The lovable character Elwood P. Dowd, played
by Jimmy Stewart in the 1950 movie "Harvey,"
thought the rest of the world was out of step when
really, he was the one who blithely carried on,
ignoring what other people thought or did. We have
some news for the Employees Retirement System of
Texas: there's nothing lovable about restoring
their own budget shortfall by gouging
pharmacy.
Rep. Chuck Hopson, RPh, and Sen.
Leticia Van de Putte, RPh, have written a letter
to ERS Director Ann Fuelberg denouncing this
action. Despite many discussions and letters, ERS
is the only health plan in the nation refusing to
adjust reimbursements to make AWP changes
revenue-neutral to pharmacy.
ERS claims
that because many pharmacies are remaining in
their plan means the 3 percent cut in
reimbursements is acceptable to pharmacy. We have
many e-mails from independent community
pharmacists who are staying in the plan in
anticipation of ERS seeing the error of their
ways.
Unfortunately, that's the same
thinking that pushed 1,200 independent pharmacies
out of business due to slow-pay/no-pay in Medicare
Part D. Those pharmacists simply were not able to
hold out long enough to see the corrections in
that system.
Today one of our members sent
a note about a husband and wife who are ERS
beneficiaries. Together, their prescriptions cost
$1,510.91. The pharmacist's gross profit is
$18.58!
How long will you be able to hold out with
the ERS cuts? 
If you want to correct this
problem, call your state representative and your
state senator. Ask them to sign the Hopson/Van de
Putte letter to ERS.
Please
do this by 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.
17! Ask them to contact Cheryl
Lively in Rep. Hopson's office at
cheryl.lively@house.state.tx.us,
or 512-463-0592 to get a copy of the letter and to
add their signature.
Click here to find
out who your state representative and senator is,
and how to reach him or her. We know Mondays are
busy, but please try to contact them BEFORE 2
p.m.TUESDAY!
Please let us know who you
contacted and their response.
Stay
tuned!
