It’s not even legal for them to try to compete. Even if someone preferred to pay more for the convenience the brick and mortar shops aren’t allowed to charge a premium over the online pharmacies.
According to one of my local pharmacies (that closed in the last year), there are laws in some states preventing brick and mortar stores from imposing additional fees over online pharmacies. Reference in a sibling comment.
There is no law against a pharmacy owner from charging whatever they want.
However, most pharmacies enter into contracts with various groups, such as the government, insurance companies, etc so that they effectively give away their right to charge what they want.
> There is no law against a pharmacy owner from charging whatever they want.
On closing, one of my local pharmacies claimed otherwise and referenced the following:
> states have enacted legislation prohibiting certain PBM clients from imposing additional co-payments, deductibles, limitation on benefits, or other conditions (“Conditions”) on covered individuals utilizing a retail pharmacy when the same Conditions are not otherwise imposed on covered individuals utilizing home delivery pharmacies. However, the legislation requires the retail pharmacy to agree to the same reimbursement amounts and terms and conditions as are imposed on the home delivery pharmacies.
Interesting. I guess that sort of qualifies, even though a pharmacy owner can technically choose to not enter into any agreements.
The government is at the root cause of wanting to squeeze all players in the healthcare business, since public rancor reached a tipping point in the late 2000s and ACA was passed. Pharmacists just got shafted first because they were the easiest to squeeze due to supply and demand. Doctors were next with the insertion of physician assistances and nurse practitioners.
