NEW YORK CITY PHARMACISTS SOCIETY

LEGAL WAR CHEST

NOTE: This is not a PAC (Political Action Committee) or in any way affiliated with PSSNY's PAC or Legal Defense Fund. This is NYCPS's own Legal War Chest.

Every now and again a pharmacist has approached one of the NYCPS board members and asks the proverbial question, what have you done for us lately?  It makes many of us frustrated that there can be such an ignorant group of pharmacists out there, but they do exist.  In spite of those occasional occurrences, we have always tried to help the pharmacists in the trenches survive with their day to day issues.  It was exclusively through NYCPS efforts and only our efforts at NYCPS, that we eliminated the ridiculous requirement of the city of New York to have lot numbers manually transcribed on the physical prescriptions.  As the deadline for HIPAA was approaching, we invested some of our resources into a preliminary investigation of the legal practicality of blocking the implementation of the recent HIPAA regulations as an unfair and burdensome regulation with very little practical value towards the patient’s privacy. (Unfortunately, we did not get any support - - nor financial or research assistance - - from the local or national chain associations and thus we had to abandon our efforts due to the costs involved).  In addition, on an ongoing basis, there are issues that we are fighting behind the scenes on many fronts to help one and all survive in this ferocious dog-eat-dog environment, which has gotten especially onerous since the inception of Medicare Part D. As many of our members realize, some years ago, back in the late 1990’s, the leadership of NYCPS tackled a national insurance company and proceeded to hold this payer of pharmaceutical services accountable to the pharmacists in their network.  We were eventually joined by colleagues from New Jersey and also Pennsylvania in bringing this insurer to court and we demanded accountability.  We did all of this by voluntary contributions of nearly $80,000 from our members and after settling the case - - in the middle of the trial  - - the insurance company agreed to settle the matter and we at NYCPS kept our word of returning all of those donations to the parties that were kind and trusting of our efforts.  Additionally hundreds of thousands of dollars (in total) were sent by the insurance company to nearly 3,000 pharmacy owners in New York and New Jersey as a result of our lawsuit. We at NYCPS and our New Jersey colleagues eventually settled mid trial with this insurer. 

All of these efforts take time and money.  The leadership of NYCPS is willing to undertake the time aspect, but it is the money that is in short supply and the money helps get things done. With that in mind, we have founded the New York City Pharmacists Society LEGAL WAR CHEST (“LWC”).  In this way members can donate any amount of money, be it personally or from their businesses, an amount that they feel comfortable with towards those battles we in community and independent pharmacy face in our daily struggle to survive in the marketplace.  We will have kept the members aware of the issues we fight and naturally the results of these battles.  Prior to the formation of the NYCPS LWC, we would scrimp together donations from the board members to help augment our revenue from dues.  However, due to the financial limitations of that prior approach we were severely limited to pick and choose the issues we could tackle for our members.  Regarding issues of national significance, we will use our influence with the leadership of our regional and national pharmacy organizations, such as National Community Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association and other national and or regional groups to carry the ball, but nevertheless, there are many times because of the strength of community pharmacies here in New York City, we can make a difference and fight issues on a local level.

For instance, just to cite a couple of issues that we have fought in the past are: the unfair audit tactics by a PBM auditor, (as we worked on PharmDur and their HIP audits), unfair return policies by a manufacturer (we helped convince the former pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pharmacia (now a division of Pfizer) to relax their return policy to include open bottles after they announced that they would no longer take open bottles).

Please realize, that unlike the prior NYCPS Aetna US HealthCare fund, we will not be returning these contributions, however, your contribution will go towards the survival of community pharmacy as we know it.  And we promise to use these funds in a meaningful way towards our survival. Contributors will be listed to our website, www.NYCPS.org
and will also be printed in the NYCPS Newsletter.

Please use the form below to make your donation. We will accept any size contribution, but it is suggested to make the contribution for at least $100. 

Help us to help you survive!!

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the New York City Pharmacists Society, thank you for your contribution to our Legal War Chest.

Unless directed otherwise by you, your name and amount will be listed on the NYCPS website and published in our NYCPS newsletter]

   Click here to print out a form and mail a contribution.

