TxRx flash

Nov. 19, 2009

Texas Pharmacy Business Council is an organization of American Pharmacies and the Academy of Independent Pharmacists-Texas.


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Texas 81st legislative session success list
   Regulation of Rx discount cards

PBM transparency in state contracts
 
Mail order parity

31 sign letter to ERS
State reps & senators call ERS' hand on selective AWP interpretation
In just two days, 30 state representatives and senators signed a letter to the Employees Retirement System of Texas disputing ERS' Lone Ranger interpretation of AWP and pharmacy reimbursements.

The letter, initiated by Rep. Chuck Hopson, RPh, asks ERS Executive Director Ann Fuelberg to reconsider the agency's stance on AWP. Currently, ERS is the only health plan in the CVS Caremark system that chose not to adapt its reimbursement costs to be revenue-neutral. Instead, it appears ERS is trying to cover its own budgeting mistakes with money taken from participating pharmacies.

We know that with more time, more of you would have been able to reach your state representative and senator. But that is the nature of working with the legislative process: Immediate action is called for and that's why we send a PharmPhlash.

Here are the signees in addition to Rep. Hopson. If you contacted your state representative and senator, and either of their names is missing from this list, please send their names to us ASAP!

Sen. Kevin Eltife, District 1
Sen. Robert Nichols, District 3
Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson, District 56
Rep. Leo Berman, District 6
Rep. Dennis Bonnen, District 25
Rep. Betty Brown, District 4
Rep. Byron Cook, District 8
Rep. John Davis, District 129
Rep. Wayne Christian, District 9
Rep. Allen Fletcher, District 130
Rep. Dan Flynn, District 2
Rep. Stephen Frost, District 1
Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez-Toureilles, District 35
Rep. Rick Hardcastle, District 68
Rep. Joe Heflin, District 85
Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, District 53
Rep. Mark Homer, District 3
Rep. Bryan Hughes, District 5
Rep.Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Jim Keffer, District 60
Rep. Diana Maldonado, District 52
Rep. Armando "Mando" Martinez, District 39
Rep. Sid Miller, District 59
Rep. Geanie Morrison, District 30
Rep. Doro Olivio, District 27
Rep. John Otto, District 18
Rep. Wayne Smith, District 128
Rep. David Swinford, District 87
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, District 141
Rep. Hubert Vo, District 149

Thanks to all of you who responded to the call to action.

Stay tuned!
Richard's signature