Apothecary+ Membership Includes Recyclable Vials

A few weeks ago we announced our Apothecary+ pharmacy membership program.

Like an avalanche, our community said, “We got you!” and joined. Even if they didn’t really need to.

The result of the overwhelming support had a two-fold effect:

First, the membership benefit of exclusive access to our recyclable, cardboard prescription vials was made completely inclusive. So many folks signed up, we could afford to roll this out to everyone, and completely eliminate the need to order plastic vials.

Second, we’ve been re-thinking what membership really could be.

In This Article:

• What Apothecary+ Membership Was
• What Apothecary+ Is Now
• Subscribe to Apothecary+

Here’s what Apothecary+ pharmacy membership was:

• A way to support us (above and beyond the way everyone else is)
• A way to get the BEST pricing on medicine (when a drug is not covered by your insurance, or you have to pay out of pocket for any other reason)
• A way to get 10% off all pharmacy OTC items all year

Here’s what Apothecary+ membership now is:

All the above, PLUS:

• A way to get recyclable cardboard prescription vials
• A way for us to crowd-source initiatives that we want to provide, but can’t (because we can’t get blood from the insurance industry stone)

It’s that last one that really struck me as the right thing to do. Here we have all these people spending $60/year that don’t have to. While I’m always looking for excuses to buy a new pinball machine, this money should NOT be padding our bottom line. Instead, it should be used to ensure that we can support a supportive community the best.

Learn More: The Overlook: Village Apothecary Weighs Ending Loss-Making Scrips, Citing `Predatory Reimbursement Practices’

Here’s what’s coming:

• We’re using some of the funds to enhance a vaccine service we provide. Details to follow.
• We’re working on a program with Moderna to provide vaccines for uninsured or underinsured patients. For free.
• We’re allocating a few bucks to a “reservoir,” in the event someone who really needs medicine has insurance that is underpaying us or refusing to cover something vital.
• We’re keeping at-home delivery of medications completely free.

In the past, pharmacies like mine would compete by going above-and-beyond. In this environment, we just can’t do those great things, and it really hurts me mentally.

Apothecary+ membership is how we can do that once again.

If you’re not a member, please consider joining. It helps you directly. It helps us be better in the face of this healthcare industry calamity. It helps the community get access to a higher level of pharmacy care.

Learn More: The Chronogram: How PBMs Are Squeezing Independent Pharmacies in the Hudson Valley—and What We Can Do About It