Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 at 9:30 am PT/ 12:30 pm ET
Breaking Up Big Medicine: Why Independent Pharmacy Is Key to Better Benefits
Why are pharmacy costs skyrocketing while the local pharmacies your employees rely on are closing at record rates? Big healthcare and legacy PBMs are to blame. As the largest PBMs tighten their grip on the supply chain, the movement to Break Up Big Medicine is gaining federal and state-level momentum. Supporting pharmacy sustainability is a financial necessity for the modern health plan.
Join SmithRx’s Senior Clinical Strategy Director, Dr. Alissa Johnson, PharmD, and independent pharmacy advocate Dr. Benjamin Jolley, PharmD, for a deep dive into the legislative battlegrounds (from D.C. to Tennessee) and what the survival of community pharmacy means for your plan’s long-term economics.
In this episode, we’ll explore:
How predatory PBM contracts create pharmacy deserts that worsen health outcomes
Bills breaking up big health and why PBMs are spending millions to stop them
How research proves restructuring PBM incentives can drastically lower spend
Speakers

Alissa Johnson, PharmD, BCPS
Senior Director, Clinical Strategy, SmithRx

Benjamin Jolley, PharmD
Senior Fellow Healthcare, American Economic Liberties Project
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