Change in prescription coverage to affect local populace, pharmacies
CHENANGO COUNTY – A number of employees at various school districts in Chenango County will be negatively affected by a mandatory change in prescription medication coverage effective July 1, says Heather Bartle of Bartle's Pharmacy, Inc. in Oxford.
Beginning on July 1, Bartle says employees at school districts that provide prescription coverage through NY44 Health Trust and their dependants will no longer be permitted to fill long-term medications at local pharmacies––instead, they will be required to have them mail-ordered.
"[NY44 Health Trust] has issued a notification that as of July 1, all of the active employees and their dependants at these school districts will be required to use their choice of two mail-order companies––or else their prescriptions aren't covered," said Bartle.
Of the 55 school districts in New York State that receive insurance through NY44 Health Trust, six are located in Chenango County: DCMO BOCES, Oxford Academy and Central Schools, Norwich City Schools, Bainbridge-Guilford Central School, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School, and Otselic Valley Central School.
Consequently, a number of families will no longer be able to support area-pharmacies by acquiring their long-term prescription medications locally beginning on Saturday of this week, says Bartle.
"Locally, it's going to have a terrible impact on the economy," said Bartle. "It's very frustrating as a small business to feel that we don't necessarily have community partners when we have been, what I think, is a good community partner for the past 54 years."
Bartle went on to imply that the change in policy can be likened to having wool pulled over people's eyes because a lot of people aren't aware of the effects that will take place as a result of this change.
"We live in a world where healthcare is not really everyone's expertise," said Bartle, who further expressed the role of a local pharmacist as one that is an essential part of the everyday person's healthcare team.
Another local pharmacist, who chose to remain nameless, said they were familiar with the plight, and called the upcoming change in policy a "no-win situation."
"The school districts think they're doing what's in the best interest of their taxpayers," said the pharmacist.
Perry Dewey, DCMO BOCES Superintendent, agreed that the change is "a great inconvenience," but asserts that the school districts – including DCMO BOCES – are not decision makers in this process.
"We contract with the company and they provide us a service," said Dewey, who noted that DCMO BOCES is three years into a four-year contract with NY44 Health Trust, and has had no input in the change in policy. "We bought insurance, and the insurance company deliberates how they're going to manage it. We don't have a say in it, unfortunately."
Dewey – who was appointed District Superintendent at DCMO BOCES in October 2016 – continued, "I think that we should be able to spend our money locally and do what we can. But unfortunately, there's nothing we have as far as recourse or making a change – which we otherwise would be."
Asked if DCMO BOCES will consider a change in insurance company after the four-year contract ends, Dewey said, "We always, no matter the situation––we look at our options as far as we can, considering what is best for our employees and our taxpayers."
Beginning on July 1, Bartle says employees at school districts that provide prescription coverage through NY44 Health Trust and their dependants will no longer be permitted to fill long-term medications at local pharmacies––instead, they will be required to have them mail-ordered.
"[NY44 Health Trust] has issued a notification that as of July 1, all of the active employees and their dependants at these school districts will be required to use their choice of two mail-order companies––or else their prescriptions aren't covered," said Bartle.
Of the 55 school districts in New York State that receive insurance through NY44 Health Trust, six are located in Chenango County: DCMO BOCES, Oxford Academy and Central Schools, Norwich City Schools, Bainbridge-Guilford Central School, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School, and Otselic Valley Central School.
Consequently, a number of families will no longer be able to support area-pharmacies by acquiring their long-term prescription medications locally beginning on Saturday of this week, says Bartle.
"Locally, it's going to have a terrible impact on the economy," said Bartle. "It's very frustrating as a small business to feel that we don't necessarily have community partners when we have been, what I think, is a good community partner for the past 54 years."
Bartle went on to imply that the change in policy can be likened to having wool pulled over people's eyes because a lot of people aren't aware of the effects that will take place as a result of this change.
"We live in a world where healthcare is not really everyone's expertise," said Bartle, who further expressed the role of a local pharmacist as one that is an essential part of the everyday person's healthcare team.
Another local pharmacist, who chose to remain nameless, said they were familiar with the plight, and called the upcoming change in policy a "no-win situation."
"The school districts think they're doing what's in the best interest of their taxpayers," said the pharmacist.
Perry Dewey, DCMO BOCES Superintendent, agreed that the change is "a great inconvenience," but asserts that the school districts – including DCMO BOCES – are not decision makers in this process.
"We contract with the company and they provide us a service," said Dewey, who noted that DCMO BOCES is three years into a four-year contract with NY44 Health Trust, and has had no input in the change in policy. "We bought insurance, and the insurance company deliberates how they're going to manage it. We don't have a say in it, unfortunately."
Dewey – who was appointed District Superintendent at DCMO BOCES in October 2016 – continued, "I think that we should be able to spend our money locally and do what we can. But unfortunately, there's nothing we have as far as recourse or making a change – which we otherwise would be."
Asked if DCMO BOCES will consider a change in insurance company after the four-year contract ends, Dewey said, "We always, no matter the situation––we look at our options as far as we can, considering what is best for our employees and our taxpayers."
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