Julie W

hospital pharmacist, coffee enthusiast, duck shepherd, Go Bearcats 🔴 ⚫️ .

[Loretta Boesing @BoesingLoretta]

‼️This will be the first time that I'm sharing this recording publicly. This is the lobbyist for the pharmacy benefit managers or Pharmaceutical Care Management Association that so many of the legislators blindly listen to. The largest three pharmacy benefit managers are Optum RX, CVS Caremark, & Express Scripts.

After heartlessly reading off a piece of paper for 5 minutes with claims such as these, she admits that she personally was not against the temperature regulation of medications shipped by mail in Oklahoma.

"As a person, no," says the lobbyist. 🥺 How does someone speak to stop laws. To stop regulation that would save people from harm or save their lives without heart?

I'll share the other recording too, of a lobbyist from CVS during the same meeting, who said that they get medications already hot from the wholesalers. So, since CVS receives them hot, they should be able to ship them hot. The Board of Pharmacy member pushes back, saying that if they're receiving medications, they should be reporting it and not using it as an excuse to ship those medications out without protection from the high heat again. I called the FDA as well because the FDA does regulate drug manufacturers, and they did state that CVS should be contacting the FDA and also reaching out to the wholesaler&/drug manufacturer.

Going state by state on these issues is too much right now. The time, and financial burden is too heavy. I hope and pray for someone to come along to help. This is an injustice that weighs heavily on my heart when it is hot outside. I continue on only with great faith in God.

The PBMs claim that ensuring safe temperatures during shipping is not grounded in science. That is such a ridiculous claim that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration & FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI - St. Louis Federal Trade Commission should be all over them after such a claim.

Pharmacists who have raised concerns about this matter have reportedly experienced retaliation. This is attributed to the fact that Pharmacy Benefit Managers, who own mail-order pharmacies and are vertically integrated with insurance companies, also hold positions on state boards of pharmacies responsible for inspections. This dual role provides them with the capacity to audit or fine competitors.

The three primary Pharmacy Benefit Managers associated with this organization are OptumRx, CVS Caremark, and Express Scripts. Historically, these entities have often leveraged the argument that any regulatory or legislative measures targeting their operations would inevitably lead to increased pharmaceutical costs. However, numerous legislators, Attorneys General, and the Federal Trade Commission have since concluded that PBMs are, in fact, a significant contributor to artificially inflated drug prices.

NBC also covered this issue, noting that Express Scripts initially consented to temperature regulation during the drafting phase. Subsequently, Express Scripts issued a threat to litigate against the state should the temperature regulation proceed. This tactic is consistently employed by pharmacy benefit managers whenever they encounter regulations or laws that do not align with their interests, even when such legislation has bipartisan support and the state governor's approval.

Lies should have consequences / jail time, even if your corporations are among the top 20 wealthiest in the nation.

Wholesalers mostly ship medications to pharmacies and wholesalers are located by big cities and ship medications mostly overnight to pharmacies nearby. Medications are shipped in bulk to pharmacies. They're usually not shoved in only a bag and definitely not left on store steps in the hot sun or mailboxes that turn into ovens. I have seen some ship meds from a mail order pharmacy from coast to coast taking several days even from a nearby city in extreme weather.

Drug manufacturers fall under FDA regulations and have much stricter regulations to follow during shipping.

[Julie W @julsand]

@JoshuaBarzon C

[Julie W @julsand]

@karenmitchell__ Such a true statement. I’ve seen this happen time and time again with malignant narcissists- probably would add they’re “good” ?! at lying which adds to this.

[Julie W @julsand]

@tylerblack32 Thanks 😊 for helping dispel some of these crazy statements. It’s a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant room.

[Julie W @julsand]

@Joeinblack

[Fyodor Dostoevsky Collection 🪓 @Dostoevskyquot]

“The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he's in prison.”

— Fyodor Dostoevsky

[Julie W @julsand]

@AccPharmacist Checking every expiration date on groceries and any item with an expiration date before purchasing 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

[Julie W @julsand]

@Dostoevskyquot My favorite

[Julie W @julsand]

#skylinechili

[NOBUNAGA🇯🇵🏯_夏樹蒼依 @japan_nobunaga]

In Cincinnati I walked into Skyline Chili and ordered chili.

Marlene, the waitress, smiled right away — the warm, easy smile of someone who already knows what happens next.

"You want that 3-way, 4-way, or 5-way?"

I did not know the numbers. I knew a ranking when I heard one.

Three was the gate.
Four was the courtyard.
Five was the inner hall.

I have always walked toward the inner hall.

My heart beat once, hard, the way it does before a vow.

"Five," I said. "I will take the full ceremony."

"You got it, hon."

She said it the way Ohio says good morning. Light. Easy. Already kind.

I had chosen the summit. She answered with a pen stroke and that same smile.

The plate arrived like a parade that had decided to sit down.

Spaghetti as the road. Chili as the procession. Cheese as confetti that refused to stop. Oyster crackers standing by like tiny guests of honor.

I whispered thank you to the plate. Earl, at the next stool, raised his coffee.

"First time?"

"First pilgrimage," I said.

He grinned. "Crush the crackers on top. That's how we do the blessing here."

I crushed them with both hands. The booth glowed a little. Or I did.

I ate.

In my land, abundance is quiet. A perfect bowl. Steam. Silence.

Here, abundance wears a cheese sweater and invites the whole table to the wedding.

Tea ceremony took me eleven years.

Bowl. Whisk. Bow. Sip.

Cincinnati taught me theirs before my water glass was empty.

Noodles. Chili proud to be exactly where it was. Cheese enough to make Ohio blush. Crackers as the final cheer.

A man in a Reds cap ate the same mountain with the joy of Sunday morning.

I finished. My mouth ordered a second while my soul was still applauding the first.

Marlene brought a cheese coney I never asked for.

"First-timer gift," she said. "Welcome to Cincinnati."

I have received gifts in temples.
I have received gifts at weddings.

I had never received a hot dog as a house key.

Next day she did not ask three, four, or five.

She said, "The usual," and wrote down five.

I came for lunch.
I was adopted by a plate.

America, I surrender.

So tell me.

What else have you covered in cheese that still has room for one more grateful stranger?

[Julie W @julsand]

You can have eyes and still not see. But a hard life improves the vision.

[Julie W @julsand]

@AndrewJTobias Thank you for the info!

[Julie W @julsand]

@simplify_drugs Rasburicase

[Merriam-Webster @MerriamWebster]

Please avoid all salads, including word.

[Julie W @julsand]

@simplify_drugs Nicardipine

[Julie W @julsand]

Happy 250 America 🇺🇸!

[Julie W @julsand]

@AccPharmacist C

[Julie W @julsand]

@FreddyLA7 Try Avery Island where Tabasco hot sauce is made. 🐊 plus you’ll get to see American hot sauce in It’s finest

[Julie W @julsand]

@mcuban I’m seeing more and more of my patients getting their apixaban from Canada because of the high prices in the US. Specifically seniors.

[Skyline Chili @Skyline_Chili]

Skyline fans, we're excited to share that we've been nominated for USA TODAY Best Regional Fast Food 🏆

Voting is open now through July 6 at noon ET, and you can vote once per day! Vote at https://t.co/BHplEn5eSi to help us bring home the win 🔗