On June 23 I went to a Pharmacy Town Hall Meeting held by Martella’s Pharmacy in Boswell, Pa. There was a panel discussing how the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) corporations like Express Scripts refuse to include local pharmacies like Martella’s Pharmacy in their networks. This is a major loss of revenue for these pharmacies. There is a bill in the state legislature HB2431 to prevent PBM from excluding local pharmacies.
With the closure of Rite Aid the need for local pharmacies is greater than ever. Somerset County lost 7 local pharmacies since 2020. The panelists include:
-Monique Whitney, Executive Director of Pharmacists for Truth and Transparency
-Mark Cuban (remotely), Billionaire Founder of Cost Plus Drugs
-Jackie Martella, Owner of Martella’s Pharmacies
-Pamela Tokar-Ickies, Somerset County Commissioner
-Zane Gates, Pharmacist, Co-Founder Gloria Gates CARE
Mark Cuban spoke about how Express Scripts is owned by the Cigna healthcare group. He recommended that Cigna be Boycotted to prevent these unfair business practices. Their arguments all boil down to the profiteering in the healthcare system that limits patient access to what they need.
There was a large crowd at the Martella’s Pharmacy Town Hall. The support was impressive. They did take comments from the community. Mark Pasquerilla, Former Miss Wheelchair PA Barb Zablotney, and Community Health Center Director Jeannine McMillan were among the speakers.