[Winona Online Democracy] With all the talk about Part D Medicare -- this was very interesting about what a small town Druggist in Minnesota is doing. Wonder why that isn't done here and everywhere? Craig Brooks
Related to the drug prices there was a very interesting piece on national CBS news Nov. 21st. - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/21/eveningnews/main1065310.shtml?CMP= ILC-SearchStories About a small Minnesota town's drug store that charges way below what the drug companies want him to. Wonder how long until they force him to change. web page content -- A Prescription For Price Relief ASHBY, Minn., Nov. 21, 2005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- (CBS) Sharon Martinson was as concerned as anyone about prescription drugs. After all, she's a professional care giver. But CBS News correspondent Lee Cowan reports that now that Martinson is 62 and her health has begun to fail, pushing pills became personal. Her prescriptions came to $800 a month, which she simply couldn't afford. "I so much as went to the doctor and said 'Is there any thing, any one of these that I can get off of?' and he said 'no,'" Martinson says. Then, she heard about this tiny pharmacy in the middle of a Minnesota cornfield, where a young pharmacist was offering the same drugs that cost her $800 — for just $200. His name is Jim Witt. Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you — he's almost single handedly taking on the pharmaceutical industry. "If my cost for a bottle of pills is, ya know, a dollar," says pharmacist Jim Witt. "Why should I charge $25 for that?" There's no gimmick. Instead of charging what the drug companies suggest for their generic drugs, he charges about what he pays. Imagine — drugs near cost. Witt points to one medicine which costs about $15, as opposed to what a drug company suggests he should charge — $198. Witt's goal: to try to keep his prices between 35 and 40 percent less than the so-called discount pharmacies. "Every little helps now days," says customer Harold Larson. But Witt admits it's a risk. By not charging the mark up on generic drugs, it comes out of Witt's pocket at the end of the day. "I could be charging more but I wouldn't feel right about it," Witt says. It started out as just a little home town hospitality, but it's catching on. His corner drug store — the only one in this town of about 500 — is now getting inquiries from all over the country. He hopes the volume may one day make up for whatever losses he's taking — proof he says that good business doesn't necessarily mean bad medicine. For Sharon Martinson, it was nothing short of a miracle. "I was just blessed," Martinson says. "I was just blessed." A David in a sea of Goliaths, dispensing relief in more ways than one. ©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
