At Centrum Pharmacy, we believe patients should always have the freedom to choose where they fill their prescriptions and access pharmacist care. Unfortunately, recent practices by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) threaten that choice through a tactic known as “patient steering.”
What is Patient Steering?
Patient steering happens when private insurers or PBMs direct patients to specific pharmacies within their Preferred Provider Networks (PPNs)—often large, corporately owned chains or mail-order services. Patients who don’t comply may face:
- Higher out-of-pocket costs
- Loss of drug plan coverage
- Travel burdens if no PPN pharmacy is nearby
- No option for in-person pharmacist consultation when restricted to mail-order
This is not about patient care—it’s about controlling prescriptions and profits.
Why the CPhA is Sounding the Alarm
The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) has strongly opposed payer-directed care, stating it:
- Compromises the trusted relationship between patients and their pharmacists
- Creates conflicts of interest when PBMs are owned by insurers or drug companies
- Places independent pharmacies at a competitive disadvantage, threatening their survival
The CPhA is calling for federal and provincial regulation to:
- Restrict or ban unfair PPN arrangements
- Ensure fair competition between pharmacies
- Establish conflict of interest safeguards
- Enforce transparent, standardized audit practices so pharmacies aren’t unfairly penalized
- Protect patients’ right to free choice of pharmacy
Why This Matters for Patients in Orleans and Beyond
At Centrum Pharmacy, we see every day how important continuity of care is for patients. Our Complete, Comprehensive, Caring, Connected Care model depends on the pharmacist-patient relationship—not on a corporate algorithm deciding where you can go.
When patients are “steered” to a distant chain or forced into mail-order dispensing, they lose:
- Face-to-face counselling on medications, side effects, and lifestyle
- Trusted relationships with local pharmacists who know their health history
- Integrated care, especially when linked to their family doctor at Orleans Family Health Clinic
PPNs aren’t about saving patients money long-term—they are about centralizing power and squeezing out independent pharmacies.
Our Commitment at Centrum Pharmacy
- We fight for your right to choose your pharmacy
- We provide seamless, in-person support for complex prescriptions, chronic conditions, and new therapies
- We collaborate with your doctors for better health outcomes
- We ensure prescriptions are filled quickly, safely, and without corporate interference
You deserve care that is about your health, not about an insurer’s bottom line.
If you’ve been told you must go elsewhere for your prescriptions, come talk to us. Our team will help you navigate your coverage and protect your right to choose Centrum Pharmacy for the care you trust.
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Come for the Convenience, Stay for the Service.
Caring for Your Family Since 1999
Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.
