Pharmacy Choice and Access Now Coalition Applauds Passage of Senate Bill 7 During Texas Legislature's Special Session

AUSTIN, Texas, June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmacy Choice and Access Now (PCAN) – a coalition of consumers, local businesses and pharmacists across the nation and Texas, committed to preserving quality and affordable health care – applauds the Texas Legislature for the passage of Senate Bill 7, which includes numerous critical amendments that provide necessary protections for Texans and their community pharmacies.  Among these commendable protections are: open access pharmacy networks within a managed care framework, permitting users of Medicaid pharmacy services to continue to retain the option of being served by their community pharmacy rather than a mail-order service, prompt pay for crucial pharmacy services, and full transparency regarding administrative and other fees charged by pharmacy benefit managers.

PCAN, once again, commends the Texas Legislature and – above all Representatives Zerwas, Pitts, Hopson, Brown, Sid Miller and Senators Nelson, Van de Putte and Hegar – for following through on their commitment to include provisions in SB 7 that help to protect Medicaid patient access to effective health care and pharmacy services across Texas.

The pharmacy and patient protection amendments contained in SB 7 will help to ensure that community-based pharmacies throughout Texas are afforded the protections that they, their patients, and Texas taxpayers both need and deserve.

Independent pharmacy owner and Texas spokesperson for Pharmacy Choice and Access Now (PCAN), Tammy Gray, said the following regarding the final passage of SB 7 and its pharmacy protections, "The Texas Legislature and its hardworking officials who remained committed to seeing the vital pharmacy protections of SB 7 passed into law deserve our sincere thanks today.  Their determination to provide essential protections for community-based pharmacies and to ensure freedom of access to care for Medicaid patients is an example to lawmakers across the country that are choosing to move to managed care for pharmacy services in their states.  While we continue to have serious doubts about the cost-effectiveness of managed care and its impact on community pharmacy, we do believe the pharmacy protections contained in SB 7 will help to maintain the viability of community pharmacy."

PCAN will remain active and vigilant during the implementation of the critical pharmacy protections contained in SB 7 and will continue to fight for similar protections for community-based pharmacies and patients as the health care landscape across the country undergoes transformation at the local and national levels.

About PCAN

Pharmacy Choice and Access Now (PCAN) is a coalition of consumers, local business and pharmacists across the nation committed to preserving quality and affordable health care and pharmacy services for patients.  We are committed to providing the most cost-effective solutions in the areas of health care and pharmacy services to enable states around the country to help solve their budget woes, while maintaining quality care for children, families and other Medicaid-served populations.

For more information on Pharmacy Choice and Access Now (PCAN), visit www.rxchoiceandaccess.com.

SOURCE Pharmacy Choice and Access Now (PCAN)