Pediatric Patients Face a Gap in Treatment, Children's Hospital Terminates Lease of Vital Specialty Pharmacy
*NORFOLK, VA / ACCESSWIRE / February 23, 2023 / *Hague Pharmacy, a specialty pharmacy in Norfolk, Virginia, has been forced to close due to its sudden lease termination by the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD). Despite efforts to ensure a safe transition for patients and prescription transfers, CHKD changed the locks, and restricted access on February 7th, 2023, without considering the request for additional time or patient care.
The pharmacy played a key role in the clinical care for children suffering from severe and life-threatening diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. The dedicated team compounded and dispensed 3,800 prescriptions each month and made deliveries covering 18,000 miles to serve patients.
Owner Ritesh Patel expressed his disappointment, stating, "The situation could have been handled better with more focus on continuity of care and the safe transfer of prescriptions. One decimal point in the wrong place can result in an adverse drug event (ADE) for vulnerable patients." Our team has diligently worked to ensure families receive guidance during this difficult time. Because of the complex nature of these specialty medications, the Hague team now recommends that patients with questions about transferring prescriptions work with their prescriber at CHKD. "I am grateful for my team, who saw this through to the end, offering patient support even as they faced their own challenges with the pharmacy closing. As we look back, Hague Pharmacy would like to thank the Southeast Virginia communities for their support and the privilege of serving them through the years. In addition to our service at CHKD, our team played a key role through the pandemic, providing nearly 70,000 vaccines with the support of a massive volunteer effort from the community, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and local physicians. We're saddened by the closure and the loss of another community pharmacy."
The sudden closure of independent pharmacies such as Hague Pharmacy reinforces the urgent need for meaningful change in healthcare and highlights the harm caused by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These third-party administrators manage prescription drug benefits, negotiate drug prices, and process claims on behalf of health plans, employers, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, PBM business practices, including opaque pricing, patient steering, and below-cost reimbursements, are scrutinized for their disproportionate impact on independent pharmacies' financial and operational viability. These tactics are a leading cause of community pharmacy closures and negatively impact patient access to care. To support transparency and access, individuals can contact their elected representatives and voice their support for The Prescription Pricing for the People Act (S. 113) and The PBM Transparency Act (S. 127).
*About Hague Pharmacy:*
Hague Pharmacy at CHKD was committed to improving patients' health outcomes by providing personalized attention and reliable services to make their experience at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter (CHKD) easier. With a holistic approach and comprehensive medication management protocols, we served our community with easy access to the medications and services they needed and deserved.
*CONTACT*
Punam Gandhi
February 22, 2022 (919) 917- 5662
punam@inclinicrx.com
*SOURCE: *Lenkai Consulting
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