By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Independent pharmacies are upset about the state education employees' health insurance program's decision to change prescription benefit managers. Starting October first...Express Scripts will take over the drug program for the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Program -- or PEE-HIP. Independent pharmacies say they're NOT going to sign with the new program because its reimbursement rates are too low. Blue Cross Blue Shield had been the administrator for the program. The program serves 200-thousand education employees and their families, or about five percent of Alabama residents. State officials say all the major pharmacy chains have agreed to sign with the program. Officials with Saint Louis-based Express Scripts did not comment on the situation.