[Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

Wed Sep 25 16:19:02 UTC 2024

Interesting. Another member just called me and told me that she had just been charged $23.99 for the labels on her seven prescriptions. Not sure of the math on that one, but she was definitely unhappy that there had been a label charge.

Warmly,

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ellen Ringlein via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 11:54 AM
To: 'NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List' <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Ellen Ringlein <germlish77 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

Hi Chris,

I called James Pharmacy about a prescription this morning and they told me that they have temporarily suspended charging for the accessible labels.

Ellen

-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cdanielsen14--- via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 9:48 PM
To: 'NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List'
<greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Cc: cdanielsen14 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

I'm glad you found an alternative Tracey. If James does not reverse course, I will have to do the same.

Warmly,

Chris

________________________________
From: Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of
tray.1931--- via Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 4:11 PM
To: 'NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List'
<greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Cc: tray.1931 at verizon.net <tray.1931 at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

Clarence and I are definitely impacted by James Pharmacy as well.

We are now with:

Wye Oak Pharmacy,
Phone: 410-536-0555,
Address: 1935 Lansdowne Rd., Baltimore, MD 21227 They do deliver.
-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Othman (She/her), Ronza (CMS/OEOCR) via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 11:18 AM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Othman (She/her), Ronza (CMS/OEOCR) <Ronza.Othman at cms.hhs.gov>
Subject: Re: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

As there are several chapters impacted, and as we are working with the Pharmacy Board on finalizing regs for the new law, the affiliate is taking the lead on this.  I'll respond with more information from my affiliate email.  Please do nothing organizationally in terms of contacting Envision or James until we all get on the same page.

Please do continue to share if you are impacted though so we know who and how many this affects.

Ronza M. Othman (she/her/hers), Director, EEO Compliance Group, Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- 7500 Security Blvd, N3-22-16, Baltimore, MD 21244 - 410-786-3274 (o);
443-380-5044 (f)

CMS aspires to create: a culture that values and recognizes our employees'
unique identities and perspectives; an environment that provides all employees with equitable access to opportunities for growth and development; and a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Danielsen, Chris via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 11:13 AM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>
Subject: Re: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

It occurs to me that we might also want to reach out to Envision America to find out whether they are charging pharmacies more and why. If that is the case, I do understand their (James)position a little; they are thinking of it as passing on the increased cost of a service to the consumers who use it. That's an unreasonable position to take from our perspective, but as a purely cold business calculation, without regard to disability law or simple principles of equity, it makes sense. Just because we're mad at them doesn't mean We shouldn't try to understand their position and help them figure out other solutions if we can, as Melissa says. But the conversation I had made me angry because I felt like my loyalty as their customer for something like a decade now apparently means very little to them. If they are truly struggling, then I would think the loss of any business is a problem.
I still think we may need to vote with our feet, as it were, to help them think about whether imposing this service charge on us is ultimately good for their bottom line or not.

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Danielsen, Chris via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 11:02 AM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>
Subject: Re: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

Hi Melissa and all,

I had not received a text and initially had trouble believing this, although I also knew it didn't seem like a phishing scam or anything like that. So I called James Pharmacy and the gentleman I spoke with confirmed it, saying it was due to the increased cost of providing the service. I wish I had gotten his name, but I think he may be the fellow in charge, I have spoken with him before when issues I had were escalated, I think. On the other hand, I could be wrong. I told him politely that I may have to stop doing business with them, because I do not believe that I should be charged a premium for accessibility. His response was, "Okay." I then told him that he might want to investigate whether the charge violates the Mmaryland law coming into effect. His response was, "Do whatever you want to do from your end." He expressed no regret at supposedly having to impose the charge, or that I would consider leaving as a customer, and no interest in the idea that they might find themselves violating the law. I do not know what steps we want to take from here, but I suspect that my own immediate one will be to follow thru on my statement that I will not do business with them. I think the charge is probably wrong in any event, but the fact that they do not seem to value me enough as a customer to even discuss it with me in a manner that indicates whether they give a damn about me remaining a customer  is not encouraging. I suspect 'education" is not going to be the way to get them to back off.

Warmly,

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore <greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Melissa Riccobono via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 10:36 AM
To: greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org
Cc: Riccobono, Melissa <melissaariccobono at gmail.com>
Subject: [Greater-Baltimore] James Pharmacy

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering who uses James Pharmacy. My family and I use them, and I just received a text saying on September first they will begin charging $3.99 for each Script Talk label requested. They say this is necessary due to increased cost of maintenance and materials. They are calling this a service charge.

I know that in January, 2025, the bill we helped advocate for stating all pharmacies will need to provide accessible prescription labels will go into effect. So I'm guessing that in January this charge will not be legal.
Something tells me it may not even be legal in September. Seems as if just because we happen not to be able to read a medication bottle does not mean we should be charged in order to receive the information in a way we can access it when everyone else gets that information for free.

So, I wanted to bring this to the attention of others who might use James Pharmacy, and also try to figure out what we can do to educate them about the law. Also, a part of me does feel for them if costs are truly increasing that much. They are a community pharmacy, which is why I like to use them.
They were offering Script Talk before many other pharmacies in this area were. It's not as if they have a large parent company who can come in and help absorb increased cost. It does seem though, that if they had a service charge of 25 or 50 cents on each prescription they sold, even just for a little while, they could raise the money they would need without putting the burden on only the blind customers. If they stated that money would be used for general pharmacy and technology upkeep, I would pay it gladly, and not bat an eye, and I think others would as well. I'm sure there are other things they could do, or maybe even other resources such as grants available to them as a small business that could pay for these increased costs. I don't want to run them out of business by any means. On the other hand, I would be tempted to take my business elsewhere instead of paying $3.99 for each label I request. That seems quite high to me.

What are other's thoughts. How can we work together to educate and give feedback as customers? Please let me know. You can reply to this message if you want to keep your comments on the list for all to see, or you can contact me directly.

MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com <mailto:MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com>

Thanks,

Melissa

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