The patient facing me across my pharmacy counter in Yonkers had already lost half his right leg to diabetes. What he was about to lose next was access to the medication that might help save the rest of it.

His physician’s office was difficult to reach. His insurer required another prior authorization. The cost of his medications continued to rise. He found himself trapped in a healthcare system that seemed designed to create obstacles rather than remove them.

As a pharmacist, I could explain his medications, identify more affordable alternatives and work with his physician to overcome some of the bureaucratic barriers he was facing. But I wasn’t allowed under current New York State law to provide the ongoing accessible healthcare he needed. It will take both Congress and New York State to change that.

My patient’s story isn’t unique. It reflects a broader problem. As America grapples with physician shortages, rising healthcare costs........

© NY Daily News