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> The sad thing is, all these pharmacies know about GoodRx and other discount providers. They could stop playing games and just run all scripts through these pr
by alphabettsy 5y ago
> The sad thing is, all these pharmacies know about GoodRx and other discount providers. They could stop playing games and just run all scripts through these providers to get a 'cash price', but they don't.
They aren’t allowed to contractually. The PBMs and insurance companies make pharmacies sign contracts that forbid them from doing this. They also forbid pharmacies from telling customers if it would be cheaper to pay cash.
Most states have only a few major insurance companies and getting caught and losing the ability to serve a large portion of clients would put most pharmacies out of business.
- mindslight 5y agoProhibiting such anticompetitive cartel behavior is yet another straightforward market reform that could be implemented tomorrow, if our political process weren't merely a game between providers and "insurers".
- s1artibartfast 5y agoAgreed. This Is I why I think it is good that someone is cutting insurance and PBMs out of the supply chain.
- alphabettsy 5y agoThey’re not being cut out though for most people. For many or most employed people medication will be cheaper through their insurance.
- s1artibartfast 5y agoCorrect, It is not a universal fix, but a step in the right direction.
- amluto 5y agoIt seems to me that the FTC should be able to fix at least some of this.
- unclenoriega 5y ago> They also forbid pharmacies from telling customers if it would be cheaper to pay cash. This is now illegal in the US. https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2018/gag-rules-pharmacists.html https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2018/gag-...