New PCMA Advertisement Challenges Independent Community Pharmacy Trade Group To Explain to Seniors:
‘Why?’
PCMA Calls on Independent Community Pharmacy Group Also to Explain Characterization Of Medicare Drug Discount Card Program as ‘73 Routes to Chaos’
Washington, DC; 05.17.04 — The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new advertising initiative challenging an independent community pharmacy trade group to explain “Why?” they are working to undermine Medicare beneficiaries’ access to safer and more affordable prescription drugs through new Medicare prescription drug discount cards, the association announced today. PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs).
“At a time when others in the pharmacy community are working together to make the new Medicare drug discount card program a success for seniors, the independent community pharmacy lobby is trying feverishly to preserve their ability to charge seniors the highest drug prices of all,” said PCMA President & CEO Mark Merritt. “They owe America’s seniors an explanation as to ‘why?’”
As part of PCMA’s new advertisement, the association is challenging the independent community pharmacy group to explain the following to America’s seniors:
Why are they supporting sponsors of legislation to undo the new Medicare drug law?
Why are they actually bragging that they “have fought discount cards since day one?”
Why did they sue the Bush administration Ă¢?? twice Ă¢?? to prevent seniors from getting Medicare drug cards Ă¢?? cards that provide seniors average discounts of 25 percent or more?
And why are they trying to keep seniors from enjoying the safety, cost savings, and convenience of mail-service pharmacies?
In a related matter, PCMA today also called upon a representative of the independent community pharmacy lobby to explain a comment he provided to this past Saturday’s Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) in which he called the 73 drug discount cards approved by Medicare as “73 routes to chaos.”
“America’s seniors deserve clear, unbiased information about the choices available to them to help lower the cost of prescription drugs,” added Mr. Merritt. “Regrettably, the comment provided this weekend by a representative of the independent community pharmacy lobby serves only to help those who don’t want the Medicare drug discount card program to succeed.”
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The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is the national trade association representing America’s pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs). PCMA member companies provide pharmaceutical care management services to more than 200 million Americans.
Contact Information:
Phil Blando
202-207-3614