I am pleased to be a board member with Small Business Pharmacies Aligned for Reform (SPAR), a group of Floridian neighborhood pharmacists and other advocates who care about preserving patient access and keeping drug costs affordable. Our goal is to champion legislation that will promote neighborhood pharmacies’ ability to continue providing medications and care to the local patients and communities they serve.
In today’s competitive environment, it’s never been more important for small businesses to have an ally. Independent pharmacies in Florida are among the most affected. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, these businesses have stumbled on troubling times. Rising levels of burnout and lower reimbursement rates from corporate middlemen are making it more difficult for these independent pharmacists to survive.
One of the primary issues is that our state’s pharmacists simply have too much on their plate. On top of dispensing prescriptions to their patients, these pharmacists are also spending time vaccinating patients, counseling them on best practices as they manage their conditions, and educating the community on public health initiatives. As it becomes increasingly challenging for these pharmacies to navigate a complicated healthcare system, Florida’s independent pharmacists don’t have much time to spend on administrative paperwork.
Thankfully, many independent pharmacists in our state contract with Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations (PSAOs), who handle most of their administrative needs. Not only do PSAOs assist independent pharmacies with back-office service and compliance with federal and state regulations, but they also work alongside independent pharmacies in their contract negotiations with PBMs. Our state’s independent pharmacies often have no choice but to contract with PBMs, which operate in an increasingly consolidated industry.
As pharmacists receive lower reimbursements and struggle to sell their medications above cost, the value PSAOs provide is immeasurable. Their industry expertise ensures that the business needs of independent pharmacies are met without wasting the time of pharmacists who should be spending their time caring for patients.
For Florida’s small business owners and their employees, analyzing their performance and ensuring a sustainable path to growth can be the most challenging day-to-day task. However, since PSAOs take on the most tedious, time-consuming responsibilities of pharmacists, they help prevent burnout and make the pharmacy profession more sustainable for the next generation.
As someone who advocates for these business owners, I have seen the crucial role PSAOs play in allowing independent pharmacies to thrive, and I’m committed to fostering and strengthening these relationships well into the future. Hopefully, with the support of PSAOs, more independent pharmacists will survive the recent wave of pharmacy closures and continue to serve the vital health needs of their communities.
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