For years, independent pharmacists have faced a lack of action from both our state legislators and the U.S. Congress, who have continued to pass up opportunity after opportunity to enact meaningful legislation to protect the longevity of community pharmacies. 

The community pharmacy infrastructure across our nation is crumbling: pharmacies, both independent and chain, are closing due to chronic under-reimbursement; pharmacy workers are burned out from poor staffing and an increasing workload; and pharmacy owners continue to face the daily struggle of striking the precarious balance between taking care of our patients and keeping our doors open and the lights on. We need our legislators to FIGHT BACK WITH US, NOW.

While we're thrilled to have gained a few key wins during the 2025 Minnesota State Legislative Session—including establishing a single PBM (SPBM) model for Medicaid patients using a fair reimbursement rate and short-term Directed Pharmacy Payment Program (DPPP)—there's still MUCH work to be done to ensure that independent pharmacy care will remain accessible and affordable to American communities. The DPPP remains held up in the federal government, awaiting approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since July 2025; a recent passage of PBM reform language in a budgeting bill by Congress was a good start, but not nearly enough; and we now fear a decrease in interest on the Hill in continuing to pursue truly comprehensive pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform. While we continue our hard work on the ground to improve Minnesota statute, those efforts do not affect reimbursement under the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program or Medicare, which collectively account for nearly 100 million lives. Passing the Pharmacists Fight Back in Medicare and Medicaid Act (H.R.6609) and Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act (H.R.6610)—collectively, the Pharmacists Fight Back Acts (PFBA)—at the federal level would be GROUNDBREAKING for independent pharmacies and the communities we care for across the country. 

As independent pharmacy owners, pharmacists, and other pharmacy workers in the great state of Minnesota, we the undersigned, along with the patients we care for, implore our legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives to join Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL—4th District) in cosponsoring PFBA and fighting for a future in which independent pharmacies and their patients aren't just able to survive, but thrive. 

Yours in health,

The MNIndys Pharmily (Minnesota's independent pharmacy owners, pharmacists, and other pharmacy workers) & our patients

To learn more about our organization, which represents the interests of Minnesota's independent pharmacies and their patients, please visit mnindys.org and consider subscribing to our occasional newsletter, the MNIndys Mailer on our SUBSCRIBE page!