Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs raises pharmacy labor fees, citing inflation

It seems no one is immune to inflation, and that includes Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs. The billionaire’s company plans to raise its pharmacy labor fee from $3 to $5 per prescription, according to an email sent to customers on June 2.

Cost Plus Drugs cited “rising pharmacy labor costs” for the change, which will take effect Sept. 1.

“We understand that this may be an inconvenience for you and want to give advance notice to allow you to plan accordingly,” the email said. “Our top priority is to continue to provide safe, affordable medications with transparent pricing. The fee increase will help maintain the level of service that you have come to expect from us.”

Cost Plus Drugs offers prescription drugs at lower prices than its competitors because the company negotiates with drug manufacturers directly to buy the products at wholesale prices. The online pharmacy sells the drugs to customers with a 15% markup, a (now) $5 pharmacy labor fee to cover the pharmacists’ labor costs, and a shipping fee.

Since the fee is applied per prescription, Cost Plus told customers their doctor could prescribe a longer supply of medications, which would minimize the customer’s pharmacy labor fees.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs did not immediately respond to Healthcare Brew’s request for comment.