For the past six years, The New York City Pharmacists Society has had a Legal War Chest to fund the local battles that we as community pharmacists fight by ourselves day after day.  We have fought various battles including some with our elected officials, the OMIG, PBM’s, and other foes of community pharmacy.  Back in 2008 we were successful in convincing HIP of New York that they should not recover payments made to pharmacies based on allegations of overpayments that went back to 2006.  That effort took time and resources of NYCPS. Additionally we have educated elected officials in Albany and New York City about the shortcomings that are affecting both patients and pharmacies the way PBM’s make payments to pharmacies.  We are fighting for our survival.  This fund is separate from the existing PSSNY Legal Defense Fund which is being utilized to fund the ongoing PSSNY Medicaid dispute over their audit practices.

By supporting the NYCPS Legal War Chest, we will be enabled to fight the fight for survival in this dog eat dog health care environment.  Thanks to the generosity of our members this fund continues to grow.  We ask for your support during these difficult times for our profession.

As we see the outrageous tactics and actions of the PBM in their contracts, their administration of Medicare Part D and also we see the erosion of our patients due to mandatory mail order contracts and the reduction of our levels of reimbursement due to the newly formed Medicare Part D Contracts. At this time more than ever, we truly need a strong professional voice to fight for our concerns.  Please join us in these necessary struggles.  
 

Enclosed we are sharing the Final List for 2010 as well as for 2009 and 2008.  See if your name and pharmacy are posted.  As we start this New Year 2011 we have plenty of problems to deal with, and we need your help.  We will continue to publish past years donations as space permits.—the list is done alphabetically, not in order of receipt or donation amount. (All new contributions will have an asterisk *).

2011 Contributions to NYCPS Legal War Chest:

Final List of Donations for 2010 as of December 31, 2010

Mike Agovino, Sedgwick Pharmacy ...........................................................................................  $250
Khalid Amin, Audobon Pharmacy .............................................................................................   $350
Narsinh Desai, Leroy Pharmacy ...............................................................................................   $500
Jim Detura, Melrose Pharmacy .................................................................................................  $5,000
Roy and Dana Eisner, The Charles Pharmacy and Surgical......................................................  $300
Keith Diamond, Dermer Pharmacy and Surgical .......................................................................  $525
Michael Ferri, Kings HealthMart Pharmacy ...............................................................................  $350
Jagdeesh Gummella, Loisaida Rx Inc ......................................................................................   $500
Dominick Letteri, Drug Mart Pharmacy .....................................................................................  $1,500
Vincent Mazzamuto, Sedgwick Pharmacy ...............................................................................    $250
Syed Muzaffar, Prospect Ave. Pharmacy Inc ...........................................................................    $300
Thomas Pelizza, Kinray ...........................................................................................................    $500
Peter Patel, Mott Pharmacy & Surgical....................................................................................    $500
Stewart Rahr, Kinray ................................................................................................................    $5,000
James Schiffer, Jim & Phil’s Family Pharmacy ........................................................................    $200
William Scheer, Scheer Drugs .................................................................................................    $200
Hasmukh Shah, Marin Pharmacy ............................................................................................    $250
Jeffrey Smith, Kinray ................................................................................................................    $500
Frank Wong, Rx Center............................................................................................................    $2,000
Final Total as of December 31, 2010                                                                                         $18,975

