusion and delays in getting expensive, life-saving drugs, critics say.
On Friday, CVS defended its outreach and its other business practices.
“It is not our policy or practice to mislead or intimidate patients or providers,” spokesman Mike DeAngelis said in an email. “It is common for CVS Caremark to fax prior authorizations and refill requests to providers. A patient’s specialty prescriptions may be moved to CVS Specialty if a client has switched to a preferred or exclusive network when making a change to their plan design. Patients are notified in advance if their plan sponsor chooses to make such a change.”
Cox found the company’s behavior to be unacceptable.
“It was deeply disappointing to me that the process of trying to acquire business, so to speak, had devolved into intimidation tactics among pharmacies,” Cox said.
Filed under: General Problems
I wont even step in a CVS store. They are horrible even 10 hyears ago. I remember I had just left the ER and it was the 4th of July the next day so everything was closed. I got there 20 minutes before closing. The staff just looked at me. Finally 15 minute a lady come to the counter and looks at the prescription and say you dont expect us to fill this now do you ? We close in 5 minutes. I said well when I got here it was was 15 minutes ago and if you helped me then then it 2ould not be 5 minutes before closing. She filled it but it was the last time I went there. That is suppose to be great customer service.
I do have Medicare not CVS. I was diagnosed a month ago and have been denied Embrel and one other home shots by my insurance which would be $2,100.00 monthly.
My PBM told me how to get lower prices. but my doctor’s office wanted me to submit to Embrel for assistance over a week ago for a cheaper rate. I am still waiting to hear something until the end of the week. I am miserable! I was told to take Tylenol for nerve pain and more that my doctor said I have had for a long time.I called her last week for anything until the Embrel which is suppose to stop this disease. Her nurse said” she does’ nt like to give pain meds anymore”. ” I said I did’nt ask for them”. “You don’t diagnoise someone with a disease they ve been suffering with along time and not give something to help until the insurance and drug companies approve the expensive drugs I need. Just tell the doctor to do her job”. She prescribed steroids. I stopped them yesterday,( few day’s early), because of the nasty side effects. Was going to call My PBM and start that ball rolling, my doctor’s nurse acts like I am not allowed to talk to them. Wonder if there’s a kick back going on to the doctor from Embrel ? Gotta be stretch??
If Cox is on the Pharmacy Board why doesnt he figure out a legal way to put an end to this? I just voted for CVS with my feet, I refuse to use them or any other of the large retail pharmacies, {the list is getting longer of those I refuse to deal with}.