Medavie, Shoppers Drug Mart can't reach deal; card will no longer be accepted at pharmacy

This could be an interesting situation. If Shoppers is able to win this battle, I would think they would try similar tactics in other provinces.

From the Fredericton (NB) Daily Gleaner:
Most Atlantic Canadian Shoppers Drug Marts will stop accepting the Medavie Blue Cross card for prescription drug payment next week.

Shoppers and Medavie have been unable to reach an agreement on a new payment schedule. This means people with a Blue Cross drug plan who go to Shoppers for their prescriptions will have to pay the full cost up front and seek reimbursement from Blue Cross later.

Medavie spokesman Mike Randall said there may be an easier way for people who don't want to make the trip to a Blue Cross Quick Pay outlet or send their reimbursement forms through the mail.

"The easiest and simplest way would be to head to another pharmacy close to you, ask the pharmacist to transfer the prescriptions and they'll take care of the rest," Randall said, adding there are still more than 600 pharmacies in Atlantic Canada that accept the card.

"Then there will be no out-of-pocket expenses for you and you'll get seamless continuous coverage."

Medavie Blue Cross has been in discussions with pharmacies in the Atlantic region over the past few months about introducing a new payment schedule "designed to reflect ongoing changes in prescription drug landscape in Atlantic Canada, and Canada, particularly with generic drugs," said Randall. ...more