Delays in Prescription Drug Deliveries via USPS Alarm Senate Democrats

Strategic Insights -

US pharmacies have reported significant delays in delivering prescription drugs shipped via the US Postal Service (USPS) since Postmaster General Louis DeJoy took over earlier this year. A new staff report from Senate Democrats, led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey, has found "significant and increasing" delays in the delivery of prescription drugs. The report, based on information from five major pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers, indicates that delays in average delivery times have increased by 18-32%, with some pharmacies reporting delays of up to 49%.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senate Democrats' report found significant and increasing delays in the delivery of prescription drugs via USPS.
  • Five major pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers reported delays in average delivery times, ranging from 18-32%.
  • One pharmacy industry organization representative reported a 49% delay in USPS prescription deliveries.
  • The report noted that a representative of a major pharmacy industry organization informed Warren and Casey that one of its members had observed delays in delivery times of 49% for USPS prescription deliveries.
  • Only one of the respondents reported that they were "not experiencing any unusual delays in deliveries."
  • The Postal Service has blamed recent service disruptions on the coronavirus pandemic and is "aggressively" working to return to normal performance levels.
  • The report notes that the investigation was conducted in light of the changes DeJoy made this summer that caused widespread delays across the country.
  • The House Democrats continue to investigate DeJoy over the changes he made to the USPS.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs has been forced to find alternative ways to ship mail-order prescriptions for patients whose medication is delivered by the USPS due to the nationwide slowdown caused by the changes.

Statistics:

  • 18-32% increase in average delivery times for five major pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers.
  • 49% delay in USPS prescription deliveries reported by one pharmacy industry organization representative.
  • 25% increase in delays for the United States Postal Service (USPS) delivering mail-order prescriptions for the Department of Veterans Affairs over the past year.
  • 90% of all VA mail order prescriptions are delivered by the USPS.

Sources:

  • Senate Democrats' report, conducted by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bob Casey.
  • Statement from Dave Partenheimer, spokesman for the Postal Service.
  • CNN report on the Department of Veterans Affairs being forced to find alternative ways to ship mail-order prescriptions.
  • Statement from Disabled Vets of America, the national commander of the veterans group.