09/16/2025
Why We Are Closing in Vanceburg
Many of you have been asking why Osman Pharmacy is closing our Vanceburg location. We want to be honest and explain the biggest reason: PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers).
PBMs are companies that sit in the middle between pharmacies, drug makers, and insurance companies. They:
Decide which medicines your insurance will cover
Decide how much the pharmacy gets paid when we fill a prescription
Charge insurance companies for your medicine, but keep a large majority of the money
Do not pass the savings on to the pharmacy, the insurance companies, or the patients
The problem is, PBMs often pay pharmacies less than what the medicine costs us to buy. Imagine if you sold a sandwich for $5, but the company paying you only gave you $4 back — you’d lose money on every sandwich. That’s what happens to pharmacies every day with many prescriptions.
Large chain pharmacies can sometimes handle these losses because they have many stores and special deals with PBMs. But small, independent pharmacies don’t have that power. Over time, losing money on prescriptions makes it almost impossible to stay open.
This isn’t just happening here. Across Kentucky, at least 67 independent pharmacies closed in 2023, and over the last two years, nearly 100 more have shut down.
We want you to know this closure is not because we don’t care. It’s because the system is unfair and has made it impossible for us to keep the doors open in Vanceburg. We are deeply grateful for the trust and friendship you’ve given us through the years.
➡️ If you want to help, please contact your federal and state representatives and senators and let them know how important independent pharmacies are to our communities. Your voice can make a difference in fixing the PBM problem.
With sincere gratitude,
Your Osman Pharmacy Family