Kifowit Passes Legislation to Ensure Fair Reimbursements for Neighborhood Pharmacies

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help save neighborhood pharmacies and protect competition in the pharmaceutical market, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, helped pass bipartisan legislation to ensure local, independently-owned pharmacies receive fair reimbursements from insurers.

“Neighborhood pharmacists know their customers and offer the personal advice and customer service that we see too little of in an increasingly corporatized health care system,” said Kifowit. “Locally-owned pharmacies in our community deserve increased reimbursement for their services from the giant insurance companies to level the playing field, not increased reasons to close up shop for good.”

The Kifowit-backed House Bill 3479 calls on the insurers that contract as a part of Illinois’ managed care community network to adequately compensate pharmacies for their services, rather than using their negotiating power to compensate pharmacies below the acquisition cost of prescription drugs. According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, the number of independent pharmacies has declined since 2012, largely due to lower reimbursement rates and increased pressure from mergers in both the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry, most notably big chains like CVS and Walgreens.

“If someone has been going to a pharmacy for a decade, the pharmacist knows them personally and knows their medical history,” Kifowit continued. “If an independent pharmacy closes its doors, the forced transition shouldered by patients, especially the elderly, leads to confusion, mistakes and lapsed care.”