In his State of the Union address last week, President Biden doubled down on this commitment to decreasing drug prices by expanding the number of drugs subject to Medicare negotiations. However, Congress and his Administration have yet to address the middlemen who control these prices.
Millions of Americans may be stripped of the most accessible healthcare professional in their communities in the coming months. An all-out attack is being waged against community pharmacies. This battle, years in the making, has reached a tipping point, and Congress just shelved one of the only lifelines.
Often cited as one of the most trusted professionals, community pharmacists have continued to operate in an environment of decreasing payment for the life-sustaining medications they dispense. Sadly, your community pharmacy is likely filling your prescription at a loss. If this continues, local access to medications and free healthcare advice will be lost.