Final List of Donations for 2009

Rao Alturi, Atluri/Laconia Pharmacy Inc...................................................................................   $500
Khalid Amin, Audobon Pharmacy............................................................................................    $300
Robert Annicharico, Delco Drugs & Specialty Pharmacy.........................................................   $250
Chris Aprile, Thriftway 10th Ave. Drug Corp.............................................................................   $350
Samsul Bakar, Kings Bronx Inc................................................................................................   $200
Robert J. Baker, SBC RX/Thriftway Pharmacy........................................................................    $350
Robert J. Baker, Thriftway-Kings Highway Pharmacy............................................................     $350
Charles Catalano, C&D Drug Corp........................................................................................     $2,500
Joseph M. Ciol, J&C Pharmacy..............................................................................................     $350
James Detura, Melrose Pharmacy.........................................................................................     $5,000
Ray & Dana Eisner, The Charles Pharmacy..........................................................................      $300
John Kranjac, Marama Pharmacy.........................................................................................      $1,000
Steven Gelwan, Hosp Rx, Thriftway Pharmacy.....................................................................      $350
Jagdeesh Gummella, Loisaida Rx Inc...................................................................................      $500
Martin Katz, Scarpa Pharmacy..............................................................................................      $250
Dominic Lettieri, Drug Mart Pharmacy Corp..........................................................................      $500
Joseph Locastro, Clinton Apothecary....................................................................................      $200
Long Island Pharmacists Society (LIPS)...............................................................................      $3,000
Suni Mandalapu, New Amsterdam Drug Mart.......................................................................      $300
Murugan Naidu, Rite Choice Pharmacy.................................................................................      $500
The Paganelli Family, Mt. Carmel Pharmacy.........................................................................     $1,500
Alex Perchuk, STM RX/Thriftway Pharmacy..........................................................................     $350
Alex Perchuk, STJ RX/Thriftway Pharmacy............................................................................     $350
Wendy & John Rossi, Rossi Pharmacy....................................................................................    $200
Adam Siegel, Parkway Pharmacy...........................................................................................     $500
Bill Scheer, Scheer Drugs........................................................................................................     $500
James Schiffer, Jim & Phil‘s Family Pharmacy.........................................................................    $100
Russell Sherman, Esco Drug Co...........................................................................................     $1,000
Nadira Singh, Thriftway Church Ave. Drug Corp......................................................................    $350
Michael Somma, Artis Drugs....................................................................................................    $300
Robert Spivack, employee of Pathmark Pharmacy..................................................................    $100
Lesly Thelemaque, Vanderveer/Thriftway Pharmacy..............................................................     $350
Yan Vilensky, Thriftway Flatbush Ave. Drug Corp...................................................................      $350
Alex Zatsepilo, Thriftway Foster Ave. Drug Corp.....................................................................     $350
Gilbert Zuckerman, Kenby Pharmacy.......................................................................................    $300
Final Total for 2009                                                                                                                     $23,650

Final List of Donations for 2008

Dominic Amendolara, Salzman Chemists...............................................................................    $1,000
Curt Constable, Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy...........................................................................    $300
John Demetriades, Farmacon Pharmacy..................................................................................    $250
James Detura, Melrose Pharmacy...........................................................................................    $5,000
K. Dinesh, Ozone Park NY........................................................................................................     $300
Roy Eisner, The Charles Pharmacy..........................................................................................     $300
Howard Feder, Myrtle Ave. Pharmacy.......................................................................................     $150
Steve Kabakoff, Sol’s Pharmacy...............................................................................................     $500
Peter Lau, Confucius Pharmacy................................................................................................     $300
Jeff Liberman, Howard Beach Apothecary..............................................................................     $1,000
Sal Lombardo, Corona Heights Pharmacy.................................................................................    $350
Long Island Pharmacists Society.............................................................................................     $1,000
Boris Mantell, Health Care Pharmacy......................................................................................     $1,500
Michael Morrelli, Arrow Pharmacy............................................................................................     $1,000
Syed Muzaffar, Longwood Pharmacy.........................................................................................     $300
Robert Newman, Theresa Pharmacy.........................................................................................     $250
Tom Pelizza, Kinray....................................................................................................................     $500
Stewart Rahr, Kinray.................................................................................................................     $3,000
Michael Rothstein, Kinray...........................................................................................................     $500
Joann Santarelli, Kinray..............................................................................................................     $500
Bill Scheer, Scheer Drugs..........................................................................................................     $300
James Schiffer, Jim & Phil’s Family Pharmacy...........................................................................     $700
Jeff Smith, Kinray........................................................................................................................     $500
Alan Solman, Kings Tribeca Pharmacy.......................................................................................    $100
Frank Wong, RX Center............................................................................................................     $2,000
Viva Pharmacy New York, New York..........................................................................................     $150
Final Total for 2008                                                                                                                       $22,000

The NYCPS Board of Directors appreciates the vote of confidence from our colleagues who have been making these contributions. Thanks you for this support! Can we count on you to join us in this fight to survive in 2011? If you have not already done so, please send in your contribution with the coupon below.