The phrase “sounds too good to be true” is, unfortunately, often accurate. From suspiciously low-cost vacations to a dream job with unreal perks, offers that seem unrealistic usually are. This is no different in the pharmacy industry, where many vendors hide fees behind bells and whistles.
To help you avoid this, we asked some of our in-house experts for the top 3 things to look out for when it comes to hidden costs from a pharmacy software vendor.
Red Flag #1: A Completed Prescription Fee
Prescription fees are unavoidable in the pharmacy world, but if your vendor mentions “a completed prescription fee” somewhere in the fine print, it may be costing your business extra money. This term means that your pharmacy will be charged on all of its prescription fills, including those paid in cash. Not only is this a drain on your pharmacy’s finances, but it raises the cost of medication for your patients as well, adding to frustration levels.
Red Flag #2: Additional Fees for Integrations
It’s not uncommon for pharmacy software to require additional modules depending on the end user’s specific needs. A pharmacy with multiple specialties will require a different configuration than a pharmacy that mainly deals with vaccinations and prescription fills, after all. But how much will adding on these modules cost you? Some vendors provide users access to all of their modules in their monthly or annual fee, but others charge per module often without making note of these potential fees in an initial contract. Things like IVR, robots for automated prescription distribution, and patient portals—if they’re not included in your pharmacy’s original software agreement they can rack up costs when they’re added on.
Red Flag #3: “As Low As”
As a pharmacist, you know how important it is to provide your patients with the quick, efficient care they’ve come to expect. Allowing them to fill eScripts goes a long way in establishing a positive, lasting relationship with your patients. However, these options aren’t without their drawbacks. All vendors charge switch fees—but some are far higher than others. Even if the cost is touted “as low as” one to two cents a prescription, if your pharmacy cares for a large number of patients, that number will quickly add up.
How to Avoid These Hidden Costs at Your Pharmacy
Ideally, your current vendor isn’t nickel and diming you with any of these hidden fees. If they are, , it may be time to consider switching to a vendor that keeps your pharmacy’s financial health in mind.
TDS is the leading independent pharmacy solution vendor that works with pharmacists to enable them to diversify and improve their profitability through patient-centric care and clinical opportunities. Our diverse and robust features help our customers—independent pharmacists and their staff—navigate the problems facing the future of pharmacy. All of our signature offerings, Rx30, Computer-Rx, and PrescribeWellness, have all been designed to bridge the gaps in coverage that many other pharmacy solutions can’t cover. As the only complete solution with paid clinical revenue opportunities integrated directly in workflow, TDS proudly champions a patient-centric approach to pharmacy care.
Click here to learn more about why our software has found a home in thousands of independent pharmacies around the country.
