Express Scripts, Zocor, and taking it in the butt.
Express Scripts gets the gold medal for screwing over pharmacists across the country (shocking! I know!).
If you're filling Zocor (trade or generic) for an Express Scripts patient, take a look at your reimbursement rates. I have a dollar that says its about 33% below your cost. If you didnt notice the big flashy red signs that say "YO DUMBASS! THEY ARE REIMBURSING BELOW OUR COST!" then you need to take more pride in your work and stop working for Walgreens.
Well, here at the store of The Angry Pharmacist decided to confront Express Scripts on this issue.
The first call resulted in some talking head saying "We have done extensive market research to show that the reimbursement rates are correct". This is completely beside the point that Generic Zocor is only made by a company called Dr Reddy, which is in part owned by Merck Medco (surprise surprise) so its a single source generic. This is also beside the point that they are reimbursing 33% below cost on both the Trade and the Generic product. I can see a company getting kickbacks from Merck so they wouldnt cover the Generic, but below cost on the Trade name?
The second call resulted in some very interesting information. The person on the other end said that "Since our reimbursement rates are so high on our other products, we feel that you (pharmacists) can take the financial loss on Generic/Trade Zocor". They also admited that they have recieved calls from all over the country complaining about this issue!
Is this an attempt by Express Scripts to move people to their shitty Mail Order Pharmacy where they get substandard service (and expect me to bail their asses out when they fuck up the mailings)? Hard for me to feel sorry for them when their stock is through the roof this year.
If you must know, we're switching everyone over to Crestor. There arent any real good generic statins out that are "covered", and contrary to what Express Scripts thinks we actually do care about our patients. Plus Crestor is the most expensive one out there, and despite the kickbacks that Express Scripts is getting I think this will do more damage to them than just eating the loss of Trade/Generic Zocor. Or maybe this is a plot by Merck to force people to move to Vytorin.
Regardless, fuck Express Scripts. I'd be happy to take back this bitch if some talking head from Express Scripts can provide some documentation as to where they are getting Trade/Generic Zocor at 33% cheaper than what I am getting at it. They can email me and i'll send them my fax number.
So look at your Zocor scripts and let me know if Express Scripts is bending you over as well. You can comment here and ill add you to a list. Or better yet, comment here and then call Express Scripts (800)235-4357 and tell me what the talking head tells you.
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Ha! Walgreens health solutions was robbed of that medal! not only is their simvastatin below cost (by 23.46) for 30 pills- But if you fill any 90 day supply through them chances are theyre paying you below cost as well-
We should start a yearly award for shittiest processors... I bet WHI would win by a landslide
Good job with the Express Scripts investigative journalism. I am all about sticking it to the man.
I might be a little weary of switching people to Crestor however, as it's side effect profile is out of whack compared to the other statins. I wonder if Pravachol might not be a win-win for both you and your customers. It's generally regarded as the safest statin, more effective than Mevacor, and unless the PBM's are playing similar games with it, the fact that it's available in a generic should give you a better profit margin when you dispense it. Just a thought.
Yes I can agree with the majority of your comments. But I think its quite sad when those pharmacies are turning away the patient. You can stick your finger at Express Scripts until you are blue in the face. I work for a pharmacy that did continue dispensing the medication. Those patients will return again. And as far as this being a single source generic? I'm laughing my ass off right now at you.
The Angry Pharmacist is totally correct. How can you guys just let them do this to us? Every single pharmacist in the country should be complaining about this on a daily basis. You need to be registering a complaint with ESI and your wholesaler every day. They are screwing us royally. At this rate why not price all drugs far below cost. What's going to stop them? Well the answer is us. We have to stand up for fair and decent business practices. This ploy to save someone money is not fair or decent. I demand law suits and acts of congress, nothing less. People should be hung for trying to get away with this. You CVS pharmacists, who don't even have access to what the drugs cost, and everyone else-start complaining and stop filling simvastatin or Zocor.
I just finished a community pharmacy rotation in a grocery store where we encountered this problem as well with several insurances. brand is cheaper than generic for Zocor is it not? I'm also bemused by the Zoloft generic debacle. the distributors have the product in hand but it's been held back by legalities yet again.
Yes, I have one of those scripts for generic zocor.
I turned the patient away and explained to her that the insurance will not pay. They took it to CVS. Let CVS take a loss on it!!!
Medco does not own Dr. Reddy.
I found your entry very interesting. I have recently had my own issue with Express Scripts as a patient, which may be of interest. My account of it is here.
As an employee of Express Scripts, I just thought I would drop you a line and let you know to fuck off. You pharmacies bitch like shit about this but when there's drugs out there your being reimbursed SUBSTANTIALLY over cost do you call us and complain? I didn't think so, not as if any of you fuckers are taking a loss on a day to day basis.