Click here to view Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency’s (PUTT’s) WhatsApp channel, where protests participants are actively sharing comments & photos
Join fellow pharmacy advocates fighting PBM abuse at a peaceful protest against Express Scripts, one of the “big 3” traditional PBMs and worst perpetrators of PBM abuse! This protest, which is being organized by Loretta Boesing and her non-profit organization, Unite for Safe Medications, is being held at the Express Scripts headquarters in St. Louis, MO. While members of our team at St. Paul Corner Drug likely won’t make it due to distance, we wanted people to be aware of it in case you’re available to attend! A copy of the notice about the protest passed along to us can be found below, including information about directions and accommodation.
Please note that SPCD is NOT organizing this event—if you have questions, please reach out to the organizers directly here.
Registration required? No, but it’s appreciated! Click here to register.
ON MAY 17, 2024, PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PHARMACISTS, PHYSICIANS, ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS WILL COME TOGETHER TO BOLDLY TAKE A STAND AGAINST ONE OF THE THREE LARGEST PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS AND MAIL ORDER PHARMACIES IN THE NATION, EXPRESS SCRIPTS! Many patients across the nation are forced or steered to Express Scripts against their will as it is the only option of coverage allowed by the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) or insurance company. Express Scripts is a PBM and mail order pharmacy. Express Scripts often uses their own PBM to steer patients to their own pharmacy. Patients have faced life-threatening delays, interruptions in treatment, and some have been forced to receive medications such as room temperature medications not stored at the temperatures proven safe by drug manufacturers as the only option of coverage. Express Scripts also uses their PBM portion of their business to restrict access to medications by removing medications on the list of covered medications. Physicians are hiring additional staff to deal with long exhaustive obstacle courses to obtain the medications needed for their patients. Express Scripts has a 1-star rating on the Better Business Bureau that highlights this Pattern of Complaints: “Better Business Bureau is advising consumers to use caution when considering doing business with Express Scripts. BBB has received a pattern of consumer complaints alleging delays or failure to ship correct prescriptions or medications; failure to accept returns or medications which were shipped in error; failure to issue refunds; debiting credit or debit cards for prescriptions not shipped and poor customer service.” When patients are so graciously allowed by their PBM to use their local pharmacies, PBMs like Express Scripts also oversee reimbursements to competitor pharmacies & often reimburse competitor pharmacies below their cost, causing closures of local pharmacies in the most underserved rural and urban areas across America. 30% of small locally owned pharmacies are expected to close this year. Upon advocating for regulation, legislation, & protection from these pharmacies, advocates find themselves against one of the wealthiest lobbyist organizations in America, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) that has in the last year doubled the amount they’re investing in lobbying by the millions. The Boards of Pharmacy also often have strong ties and even members sit on regulatory positions making it almost impossible for protection & justice. It’s time to demand it! Patients deserve ethical treatment and safe access to their local pharmacies. Often, many are “too sick to fight” & many pharmacists fear retaliation for speaking publicly about these issues. We need your voice!
Directions
From St. Louis Airport: Take the ramp on the right for I-70 East and head toward St Louis. At Exit 240, head right on the ramp for MO-N toward University Blvd. Keep right, heading toward Touhill Arts Center / UMSL. Turn right onto University Place Dr.
If taking public transit: https://www.metrostlouis.org/park-and-ride/
The North Hanley Location is nearby the location of the Express Scripts protest. I stopped an officer while travelling through the lot and asked if it would be possible to park on the Metro parking lot on the day of the protest. He suggested outreaching to Metrolink. He said some do park here for a few hours. Most park that are just parking, park on the back side of the parking lot closer by the road that runs alongside where we will be conveniently protesting. The lot does mention that it is for “Metro customers only.” You can buy a MetroStLouis Day Pass Online for $5 at https://www.metrostlouis.org/
If driving and parking: The location that we will be protesting in front of Express Scripts is on the University of Missouri St. Louis Public State Property. UMSL police are aware of our protest & have informed that they will not disrupt our right to hold a peaceful protest. Parking Lots closest to the protest will be UMSL Parking Lot M & Parking Lot by the MIMH Professional Training building. Per UMSL’s website. “If you are visiting campus, you may park in Lot C located in between the JC Penney Building and the Recreation and Wellness Center on North Campus for up to two hours. If you are visiting for longer than two hours or would prefer to park in a spot more convenient for your desired destination, you must acquire a Guest Permit for $1.00 per day at the Office of Parking and Transportation, located at 44 Campus Police Building.
Accommodation
If you would like to book a room for the night, there are several great hotels nearby:
Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Airport,
Best Western Plus St. Louis Airport Hotel
Things to do: Bring the family & explore the city!
Our goal is to get our message across in a peaceful and safe way to push forward change. People of all ages can attend. If you would like to make this a weekend trip, St. Louis has many great sight-seeing opportunities. Here are some of our family’s favorite places: St. Louis Zoo (free entry), The City Museum, Grants Farm, The Botanical Gardens, & the St. Louis Arch. If you’re a baseball fan, The St. Louis Cardinals will have games 17th – 19th against the Boston Red Sox