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At 11:14 AM on November 2, I shopped at Kinney's Pharmacy in Elizabethtown, NY to purchase COVID test kits due to known exposure to COVID 19 on a business trip. When I asked if they sold COVID test kits, I was told by the counter clerk that they had them behind the counter, and the clerk sold me 2 test kits for about $50. I later learned that I am entitled to 4 free test kits per month, for which the pharmacy would be reimbursed by Medicare. When I called to complain, I was told that they would not take the test kits back, nor would they reimburse me for the $50 out of pocket cost I paid them, and I should have gone to the pharmacy in the back of the store to purchase the kits. I believe this is a predatory practice and many other Medicare-eligible customers have been charged for kits that should be have reimbursed by Medicare. No signs are present at the register, and the clerk made no attempt to let me know the kits might also be available at the pharmacy, where I could purchase them at no charge.
Desired outcome: and posting of signs or instruct front counter staff to alert customers test kits are available at the pharmacy with no payment out of pocket.
Store Manager had been on vacation...called me first thing in the morning on her return a few days later and said (1) She would issue a refund for the test kits and file for reimbursement from Medicare, and (2) The front desk employee who did not tell me about the kits in the pharmacy was instructed to let customers know about these other test kits, and (3) Would speak to her regional manager about how they can handle these situations sensitively where reimbursement is available for test kits at the pharmcy counter. I visited in the afternoon to fill a prescription. The pharmacy gave me a refund for the kits that I should not have paid for, and gave me an additional 2 kits under the 4 kit per month allotment that is reimbursable under Medicare, They were polite and helpful, and, in the end, I am happy with the resolution.
