By Mike Roberts
St. Louis (KSDK) - It's a prescription headache.
As Express Scripts and Walgreens sever ties, thousands of patients are being forced to switch pharmacies or pay drastically higher prices.
Theresa Petry is one of them.
"I heard bits and pieces, something about negotiations gone awry between Express Scripts and Walgreens. But I didn't know what I meant to me until I went to the pharmacy last night," she said.
Some found out the hard way, when they went to pick up their prescriptions at Walgreens.
Laura O'Leary says her two prescriptions normally cost $45. Yesterday she says, "They said well there's an issue with your insurance, it's actually $600. 600!"
The issue is between Walgreens and benefits manager Express Scripts who couldn't agree on a contract.
As of January 1st they severed ties.
An Express Scripts spokesman say their customers previously filled 90 million prescriptions at Walgreens. Now they're taking them elsewhere.
"Walgreens wants as much as 20 percent more to do that same task. We don't think that's fair, our clients don't think that's fair. And overwhelmingly our clients and members have moved on," said Brian Henry of Express Scripts.
But Walgreens spokesman Michael Polzin disputes that.
"That's simply not true. In fact in mid-December we made our best effort to try to reach an agreement with Express Scripts and avoid all the disruption that's happening now," said Polzin.
Polzin says they proposed keeping their rates at the current level, but were re-buffed.
Now they say they're offering discounts on their own Prescription Savings Club for customers who want to stay or trying to ease the transition for those who don't.
And as customers leave Walgreens, stores like Schnucks have been inundated with new business.
"We've been planning for this since December. So we've added staff to many of our pharmacies," said pharmacy supervisor Bob Buganski.
They've even got a team set up to ease the transfers.
Dierbergs too has been advertising to lure Express Scripts customers.
Target, Walmart, CVS and Shop N' Save are also taking customers, though some stores say the transition might take a day or two.
Petry says that's what she was told.
"Thankfully it wasn't something I needed right away," she said.
O'Leary adds, "It's a little bit more of a hassle now but now I know and I won't make the mistake again."
If you are transferring pharmacies, you can either bring your empty prescription bottle or just call the new pharmacy and they'll guide you through the process.
While many people are switching, Walgreens says 120 of their Express Scripts clients have taken steps to stay with them.
KSDK