New pharmacy open for business

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Tom?s Pharmacy, inside Tom?s Family Market in downtown Onaway, welcomed its first customers Dec. 21.

With more than 80 percent of their third party billing partner contracts finalized, the owners of the family-owned business were pleased to get the new endeavor underway. The pharmacy, which will be headed up by Brent Craig, who has 33 years of experience in the field, is located just past the service counter and cashiers on the north side of the building, in area once used for office space.

?It?s been slow, but we expected that,? said Ryan Howell, who coordinated the business? effort to establish the pharmacy. ?People have to run

out of what they already have, and then they?ll be looking to get them refilled. The people in town have been thrilled that we are open.?

HOWELL SAID more customers were served Monday (Dec. 28) than all of last week. The pharmacy is accepting Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicaid, Medicare part D, Access Health, Medco, Humana and CareMark. Howell said they are waiting to complete third party contracts with Cigna and Aetna.

There only have been some minor glitches in getting things up and running. Owner Tom Madison decided to bring in a pharmacy when Great Northern Drug closed earlier this year.

The pharmacy window will be opened Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. An after-hours drop box will be available for anyone who wants to leave their prescription and have it filled first thing the next morning.