Why Advocacy Is Essential for Independent Pharmacy Survival

From the general work and services they perform to vocal action in Washington and state capitol buildings, pharmacists are entrenched in the fight to advocate for their profession and elevate their role in US health care. And for the many that wish to see the profession move forward and expand, experts believe pharmacy advocacy is a necessity.

“Advocacy really is so important to, and essential for, policymakers to understand the impact of the requirements and the decisions that they're making, and why community pharmacy matters,” Kenzie Hohman, PharmD, national vice president of community pharmacy solutions at Cencora, told Drug Topics®. “When we think about community pharmacy, it's not just about dispensing prescriptions; these settings are helping patients navigate care, manage their chronic conditions, and really ensure access to care for essential services, immunizations, and so much more. And there's a lot of great examples of what advocacy leads to.”

On this week’s episode of the Over the Counter podcast, Hohman and her colleague, Scott Stoll, CEO of Moreland & Devitt Pharmacy, laid bare the stark reality that independent pharmacies are locked in an ongoing battle for their very survival.

The 2 joined us to explain that advocacy is an absolute prerequisite to counter the devastating loss of community pharmacies across the country. Stoll, a business-focused leader rather than a pharmacist, emphasizes that every voice counts because the industry cannot sustain losing a pharmacy a day as seen in recent years.

For him, this fight culminated in a historic decision to close all of his pharmacy locations for a legislative day, the first closure outside of federal holidays in the company’s 65-year history, to lobby in Springfield, Illinois, and demand systemic legislative reform.

The Power of Grassroots Mobilization

Stoll’s proactive approach illustrates how complex legislative issues can be transformed into a local call to action. According to a news report, the pharmacy was awarded Good Neighbor Pharmacy’s 2026 National Advocacy Pharmacy of the Year honor for its work in pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform and community engagement.¹

By using grassroots guerrilla marketing, including banners with QR codes, Stoll's team empowered their community to send over 650 letters to elected officials in just 2 weeks. As Hohman explains, community pharmacies are vital health hubs helping patients navigate care and manage chronic conditions, meaning their survival directly impacts local health access.

The Devastating Rise of Pharmacy Deserts

This localized battle reflects a severe national emergency. As detailed in a Cencora report, declining reimbursement rates and rising operational costs are driving rapid pharmacy closures, creating a ripple effect that reduces patient access to essential immunizations, health screenings, and face-to-face care.²

The scope of this crisis is quantified by additional experts, who report that over 29% of pharmacies in the US closed between 2010 and 2021. These closures create pharmacy deserts, where residents lack reasonable access and must travel more than 10 miles to obtain medications.³

To combat this, experts suggest policy proposals such as targeted incentive programs that offer supplemental dispensing fees to pharmacies operating in vulnerable, underserved areas.

Dismantling Structural Barriers and PBM Control

The root cause of these closures lies in a highly distorted reimbursement system. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) outlines how misaligned pricing schemes and retroactive direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees from PBMs disrupt the pharmacy ecosystem, forcing many pharmacies to shut their doors.⁴

APhA is actively advocating for transparency, PBM reform, and payment for pharmacists’ patient care services under Medicare Part B to ensure independent pharmacies can remain financially viable.

Unlocking the Future of the Profession

To survive, independent pharmacies must also look toward professional evolution. Analysts point out that retail pharmacists are currently held back by a legacy model, spending a disproportionate amount of time counting pills rather than operating at the top of their licenses.⁵

A Deloitte report argues that by embracing automation and securing regulatory changes to achieve provider status, pharmacists can transition into recognized care providers that manage chronic diseases and prescribe acute medications.

As Stoll notes, the future holds more fight, but linking local patient stories with national advocacy networks is the key to driving community pharmacy into a secure, sustainable future.

Stay tuned for weekly podcast episodes of Over the Counter powered by Drug Topics. Check out our most recent episode with Jennifer Griffin, PharmD, MS, and Duane Jones, BS Pharm, from Harps Food Stores. They explored the power of pharmacists as independent prescribers and their potential for expansion in the greater health care ecosystem.

REFERENCES

1. Bauer DCL. Moreland & Devitt Pharmacy earns national advocacy honor. My Journal Courier. August 24, 2026. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/moreland-devitt-pharmacy-national-advocacy-award-22399346.php

2. Pharmacy deserts: identifying challenges and addressing gaps in access to healthcare. Cencora. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.cencora.com/resources/pharmacies/addressing-pharmacy-deserts

3. Murphy M, Rodis J. The growing crisis of pharmacy deserts. April 28, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://pharmacy.osu.edu/news/growing-crisis-pharmacy-deserts

4. APhA advocacy issues. American Pharmacists Association. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/Advocacy/Issues

5. The future of pharmacy. Deloitte. Accessed September 2, 2026. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/industries/life-sciences-health-care/articles/future-of-pharmacy-disruption-opportunities-challenges.html