Thanks for joining us, 35%. That's how many independent pharmacies have closed their doors in Minnesota over the last six years. According to lawmakers, it's a trend they say is leading to health care deserts across the state. Now, the legislature is looking to slow those closures down. John Croman has the very latest from the Capitol. And the fact that pharmacies all over Minnesota are closing is very, very alarming. There is currently no pharmacy within Northern Minneapolis and several neighbo
rhoods throughout ST Paul. Independent pharmacies are struggling to stay afloat. Minnesota has lost more of them than any other state in the past decade. As a physician, I see every single day the incredible work that our pharmacy colleagues are doing. Senator Alice Mann is backing bills that would allow pharmacists and other pharmacy employees to keep giving vaccinations and administering some test things they were allowed to do on an emergency basis during the pandemic for so long. Pharmacists
have advocated to get more authorities to do more things and, and now we have them. Well, we need to be paid as such, being paid. Another bill would increase reimbursement rates at a time when main street drugstores like Kevin E Drugs and Winstead are losing money filling prescriptions, pharmacies contract with pharmacy benefit managers. Pharmacy benefit managers set the price that we re reimburse. They also choose what drugs are in the formulary. Unfortunately, we can't really call these contr
acts or agreements because it's basically you take it or you leave it. The people at Saint Paul Corner drug which has been here more than a century. See the pending legislation as a lifeline until the prescription payment system can be fixed. We're not asking to wheel barrels full of gold out the front door every day. But I mean, we we do need to be made. Hold on on the cost of the drugs and the, and the cost of what it takes to put it together and service the patient. If this continues, we will
not be there. It doesn't matter that it's been there 100 and two years. Supporters of this legislation say it's not just about preserving the American tradition of mom and pop drugstores. It's about maintaining access to health care for a lot of people who might not have any other options in Saint Paul. John Croman Carol E News.
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