Making the right choice: Pharmacists help seniors choose drug plans
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Eric Driggers, pharmacist at Greenhaw Pharmacy in Hillsboro, said the business has advised at least 600 people on the new Medicare prescription drug plans.
He said Greenhaw runs an analysis of the individual's drug needs and recommends the three best plans for them. The pharmacy then finds people who help them sign up.
Driggers said sometimes the process is completed over the course of one or two days because it has to be fit in while doing regular business.
"We are starting to see the positive impact of the program, and people are starting to save money," he said. "It probably will take a while, but it will be good in the long run."
The past three months have been extremely busy as pharmacist Marlin and his co-worker Traci Lanning assist senior citizens in choosing a prescription drug plan that is right for them.
"The local pharmacist is the best way to go," he said. "We don't get kick-backs and we make it simple."
As a HealthMart franchisee, Marion Pharmacy has contracted with all but two of the more than 40 insurance companies operating in Kansas to supply prescription drugs.
Using an Internet Medicare website, Buchholz and Lanning sit down with applicants, take their names, and list the drugs they currently are using.
The computer program automatically ranks the companies from the least expensive on up according to the total yearly cost to the individual.
Buchholz said he usually presents the top three plans. After people have made a choice, they can sign up right on the spot.
"It works pretty slick," he said.
Sometimes, a dozen or more people sign up in one day.
Monday through Wednesday are the best days to enroll at Marion Pharmacy.
"Everyone is going to save money by enrolling if the drugs they use stay the same," Buchholz said.
May 1 is the enrollment deadline.
