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Dems: Postal schedule must protect Rx deliveries
Lawmakers urged the U.S. Postal Service Wednesday not to enact reforms that would prolong the delivery of mail-order prescriptions.
A group of 88 House members, mostly Democrats, expressed concerns that some patients might suffer under the U.S. Postmaster General's plan to impose a five-day delivery schedule for letters.
"Whether it is a homebound senior that cannot walk or drive to the pharmacy, or a veteran who lives in a rural area with limited access to the prescription drugs they need, all of these home-delivery beneficiaries cannot afford to go without their medications for days," lawmakers wrote in a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.
Donahoe has said the service is losing $25 million every day. His plan would end Saturday letter delivery starting in August but preserve six-day package delivery. Fully implemented, the limited schedule would save $2 billion annually, according to estimates.
The plan caused a stir on Capitol Hill and raised the stakes for a postal reform deal some leaders say will conclude within months.
In their letter Wednesday, lawmakers noted that some medications are sent in small envelopes, or through First-Class Mail, which could hamper their on-time delivery under Donahoe's plan.
The letter was distributed by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents pharmacy benefit mangers.
