Abbeville pharmacies push back against school district

Three Abbeville pharmacies in Vermilion Parish are not happy with the Vermilion Parish Public School District.
The reason they are not happy is that last month the school district sent out a letter (email) to its employees encouraging them not to fill their prescription drugs at Mula’s Pharmacy, Cashway Pharmacy, and Thrifty Way Pharmacy.
The letter informed school staff that a new state law that recently took effect may cause the three pharmacies in Abbeville to impose an additional $11.81 fee per prescription. This could result in an additional $60 per month in costs for certain employees who require at least five prescriptions each month.
Additionally, the letter from the school district clarifies that employees can avoid an extra $11.81 fee by transferring their prescription drugs to larger pharmacy chains such as Wal-Mart, WalGreens, or CVS, which do not charge this fee.Pharmacist Melissa Prejean, who works at Mula’s Pharmacy, said that what the school district sent to its employees is wrong, based on her understanding of the new law.
“This law is designed to help local pharmacies not hurt us,” said Prejean. “The $11.81 dispensing fee, from what I understand, should be paid by the PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager). It should not be passed on to the patient or the school district. So, this letter the school district sent out is wrong, in my opinion.”
Prejean said Mula’s Pharmacy has not lost any school district customers just yet, but many have enquired about the $11.81 dispensing fee the school district said may be charged to the employee. Mula’s has not charged its customers the $11.81 that the school district suggested they may.
“Customers are calling, texting, asking me questions,” she said. “No one wants to leave us. But, I mean the school district says national chains are not affected, so go there instead of the local pharmacy.”
Prejean reminded the school district that the mom-and-pop pharmacies in the parish pay sales taxes, employ local people who also shop in the parish, and generate sales tax dollars. It is also mom-and-pop pharmacies that purchase ads in football programs or donate items to help schools raise money.
“The big chains don’t back local schools the way we do,” she mentioned. “I received a call from Abbeville High, wanting to purchase an ad. Yet, that very school district we’re assisting is going to direct its staff away from us with a letter that contains incorrect information.”
The three pharmacists have the backing of the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association (LIPA).
On July 27, LIPA President Randal Johnson issued a letter to both the school district and the insurance consulting firm, HUD International, which had recommended that the school district communicate with its employees. His letter indicated that the school district and HUD will hurt local pharmacies by steering them toward chain stores.
“The school board’s letter calls out specific local pharmacies by name, telling members those businesses would now cost them more money, while pointing members toward chain pharmacies and mail order instead,” Johnson’s letter said. “These are real, locally owned businesses in this community. Singling them out by name, without giving them any chance to respond or share the fuller picture we’ve laid out here, does real damage to their reputation and viability.
“It tells members (employees) to take their business elsewhere based on information that leaves the most important part of the story. For pharmacies operating on thin margins, that kind of steering can be the difference between staying open and permanently closing their doors.”
Superintendent Tommy Byler suggested that any inquiries regarding the school district’s letter to its staff should be directed to Louann Landry, who is with HUB International. HUB International is the firm guiding the Vermilion Parish School District on ways to cut costs on health insurance and prescription medications.