Oklahoma markets itself as a “business friendly” state without the burdensome rules and red tape that have held back states like California. That reputation, however, is being jeopardized by a series of attempts by policy makers to insert anti-business, Big Government mandates into our health care sector.
The latest instance of government overreach is a proposed rule submitted by the Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy to the Oklahoma Legislature for approval. This proposed rule adds costly regulations governing how prescription drugs can be sent through the mail, including regulating the temperatures at which those drugs are shipped. That is not just a solution in search of a problem; the rule is also intentionally designed to make mail-order delivery of prescription drugs unaffordable. In fact, The State Chamber estimates the increase in cost to be $23 per package.
Further, if implemented this rule would make Oklahoma the only state in the country mandating these shipping regulations. It would do so without any large-scale or professional scientific research supporting the need for costly and burdensome new regulations.
As written, this proposed rule appears to be intended to drive consumers away from receiving mail-order medications, thereby shifting business toward local pharmacies (think of this as Blockbuster hamstringing Netflix, for pharmacies). While this shift may be a savvy business move, it’s bad news for Oklahomans on a fixed income who rely on more affordable mail-order services; bad news for rural Oklahomans who may have to drive a long way to their pharmacy; and flat out dangerous for elderly or disabled Oklahomans who are physically unable to get out of the house. Legislators should reject this rule, and their constituents should hold them accountable for doing so.
Ericka McPherson
3/23/2023
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