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Bentley Pharmacy merging with CVS
Cites changes in health care industry, high cost of being independent store
Published Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A staple of the Ironton business community is ceasing to exist in its present form.
Bentley Rxpress Pharmacy, at 505 S. Third St., announced Monday it was merging with the CVS Pharmacy at 518 S. Third St. The last day for customers to visit Bentley’s location is Wednesday. That store has been in business 18 years.
Pharmacist and owner Dan Bentley declined to comment directly on the merger but did issue a written statement saying that the merger was in the best interest of his customers and the Bentleys.
“It is with both a heavy heart and faithful spirit that we tell you Bentley Rxpress Pharmacy is merging with CVS …” the statement said. “… as the insurance industry continues to change the climate of health care, operating an independent pharmacy has become an extremely difficult endeavor. Government price controls, the Medicare Part D program and most recently the lowered Ohio Medicaid dispensing fee projected for 2010 have presented many perils for independent pharmacy small business owners and their ability to survive. Our hope is that someday our legislators recognize the vital role pharmacists play as health care providers and the value they add to the economy.”
The statement said both Dan Bentley and his wife, Cheri, will join the CVS staff. All patient records at the Bentley location will be transferred to the CVS store.
A representative of the CVS store said a written statement from the corporation was forthcoming.
The announcement caught some Bentley customers by surprise.
Michael Nash of Ironton said he has been a customer at the independent store for several years. He said he found out about the merger from a friend over the weekend.
“I wish they had given us more notice,” Nash said. The merger presents a problem for Nash, who receives Social Security and has someone who handles his financial affairs.
“They (Bentley) would let you charge for your medicine and then a payee would pay it. CVS is taking over and they won’t let you do that,” Nash said. “I talked to Staley’s and Staley’s will do it.”
Bentley’s written statement said customers may continue to dial the old Bentley pharmacy telephone number and reach the CVS store.
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Comments
Posted by TAJ_1 (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's sad when a locally owned business can't make it because of today's business climate and the way health care reimbursements are handled. That's also the reason you don't find very many independent doctors' offices anymore. I'm sure those $4 scripts at Walmart and Krogers had an impact as well. Bentley's pharmacy provided a level of personal service and community support the big chains will not offer. The store will be missed.
Posted by pinkpearl6886 (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow so sad everyone is so friendly and you actually know them by name and they knew you. Hopefully Staleys will make it I dislike CVS AND WALMART
Posted by tigerdad (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They need to have drive up window installed at cvs. This makes it easier for customers with handicap's and quicker service like bentley's has
Posted by tmarie (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dan i hate to see you go, you have been in bussiness since my daughter was a newborn and you were the only one i trusted to take care of all her prescriptions. Best wishes to your family
Posted by indieVoter (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm no fan of cvs or wal mart either. Still, if we have to measure the business climate I'd say that we should look elsewhere.
There are a lot of ways to make a profit in our country that don't involve getting a premium payment for health care and prescription drugs. Besides, the owners still managed to parachute out keeping jobs for both of them.
These people aren't new to the challenges of capitalism anyway. I do believe that, after Tipton's grocery closed, they set the rent so high on the bakery (in the back of their building...the old Tipton's building) that it put an end to any chance of Ironton having a "Tipton's bakery" (without the grocery). The owners of Bentley's didn't get all emotional when it came to the bakery so let's not get all bent out of shape now. Life goes on.
Posted by billco (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pink, i switched from cvs to staleys on ninth st, they are very helpful and what i like best is you can call a rx in and they fill it right away, i don't think i've cault them in a bad mood, always ready to help, more than i can say for cvs.
Posted by awhite (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, there is a pharmacist at CVS that is VERY rude. I am sure she has ran several customers off from the 3rd Street site. When Bentley's closes their doors, I will be switching to Staley's as well.
Posted by tracorn (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i must agree with the rudeness at cvs and walmart the employees there have never been friendly with my family i have been using the cvs pharmacy in ashland, much better place it is sad in todays world that big companies have to be rude i wish we could go back to the old days when people cared...
Posted by summerrain (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sorry to see another local business swallowed up by
the Wal-Mart black hole...When will it end? We will certainly
miss the Bentleys and his friendly staff, but will follow him to
CVS. Best of luck to you.
Posted by DeputyBill (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 3:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad to be a christian. The Bentleys did an injustice to one of my children a few short years back. With out going into detail I was mad as a bat. Then this grudge I carried for so long ended when I read what God promise he would do to any one who hurt one of his. I am not going to rejoice. Wrong thing to do. But you no longer work or own your business,and now your working for the man. YOU TAKE ORDERS now. You should have gave people more time to pick another place to go besides CVS. But CVS knew you had all accounts and that's what they were counting on. Wake UP Ironton don't wait, go now get your records and find someone else before you are dictated into some where you don't want to be. Choose your own pharmacy.
Posted by riverrat (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, but i for one will not miss bentleys. I got fed up with sitting at the window waiting to DROP off a Rx while the ladies inside chatted. The stupid window was not worth the wait and it was not a convienance. I could be in and out of Staleys faster. Jim Staley's is superb and did you know they deliver!
Posted by oldad1958 (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that it is ironic that Dan use to talk about CVS because they sold liquor, and now he is going to work for them! He had better find a prescripion for his forked tongue...
Posted by tigerdad (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Guess I could use the Rite Aid they have a drive up window
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe that people can't wait to mean mouth Dan.
Deputy Bill if you are so glad to be a christian did you do the biblical thing. Did you go in private to Dan before you decided to gossip about him? If you are gonna gossip, tell the whole story. This way you might reveal who you are.
Posted by tigerfan101 (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i don't understand if anything goes out people always blame it on Wal-mart and that's not true.alot of business have to invest in merging to keep their head above water because of bad economy that has hit our country everybody is struggle but us good Americans will make it through these hard times.
Posted by PrayUSA (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have been satisfied customers of Bentley Rxpress for 11 years, we will miss the personal care & concern we always received. Danny and Cheri have very generous hearts. Danny, aka Dr. Dan is a Godly man, a patriotic man and asset to our community. God Bless you, Danny and Cheri we'll miss doing business at Bentley Rxpress, but will see you at CVS.
T & D, Russell, KY
Posted by flo (anonymous) on November 21, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How can Bentley's transfer your prescriptions to CVS without your written consent. Isn't it against the law to give your info to someone else?
Posted by huedawg (anonymous) on December 6, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It should be noted that Bentley's did not "merge" with CVS, however, CVS bought them out . There was no "merger" at all .
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