Browns Pharmacy

03/25/2025

PBMs, like Express Scripts, are middlemen that contract with pharmacies on behalf of health insurance plans. These PBMs get massive rebates, basically kickbacks, from drug manufacturers. Manufacturers have to increase the price of their drugs to keep up with the demand for these kickbacks. This drives up costs for everyone. Bringing transparency to the system can help to eliminate these from driving up drug costs.

Please click the link below to request that your NYS Assemblyman support this transparency. Please update the message body to say you are a resident, not a pharmacist. Thank you!

To unite and empower the profession of pharmacy through advocacy, education, networking, and interprofessional collaboration.

03/21/2025

Did you know many large pharmacies like Wegmans and Kinney Drugs do not fill all your prescriptions at the pharmacy you pick up at? This siphon's away jobs from your community and means less of your money stays local when you use don't use a pharmacy like ours that is filling all your prescriptions locally.

Wegmans wants to lighten the workload for its in-store pharmacists and technicians, and has opened a central location designed to handle most of its next-day prescription refills. The Rochester-based chain

03/20/2025

Spring brings blooming flowers and… allergy season! 🤧 If you suffer from seasonal allergies, we’re here to help you breathe easier this season. Stop by for advice on the best over-the-counter allergy medications and ways to manage symptoms naturally. 🍯💊

03/18/2025

Another reason to love PBMs...CVS Caremark, who processes claims for NYS employees and many other commercial plans in NY, is redirecting their members' prescription claims to various third party discount programs like GoodRx and other PBMs. It'd be rude of us not to point out that other PBMs are doing this as well. This is clearly price fixing and collusion amongst PBMs. This program has been around for more than a year, however, lately they've really ramped things up. Who knows where your private information is ending up once its in the hands of these third parties. Better yet these third parties charge the pharmacy money when they process the claim. It's hard to imagine PBMs aren't getting a kickback for these redirected claims either...

https://ncpa.org/newsroom/news-releases/2025/01/23/ncpa-joins-class-action-suit-against-goodrx-cvs-caremark-corp

https://www.cvshealth.com/news/prescription-savings/cvs-caremark-and-goodrx-to-launch-caremark-cost-saver.html

Caremark Cost Saver is bringing members affordable prescription drug solutions, providing automatic access to the lowest GoodRx prescription prices seamlessly.

03/17/2025

While there may be some short term cost savings to using mail order please consider the long term costs to your community. Local businesses donate to local organizations 💰, hire local employees 👨‍⚕️, and keep local storefronts occupied 🏠!

03/12/2025

Walgreens is Chittenango, NY is closing at the end of April. This is a direct result of reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) like CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx.

Unfortunately New York State is to blame as well. Recent cuts to reimbursement for NYS employees for example is not helping the situation. Many pharmacies are barely making more than the cost of the medication they are dispensing under the new contract, let alone enough to keep the lights on.

If you use the Walgreens in Hancock, NY I'd be very concerned. If you don't want your pharmacy to be the next to close please contact Governor Kathy Hochul's office and express your concern regarding pharmacy reimbursements from PBMs and pharmacy closures.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

518-474-8390

Thank you!

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02/26/2025

Thank you to our state representatives and their staff for taking the time to meet with pharmacy owners and pharmacists from across New York State yesterday. Our profession is facing major uphill battles thanks primarily to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) paying us far below cost on many of the prescriptions we fill. This is what is driving so many pharmacies to close or cut services.

We are hopeful some of our bills will go through this session to give us some relief. If you like your pharmacy and want to keep your pharmacy I'd encourage you to call your local representatives and let them know you support any legislation that helps to fairly reimburse local pharmacies.

Assemblyman Joe Angelino 607-648-6080 and Senator Peter Oberacker 607-432-5524

Thank you!

02/19/2025

Our pharmacy needs your help!

