Should consumers pay extra to fill a prescription at a pharmacy that sells tobacco?
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In a push towards consumer health CVS Caremark plans to charge extra to members of of their pharmacy benefits management program (PBM) who fill prescriptions at a pharmacy that still sells tobacco products, AP reports.
The network would slap an extra co-payment on patients who fill their prescriptions at stores that still sell tobacco. That payment won't apply to prescriptions filled in the tobacco-free network, which would include CVS and Target locations nationally, as well as other pharmacies that abstain.
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CVS spokeswoman Carolyn Castel said her company developed the new network after several PBM customers asked for it. The tobacco-free network will only be used by the PBM customers that choose it.
The Wall Street Journal that these co-payments could cost as much as $15.
Some independent pharmacies, meanwhile, are crying foul. They worry that CVS will not provide a complete list of participating pharmacies, which would place CVS pharmacies at an advantage, since CVS and Caremark are owned by the same parent company and often benefit from joint promotions.
Today's Question: Should consumers pay extra to fill a prescription at a pharmacy that sells tobacco?
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