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Nursing home pharmacy plan raises concern
Hillcrest Nursing Home's new prescription policy is bad for local business, according to a McCook woman whose mother lives at the facility.
But the home's administrator says the new pharmaceutical company will provide valuable benefits for the residents.
April 1, Hillcrest Nursing Home will change from using local pharmacies for patient medications, to Heartland Pharmacy Care Inc. in Omaha. Hillcrest is owned by Red Willow County but is self-supporting.
Pam McConville of Indianola, whose mother has been at Hillcrest for two years, said, although she likes the care provided at the facility, she is concerned that she was not given a choice in switching pharmacies. In addition, she contends it's wrong that an out-of-area pharmaceutical company will take away business from local pharmacies and dictate prices because of no competition.
"Since when can a handful of people take away the rights of a group of people like that?" McConville said in an e-mail. Her mother is a private-pay resident and not on Medicaid. "It is going to hurt our community and Hillcrest is a part of this. We are struggling with our president making decisions for us that we don't like, so now that is also happening for our senior residents at Hillcrest."
Angie Langan, co-owner with Dave Smith of U-Save Pharmacy and Medical Supply, said the switch will cause the business to lose about 70 patients and thousands of dollars.
"My concern is although we were notified of the change, we were not given the opportunity to bid on a contract," she said this morning. "This will signifcantly impact our business."
U-Save Pharmacy is one of three pharmacies in McCook.
Hillcrest administrator Peggy Rogers said board members approved the change at the January board meeting. She said Heartland Pharmacy specializes in long-term care and serves 85 facilities in Nebraska and offers competitive pricing.
The difference between Heartland and McCook pharmacies is that Heartland is closed-door and not open to the public, Rogers said, so reimbursements to Medicare and Medicaid are different, although she didn't explain how.
The current prescription system used at Hillcrest is cumbersome, Rogers said, and Heartland offers several computerized reports that will help manage and, hopefully, reduce medication. Plus, working with one company will "streamline" operations, she said, versus working with three separate businesses.
Under normal conditions, medications would come from North Platte twice a day, she said. If bad road conditions prevents delivery, another pharmacy in McCook will be used as a back-up for emergency medications, with a two-hour guarantee.
Emergency medications include 40 to 50 common and uncommon medications selected by the medical director doctor.
Rogers said she'd be happy to answer any questions people may have.
McConville said she has discussed the situation with Roger but is not satisfied. Local pharmacies that people trust should have the right to provide medication to family members at Hillcrest, she maintained.
The nursing home's board of directors is meeting at 11 a.m. Friday in the lower level conference room at the home, 309 W. Seventh in McCook.