Pharmacies everywhere are closing everyday due to PBMs underpaying for medications. CVS in Susquehanna is the latest victim. Even if you don't use our pharmacy, if you want the one you use to stick around, please go to the link below to let Congress know they need to pass legislation to keep PBMs in check. Thank you!
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/OLjmZUEqgF50noNpwMhjnA

02/17/2025

Please be careful out and about in the village today. With the cold temps and freezing rain yesterday it’s still quite slippery on the streets and sidewalks.

02/10/2025

Did you know there is an over the counter at home flu/covid test? We have them in stock in a 2 pack for $21.99!

02/05/2025

Investing in the next generation is important for the health of our community. We look forward to watching Kendra succeed on her healthcare path!

Brown's Pharmacy in Deposit has been hosting one of our seniors, who is planning to persue a degree as a pharmacist, in a work-based learning opportunity since September of this school year. The student has been able to mentor the pharmacist, Jenn Marrow, and learn about different types of medications, interactions, dosages, etc. She has also been able to do a multitude of other things pharmacy-related, such as checking in medicines, restocking medicines, and customer service skills. Thank you, Brown's Pharmacy, for providing this education experience!

11/26/2024

We now accept Nations Benefits flex cards at our pharmacy!

These cards are often associated with Medicare plans that provide funds for members to use at a pharmacy for many everyday health items. If you have card from your health plan and see a logo like this on the front or back it should work at our pharmacy for eligible items.

11/07/2024

We need your help! PBM abuse of pharmacies and patients needs to stop. Please complete the form at the link below to let your representatives know. Thank you!

https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/NCPANET/1/Campaigns/112249/Respond

10/24/2024

A long read but this is a great article that explains how rigged the pharmacy industry is against independent pharmacies like ours. We manage to hold on but we certainly could use more support to continue to remain staples in the communities we serve.

We’ve even exposed the fact that we are paid significantly less by one of the big PBMs than they charge the very popular local health plan for providing pharmacy benefit services. Some drugs we can be paid hundreds of dollars less than what the PBM charges the health plan. However, it seems to fall on deaf ears. The health plans either have no choice but to comply with the powerful PBM schemes or they are willing accomplices reaping the benefits from it as well. Either way it’s a sad state of affairs that appears to only be getting worse before it will one day hopefully get better. Hopefully that happens before it is too late.

The simple thing anyone can do if they wish to continue to have a local pharmacy in their neighborhood is to support it and encourage others to do so as well.

Thank you!

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/19/business/drugstores-closing-pbm-pharmacy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Tk4.LLQQ.S2fmNOCh_FQg&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwY2xjawGGkjVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVKiC_ZJ05Yf05j5m1Z--e_hpX4znT7ecF7bgxUKqnIZgJCFCBam_zC1HA_aem_Qs20gvBsX0Ns6PeOC1Wh1w

The biggest pharmacy benefit managers are profiting by systematically underpaying independent drugstores, creating “pharmacy deserts” across the country.

10/11/2024

We have a set of car keys that were left at the pharmacy this morning. Please come by to describe them if they are yours. Thank you!

10/11/2024

There are a TON of changes to Medicare plans for 2025. Everyone should review their plan to see what makes the most sense for them. Higher deductibles, higher premiums, no more donut hole, max out of pocket down to $2000 from $8000, are all influencing how plans are structuring their programs next year. You can enter your medications on medicare.gov to help compare the plans to find what may be best for you.

https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/ #/?year=2025&lang=en

If you'd like any help feel free to give us a call or stop in. We can then give you a report of options so you can make an educated choice on what plan is best for you.

09/30/2024

We will be offering a vaccination clinic at the Deposit Senior Center TOMORROW from 11-2pm if anyone would like to stop in for a flu, COVID, pneumonia, RSV, or Shingles shot.

14 Monument St Deposit, NY 13754

09/13/2024

We have flu & COVID shots are available. Please stop in Monday through Friday, no appointment needed.

*Preferably between the hours of 11am and 3:30pm if possible to avoid the morning and evening rush. Thank you!