Council to hold hearings on health plan change

Philadelphia City Council is concerned about the Nutter administration’s decision to charge some city workers more for prescriptions filled in pharmacies that sell cigarettes. 

Council will hold hearings on the city’s plan to charge $15 extra for any prescriptions purchased at pharmacies selling tobacco.  The change, which applies only to city workers who are not represented by unions, is unfair, said Council President Darrell Clarke.”There are broad portions throughout the city of Philadelphia where you don’t have access to stores where you can actually get the prescriptions filled at a reasonable cost,” he said.And Clarke said he’s bothered by the unilateral way the decision was made.”When you are dealing with individuals health care, I believe there should be some level of input,” he said.The city imposed the change as part of its effort to persuade workers to stop smoking.