By Matthew Vermillion
Lawmakers say House Bill 4457 will support independent pharmacies and help them compete against corporate giants. But the reforms could end up backfiring by shutting down up to 60 drug stores, as well as trusted mail-order services that send drugs straight to people’s homes. As a minister close to my community and a disabled person, I know that would be a disaster.
Folks like me, along with people living with a serious illness, need access to the help and advice that only an expert can deliver — as well as human oversight. When you’re dealing with painkillers or other potentially dangerous drugs, one small mistake can have a huge, even deadly impact. That service can’t simply be replaced by Amazon.
When pharmacies close, life becomes more difficult. I have lymphedema — basically, fluid buildup — in my left leg. The swelling is extremely painful, and even the slightest cut puts me at risk of infection. One of those infections, called cellulitis, was so severe that I almost lost my leg. After that, I had to have my gallbladder removed, and I now suffer from neuropathy — nerve pain — from my knees down.
As a result, I’m in agony all day, every day. Sometimes drugs help for a short time, but then something as small as the weather changing causes the pain to erupt all over again. Plus, I never really know when I will contract another infection, because the neuropathy makes it difficult to feel small cuts on my feet or legs. My toes are totally numb. If they get infected, I might not realize it until it’s too late.
I take painkillers and gabapentin for the nerve pain, as well as a lot of over-the-counter supplements and pills to reduce the swelling in my leg. My wife and I are already struggling with the outrageous cost of drugs. She is unemployed and hasn’t had insurance for a long time. And she’s not the only person I know in a situation like that.
The loss of a pharmacy would affect us in a big way. When these businesses shut down, competition is reduced, and it becomes even harder to shop around for the medicines we need.
We’ll also lose that human touch. My wife talks to our pharmacist all the time. When something changes — like the pills look different — she’ll get on the phone or visit the store to ask why that happened, and she gets a reliable answer from a real person who knows. That little bit of reassurance goes a long way.
I often refer to Matthew chapter 25, where Jesus said that caring for the vulnerable is equivalent to serving God himself. Lawmakers should remember that. I’m not saying pharmacists are saints; they aren’t working for free, nor should they be.
Honestly, maybe some of the folks linked to these organizations are too rich to get through the eye of a needle. But what they are doing is looking after people who need it — the sick, the vulnerable, seniors, and the brothers and sisters in my church family.
Legislators need to understand the true impact of HB 4457. It won’t affect the massive corporations that own pharmacies, because they’ll simply move their money elsewhere. It will be seniors and people with disabilities who suffer — and no responsible politician should want to see that happen.
Matthew Vermillion is an Oklahoma resident and a minister.
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