How Big Pharma Legislation Threatens Your Access to Affordable Medicine
Major pharmaceutical legislation—like a new law passed in Arkansas—are rapidly reshaping access to affordable medication across America. These recent policy shifts, pushed by Big Pharma and seen in 2025, target Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) by prohibiting them from owning or operating pharmacies, leading to significant real-world consequences for working families, minority communities, and rural residents.
What’s Happening: Legislative Attacks on PBMs and Pharmacies
Arkansas’ New Law (Act 624): Starting January 1, 2026, PBMs cannot own, manage, or control any pharmacies in the state. This means large companies like CVS Health—owning both retail pharmacies and a major PBM—must close dozens of outlets or divest entirely in Arkansas.
Nationwide Ripple Effects: This move signals a larger push for similar laws in other states, threatening further pharmacy closures and cost increases.
Who’s Behind It?
Big Pharma-backed politicians have championed these bills, claiming they will eliminate “conflicts of interest” and reduce prices. However, industry stakeholders and independent observers warn these changes could actually raise drug costs, cut off specialty and mail-order pharmacy access, and force patients to travel farther for their medications.
Real-World Impact: Closures and Rising Costs
Pharmacy Closures Surge
Nearly one in three retail pharmacies closed between 2010 and 2021 nationwide. Closures have hit minority and rural communities hardest: Black and Latino neighborhoods see pharmacy closure rates up to 12.6% for chain locations, compared to much lower rates in white neighborhoods.
2024 alone saw over 2,200 pharmacy closures—an average of eight per day—with big jumps in areas already facing healthcare disparities.
Arkansas’ new legislation could force CVS Health to shut its 23 retail pharmacies statewide, directly impacting access for thousands of patients who rely on these outlets for affordable and convenient care.
Prescription Costs on the Rise
Brand-name drugs account for 77% of all prescription spending, with prices tripling for specialty drugs to exceed $52,000/year as of 2025.
When competition shrinks (fewer PBM-owned or affiliated pharmacies), fewer negotiated discounts are available—resulting in higher premiums, bigger deductibles, and less affordable out-of-pocket expenses for families.
Drug prices are climbing well above inflation: in 2023, nearly 46% of price hikes outpaced the CPI, with average increases of 15.2% ($590 per drug product annually).
Communities Hit Hardest
Minorities and Underserved Neighborhoods: Black and Latinx populations face dramatically higher closure rates, worsening “pharmacy deserts” and resulting in poorer medication adherence and increased hospitalizations.
Rural Americans: Rural areas lost up to 9.8% of their small retail pharmacies in recent years. Residents routinely drive 20-40mi farther for basic pharmacy services after local closures.
Veterans and Chronically Ill: Laws banning PBM-affiliated mail-order and specialty pharmacies disrupt national medication programs for veterans and patients with complex conditions, slashing both affordability and access.
What Does This Mean for Families?
The growing wave of big pharma legislation risks:
Less access to medication and healthcare advice, especially in struggling communities.
Higher drug prices for everyone, not just the uninsured or underinsured.
A shrinking safety net for those who depend on stable pharmacy networks—including veterans, the elderly, and families with chronic illnesses.
Your Voice Matters
Share your story and join the Save My Pharmacy coalition. With data showing that pharmacy closures and higher drug costs disproportionately affect everyday Americans—especially in minority and rural areas—it’s vital to advocate for policies that safeguard pharmacy access and keep medicine affordable for all.
About Save My Pharmacy
Save My Pharmacy (SMP) is a national coalition of community advocates healthcare professionals united to protect access to affordable prescription drugs and essential pharmacy services. We advocate for policies that preserve a robust network of pharmacies—independent, retail, chain, and PBM-operated—serving minority communities, rural areas, and veterans. In the face of Big Pharma–backed legislation that threatens to shut down pharmacies and raise drug costs, SMP works to ensure every American has nearby, affordable, and reliable access to the medications and care they need.
