DrugBuyers.Com: McKinney pharmacy sells rx to unsinsured at cost

July 31, 2004, 10:19AM (AP)

McKinney pharmacy sells prescriptions to unsinsured at no profit
Associated Press
McKINNEY -- One of Texas' oldest drugstores is selling prescriptions at no profit to uninsured and underinsured customers, a move some industry experts called unprecedented.

"It's really not fair to the customers to take advantage of them," said Kaylei Mosier, who owns Smith Drug Co. in McKinney, about 30 miles north of Dallas.

The Texas Pharmacy Association and the American Pharmacists Association said they haven't heard of another pharmacy with a similar program.

"This is the first experience I've heard of somebody willing to sell at cost," Texas Pharmacy Association spokesman David Gonzales said in Saturday's editions of The Dallas Morning News.

Carla Chandler's insurance covers three of her five medications. For one of the others, she called every nearby pharmacy and said she was quoted about $240 at one store. Smith Drug charged her $16.68.

"My mouth dropped open. I said, 'Excuse me, that can't be right,'" said Chandler, 42. "If it wasn't for them, it would mean we would have to go without paying one of our major bills."

Edited by DrugBuyers (08/13/04 09:22 PM)