Dear AAPS Members and Friends,
Patients in Texas have been hurt by the high cost of prescription drugs, even if they have insurance. For example, many patients choose not to fill prescriptions due to cost. HB 1240, by Representative Dr. Tom Oliverson, would help Texans by allowing physicians to directly dispense wholesale-priced medications to their patients, just like is allowed in nearly every state, except Texas, New York, New Jersey and a few other states mostly in New England.
“In the Lone Star State, doctors are banned from dispensing unless they practice … more than 15 miles from a pharmacy—a condition that prevents the overwhelming majority of Texas doctors from providing this beneficial service,” explains the Institute for Justice.
This reform is especially important at a time when pharmacies are refusing to fill prescriptions for off-label medications to treat COVID. In addition, “chaos at chain pharmacies is putting patients at risk,” the NY Times reports, so allowing patients’ trusted physicians the ability to dispense medications will increase safety.
The cost savings can be up to 95% on generic drugs and patients would be able to get their medications directly from their doctor at the time of the office visit. This will be especially helpful for patients who have high deductibles, who are uninsured, or who have coverage gaps under Medicare.
Here are a few real-life examples of patient savings:
- In Pennsylvania, a physician saved a Medicare patient nearly $300 per month for the 4 to 5 months per year she was in the Part D coverage gap.
- A physician caring for underserved patients in Detroit was able to offer a patient $1012 per month savings on the patient’s eight medications.
- A Wichita cancer patient was quoted $2200 per month for a needed medication, but his physician was able to purchase it for $6.70 and pass that price along to the patient.
Shouldn’t savings like this be available to Texas patients too? Please help us pass this important legislation by contacting Texas legislators.
This coming Monday, April 17, 2023, the bill is on the agenda for the Texas House Public Health committee.
Please take a few moments right now to ask committee members to support HB 1240. Use the following link to get your message on the way with just a couple of clicks: https://p2a.co/8aDAFJM
If you have additional time, and a personal story to tell related to this topic, Texas residents can also submit a comment to the committee for consideration using the following portal https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c410
For more information, see this 5-page report on the benefits of physician dispense and this 1-page FAQ.
