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UNTIL HIS COURT DATE. MORE THAN 100 PHARMACIES ACROSS ALABAMA ARE MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD TODAY. WALKING OUT OF THE JOB WITH HOPES OF GAINING SUPPORT FOR A PROPOSED BILL. �������� 13 S ERIN LLEWELLYN SPOKE TO A LOCAL PHARMACY OWNER. ERIN. HE HOPES THAT THIS ACTION WILL KEEP THE COSTS DOWN FOR CUSTOMERS WHEN HEALTH CARE PRICES ARE ALREADY ON THE RISE. YEAH. BRITTANY I TALKED TO THE OWNER OF RICH’S PHARMACY IN MOUNTAIN BROOK, AND HE SAYS THAT THE WAY THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM WORKS MAKES OWNING A PHARMACY HARDER. HE SAYS HE’S NOT EVEN BREAKING EVEN ON THE COST TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION, BUT HE HOPES THIS NEW BILL WILL HELP OUT. THE CURRENT TREND IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. COMMUNITY PHARMACIES WILL FAIL TO EXIST IF WE DON’T HAVE SOME REGULATORY INTERVENTION. AND THAT’S WHY RICH’S PHARMACY IS JOINING HUNDREDS OF PHARMACIES ACROSS THE STATE TO CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED BILL. SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DRASTIC TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. IT’S UNFORTUNATE IT COMES TO THAT. BUT SOMETIMES WITHOUT ANY MAJOR ACTION OR SOME KIND OF INTENSE ACTION, NOTHING GETS NOTICED. MOST PHARMACIES CLOSE THEIR DOORS AT 1 P.M. ON TUESDAY AND WALKED OUT. BUT RICH’S TURNED THEIR LIGHTS OFF IN A BLACKOUT INSTEAD. RIGHT NOW, PHARMACIES HAVE TO USE PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY ARE GETTING A CUT OF THAT PRESCRIPTION TO THE POINT THAT THE PATIENT HAS NOT SAVED ANY MONEY. AND THE PHARMACY HAS BEEN REIMBURSED BELOW THEIR ACQUISITION COST. RICH’S PHARMACY OWNER, RALPH CIERRA, ESTIMATES IT COST A LITTLE MORE THAN $10 TO FILL A PRESCRIPTION. ON TOP OF A $13.50 FEE TO GET REIMBURSED FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES. WE DON’T WANT OUR PATIENTS TO HAVE TO BE FORCED TO GO TO A MAIL ORDER PHARMACY OR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THIS PHARMACY, AND PHARMACIES LIKE OURS. STAFF ARE USING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE CUSTOMERS ARE AWARE HOW THIS WILL IMPACT THEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT’S GOING TO GIVE ME BETTER CARE, AND IT’S ALSO GOING TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE BETTER CARE, PLUS ACCESS TO CARE. AND SO LONG AS BEING A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, THAT’S ALL ABOUT ACCESS TO CARE AND ANY OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE IN PRESERVING THE PATIENT’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR CARE. IN SOME COUNTIES IN ALABAMA, THE PHARMACY IS THE ONLY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, AND WE REALLY DON’T NEED TO LOSE THOSE. I DON’T THINK WE NEED TO LOSE ANY PHARMACY. I THINK WE PROVIDE A VALUABLE SERVICE TO PATIENTS, AND THIS LEGISLATION WILL ENSURE THAT WE DON’T. NOW, SARAH TELLS ME THAT TODAY’S ACTION IS JUST A ONE TIME EFFORT TO PUT THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE. HE ALSO TELLS ME THAT THE SENATE COMMITTEE IS MEETING LATER THIS WEEK, AND THEY’LL MAKE A DECISION TO MOVE FO