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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Neal Goodman
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Bill advances to protect Pennsylvanians' right to use a local pharmacy
HARRISBURG, May 25 – Legislation initially introduced by state Rep. Neal Goodman, D-Schuylkill, that protects Pennsylvanians' right to buy prescription drugs at a local pharmacy was voted out of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee today.
"This legislation allows our residents to obtain their prescription drugs from the provider of their choice," Goodman said. "Many Pennsylvanians, particularly our senior citizens, have long-standing relationships with their local pharmacists, and they should not have to worry that this relationship could be jeopardized by an insurance company or a government program."
The bill would prohibit health insurance companies, government programs or pharmacy benefit managers from:
· Requiring Pennsylvanians to use a mail order pharmacy.
· Imposing a co-payment, deductible or other cost-sharing requirement on state residents who choose to use a local pharmacy instead of a mail order pharmacy.
· Subjecting medications dispensed by a retail community pharmacy to a minimum or maximum quantity, length of script, refill restrictions or requirements that are not imposed on a mail order pharmacy.
· Requiring a state resident to pay for some or all of the cost of medication from a community pharmacy and then seek reimbursement through their coverage when they are not required to do the same from a mail order pharmacy.
· Imposing a requirement to use a retail community pharmacy that's not also imposed on a mail order pharmacy.
· Imposing any condition that impairs a person's right to obtain prescription drugs from the business of their choice.
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