The Missouri Pharmacy Association , a professional association for druggists, is raising concerns over what it calls potential issues threatening the future of patient care in community pharmacies. Matt Hartwig, Immediate Past President of the Association, says lower cost medications don’t always serve the needs of patients.

The Association is particularly concerned with mail order pharmacies and the $4 generic drug programs, such as the one started by Wal-Mart. The Association says its concern is not that the lower prices are hurting the small pharmacies and their economic viability, but that patients are not getting the care and attention they have with the smaller drug stores.

Download/Listen: MPA Past President Matt Hartwig (:20 MP3)