Michelle Britt on the Three Forces Reshaping Independent Pharmacy Economics

Independent pharmacies have long functioned as a first line of health care access for millions of Americans, but a stack of financial pressures is testing how many can keep their doors open. In the first installment of a video interview series with Michelle Britt, senior vice president, retail independent pharmacy at Cardinal Health, Britt lays out the forces squeezing independent pharmacy owners and how many are responding by rebuilding their business models around new sources of revenue.

The pressure is not abstract. A recent National Community Pharmacists Association survey found that 30.3% of independent pharmacists said they were considering closing their business in 2025, and 96.5% said PBM and plan reimbursement for Medicare Part D threatened the viability of their business.¹

For many owners, the math simply doesn't work: unpredictable payment timelines and mounting administrative overhead compound the strain on already thin margins.

Yet independent pharmacies remain deeply woven into the broader health care access chain. Research shows that community pharmacists are currently the most frequently visited health care providers, with the average patient seeing them up to 35 times a year for services ranging from immunizations to chronic disease management.² That level of contact, Britt says, is exactly why the loss of an independent pharmacy ripples far beyond the prescription counter and into the community it serves.

In this segment, Britt outlines the three forces she sees driving the financial squeeze on independent pharmacies, rising operating costs, unpredictable cash flow and reimbursement shortfalls, and details how owners are building diversified revenue through wellness programs, preventative health services, and expanded clinical offerings to stay financially viable while deepening their role in patient care.

References

1. Gallagher A, Nowosielski B. Over 300 pharmacy closures reported in the last 3 months. Drug Topics. August 4, 2026. Accessed August 19, 2026. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/over-300-pharmacy-closures-reported-in-the-last-3-months
2. Nowosielski B. Retail closures threaten pharmacy access in vulnerable communities. Drug Topics. July 10, 2026. Accessed August 19, 2026. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/retail-closures-threaten-pharmacy-access-in-vulnerable-communities