County to consider employee pharmacy

Hamilton County employees soon may have their own pharmacy, similar to the one for employees of the city of Chattanooga.

At an agenda meeting Thursday, county commissioners discussed a proposed contract with OnSite Rx to manage the county's pharmacy, which would be located at the McDaniel Building on Highland Park Avenue.

The county will pay the company roughly $200,000 a year to manage the facility, according to information from the company and the county Department of Human Resources.

Rebecca Hunter, the county's director of human resources, said the contract was not bid because it's considered a professional service.

Commissioner John Allen Brooks told Ms. Hunter and Dan Doebler, a managing partner in OnSite Rx, that he has serious concerns about the county creating a pharmacy for its 1,900 eligible employees.

"I have a problem with us getting into the pharmacy business," he said.

Mr. Doebler and Ms. Hunter said the county likely will see $2.3 million in savings with the pharmacy over the next three years.

Mr. Brooks later said he had concerns about the pharmacy's hours being accessible for employees.

County Mayor Claude Ramsey told the commission the pharmacy would be flexible with its hours.

Mr. Doebler said the pharmacy will allow the county to buy from drug wholesalers, saving taxpayers money.

Richard Beeland, a spokesman for Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, said the city's pharmacy, which opened in 2009 and also is managed by OnSite Rx, has been a huge success. "It's translated into savings on employee medical costs," he said. "It's so popular, we're looking for another location to expand."

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