Independent pharmacies across the United States are under mounting financial strain, with a significant portion of owners now weighing whether to shut their businesses entirely.
A recent National Community Pharmacists Association survey found that 30.3% of independent pharmacists said they were considering closing their business in 2025.
The same survey revealed that 96.5% of respondents said PBM and plan reimbursement for Medicare Part D threatened the viability of their business.
Michelle Britt, senior vice president of retail independent pharmacy at Cardinal Health, has been speaking publicly about the forces reshaping the economics of independent pharmacy ownership.
Britt identifies three core pressures driving the financial squeeze: rising operating costs, unpredictable cash flow, and chronic reimbursement shortfalls from payers.
These challenges are not isolated to one region or pharmacy size, but represent a systemic problem affecting independent operators nationwide as costs continue to climb.
Independent pharmacies have historically served as a first line of healthcare access for millions of Americans, particularly in rural and underserved communities where larger chains have limited presence.
The financial pressures now threatening that access are prompting many owners to fundamentally rethink how their businesses generate revenue and deliver care.
Britt outlines how owners are responding by expanding into wellness programs, preventative health services, and broader clinical offerings to build more resilient and diversified revenue streams.
These expanded services allow pharmacies to deepen their role in patient care while reducing their dependence on traditional prescription dispensing margins, which have been eroded by reimbursement cuts.
The shift represents a meaningful transformation in what an independent pharmacy actually does, moving from a primarily transactional model toward a more comprehensive community health provider model.
Cardinal Health, which supports thousands of independent pharmacy operators across the country, has positioned itself as a key partner in helping owners navigate this transition.
Britt’s commentary forms part of a broader video interview series examining how independent pharmacy owners are adapting to an increasingly difficult operating environment.
The stakes are high for communities that rely on these businesses, as each closure removes a trusted, accessible healthcare touchpoint that is difficult to replace.