Independently-owned Kansas pharmacies struggle to stay open

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Independently owned pharmacies in Kansas are having a harder time staying open.

Pharmacy owners said that over time, they are earning less money on prescriptions, and many facilities are struggling to stay open.

They said it all comes back to pharmacies not getting paid enough for medication, eventually forcing them out of business.

Meantime, losing a pharmacy can leave a gap in essential care, especially in rural communities.

“We’re losing money on a lot of prescriptions,” said Sandie Kueker, Harvey Drug owner. “Last month, we lost money in our store.”

Keeping the lights on is becoming increasingly difficult for independent pharmacies like Harvey Drug in Newton.

“So much in regards to our medications and what’s important to us as an individual comes from our pharmacists,” said Nancy Graber, Harvey Drug customer.

AuBurn Pharmacy in Lindsborg is another example.

Customer Marla Elmquist manages not only her medications but the medications of several family members.

“Some weeks, I might fill out 30 different pills, and it’s a lot for me to take care of and remember,” Elmquist said.

Independent-owned pharmacies are in danger of going out of business.

“I know there’s pharmacists and pharmacies across the state of Kansas right now who are facing closure within this next six months to a year if something doesn’t change quickly,” said Michael W. Burns, President and CEO of AuBurn Pharmacy.

Burns said about 30 years ago, insurance companies started working with middle men called pharmacy benefit managers.

More recently, he said, the PBMs have been paying pharmacies less for prescription sales over time.

“30% of all prescriptions that our independent pharmacies are filling, we are being paid less than our cost of medication,” Burns said.

Independent pharmacy owners said they want to see more regulations on PBMs both statewide and nationally.

“We need to have transparency. We need to have fair pay,” Burns said. “They should be required to have a minimum reimbursement to pharmacies.”

Burns said pharmacies can’t continue operating at a loss.

For some, the loss of their local pharmacy would be devastating.

“This is my safety net here,” said Elmquist. “I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

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