LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Independent pharmacies are becoming scarcer across the country, with more than 90 closing in Michigan in 2024 alone. Owners say this could leave communities without access to critical medicine.
Local pharmacy owners say much of this is because of policy practices within the industry that are squeezing independent operations out of business.
“We’ve seen several pharmacies in the last couple of years have to close,” said Heather Russell, who owns Central Pharmacy in Perry and Williamston. “Yesterday, on a Monday, we filled 400 prescriptions, so that’s just in one day.”
Russell says ongoing issues with reimbursement from pharmacy benefit managers, or PBM’s, have many shops like hers closing their doors…