The predatory price pressures exerted by the big PBMs, were highlighted in a National Public Radio story. Basically, big data, big pharmacy benefits managers, big box pharmacies are putting enormous pressure on the small, independent community pharmacies. Small pharmacies have a tougher time absorbing abrupt price manipulations and delays in payments used by PBMs.
But help is on the way. The FDA has approved a new technology which could be the savior of the small, independently owned pharmacy – the time machine. By faxing orders back to approximately 1984, consumers are able to save thousands, and pharmacies can operate without predatory pricing pressures.
In the absence of such an intervention, what will become of small, independently owned pharmacies?