Veteran speaks out on veterans mail-order drug bill

To the Editor:

Veteran and small business owner Ron "Doc" Long says "veterans have paid enough" when he learned of the potential impacts of SB 2040.

"I couldn't believe it when I heard it. What are they thinking?" Long, owner of Doc's Barber Shop in Dickson, said during a recent conversation amid the buzz of clippers and the whoosh of blow dryers.

Long was surprised, like many veterans, to learn that a proposed new law in Tennessee would impact the mail-order supplier for TRICARE, the Department of Defense's health insurance for active-duty service members, veterans and their families.

The law would mean that many veterans, like Long, would have to go to the VA to fill some of their prescriptions. "For some people that's like an hour, two hours to drive. For veterans with mobility issues, that just doesn't make sense."

SB 2040 is what's known as a forced pharmacy closure bill: it prevents any company from operating a pharmacy and a pharmacy benefits manager. While some blame PBMs for high drug costs, the long-term effect of this law would be widespread pharmacy closures.

CVS has recently said it would force them to close more than 100 locations. Kroger pharmacies could also be affected.

It will also prevent Express Scripts from servicing TRICARE, meaning they won't have the option of mail-order prescriptions. The impact on veterans was one of the reasons a federal judge gave when shutting down a similar law in Arkansas.

"It just doesn't seem right," Long says, adding it's unfortunately a familiar pattern for veterans. "We put our country first. It'd be nice if state lawmakers would do the same for us."

SB 2040 was authored by state Sen. Bobby Harshbarger. Harshbarger operates a pharmacy that would not be impacted by the bill. One barber shop customer, who asked not to be named, said that sounds pretty fishy.

"How is he allowed to make laws about his own business like that?"

Tommy Crouse

Dickson, Tenn.