04/08/2025
Dear Friends, as a small, family-owned independent pharmacy dedicated to serving our rural town, we take great pride in providing personalized care to our community. However, the pharmacy industry has become increasingly difficult to navigate. Insurance reimbursements are at an all-time low, drug costs are rising, and we're caught in the middle, trying to navigate it all and keep our doors open. This isn’t just about our bottom line-it's about your access to affordable, reliable care.
The Problem: PBMs and Their Impact
A major challenge we face comes from Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—the middlemen between insurance companies and pharmacies. PBMs are driving up costs and pushing patients toward mail-order services, putting small pharmacies like ours at risk of closure. In 2024 alone, nearly 30 pharmacies in Iowa shut their doors due to these challenges.
What We’re Doing:
This year, we’ve had to make tough decisions. Due to reimbursement losses, we’ve had to refuse filling certain medications-something we never wanted to do. Right now, about 1/4 of the medications we fill are for a loss where insurance doesn’t even reimburse us the cost of the drug. On top of that, 2/3 of our prescriptions are filled at a loss so significant that we can’t even cover the labor it takes to fill them. We're cutting costs wherever we can and that is going to bring some big changes to our pharmacy in the coming months. We ask for grace and patience during this transition as the whole purpose of doing so is to keep the pharmacy open. One exciting development: we’re working to expand the insurance plans we can accept, which means if you've had to transfer your prescriptions to another pharmacy or mail-order, you may soon be able to transfer them back to us! Stay tuned for updates here on our page.
What’s Happening in Iowa Legislation?
There is a chance for meaningful reform in the Iowa Legislature this year. Bills are being proposed that would address PBM practices, including:
•Ensuring pharmacies are reimbursed at rates that reflect the true cost of dispensing medications
•Allowing pharmacies to appeal unfair reimbursement rates
•Giving patients the freedom to choose their pharmacy without PBM restrictions
How You Can Help:
1.Fill your prescriptions with us. Every prescription filled locally helps us keep our doors open and our community supported. Even if you can’t fill prescriptions with us right now, consider stopping by for other needs—supplements, first aid supplies, gifts, or cards. Shopping locally makes a huge difference.
2.Contact your insurance provider. You have the right to ask questions about why your prescriptions are being limited or why you’re being forced to use a specific pharmacy. Let your insurer know you prefer to use a local pharmacy and that it’s important to you.
3.Advocate for change. Reach out to your local state representatives and let them know you support legislation that will benefit local pharmacies and patients by keeping affordable, quality pharmacy care in our small community. Visit https://patientsfirst.org/iowa to learn more and take action.
Thank You for Your Support
We are so grateful for the trust and support you’ve shown us over the years. We are committed to serving you for decades to come, but we need your help. Without significant changes to the industry, it’s hard to see how we can survive the next few years.
Thank you again for being part of our pharmacy family.
Sincerely,
Sam and Kyle Youngblood
And our wonderful pharmacy staff
