Some Warren County residents who have their prescription coverage through UPMC Health Plans will be looking for new pharmacies or new insurance, or paying out-of-network rates soon.

At the same time, local pharmacies may be losing patients.

According to Gaughn’s Drug Store, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) has announced that “some UPMC Health Plans issued letters to patients informing them that their local, independent pharmacy would no longer be a part of the retail network as of Jan. 1, 2023.”

Gaughn’s Pharmacist/Owner Scott Newton said, “This is not only affecting us and our patients. Tops, and CVS are also being cut out of the network without any warning or choice.”

According to a Thursday search of a UPMC Health Plan pharmacy finder, “multiple pharmacy networks will be available starting Jan. 1, 2023.”

Walmart, Sheffield Health Mart Pharmacy, and Darling’s Sugar Grove Pharmacy were the only pharmacies in Warren County in the UPMC Essential Pharmacy Network. CVS, Tops, and Gaughn’s were listed under the category of “national network.”

According to PPA, “Affected customers include individuals who purchased insurance independently through the marketplace, which in Pennsylvania is known as Pennie, and any business with two to 50 employees who purchased employee coverage through the marketplace.”

“Medicaid and Medicare patients are not impacted,” according to PPA.

The organization asked that individuals and members who received the letters reach out to ppa@papharmacists.com.

PPA gave a site for those who would like to file a complaint. Instructions can be found at insurance.pa.gov/Consumers/insurance-complaint/Pages/default.aspx