Blog | United Pharmacy Network

Transparency Is Progress. Better Data Is the Next Step.

On August 31, 2026, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, under Act 77, the Pharmacy Benefit Reform Act, released its first Annual PBM Transparency Report. The report provides a look at manufacturer rebates, administrative fees and pharmacy reimbursement practices within Pennsylvania’s fully insured commercial health insurance market. For independent pharmacies, the report provides useful information—but it also raises important questions about what greater transparency sho

Ram Manda

3 days ago2 min read

Low Reimbursements Are No Laughing Matter

For many independent pharmacies, the punchline is: “And now, let's see how many prescriptions we can fill at a loss.” Except there isn't anything funny about low reimbursements. Low reimbursement is putting pressure on independent pharmacies while labor, inventory, technology, and operating costs continue to rise. While you can't control reimbursement, you can control how aggressively you manage the areas of your business that you can influence. That means taking a hard look

Ram Manda

Aug 261 min read

The deadline moved. The responsibility didn’t.

DSCSA Exemption Extended: What Independent Pharmacies Need to Know For independent pharmacies, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) has created a significant operational challenge: implementing new requirements for tracking and securing prescription drugs while continuing to manage the day-to-day demands of running a pharmacy. The FDA has now provided small dispensers with additional time. The FDA Has Extended the Small Dispenser Exemption The FDA is issuing exemptions

Ram Manda

Aug 112 min read

CVS Just Confirmed What Independent Pharmacies Have Known for Years.

CVS recently opened its first pharmacy-focused store—a smaller format designed around prescriptions, vaccinations, and clinical services rather than aisles and aisles of retail merchandise. To independent pharmacy, this isn't a new concept. It's validation we always knew what was important. For years, independent pharmacies have been providing medication management, immunizations, point-of-care testing, medication synchronization, delivery services, and personalized patient c

Ram Manda

Aug 51 min read

Another lawsuit. Another reminder of why transparency matters.

Henry Ford Health has filed a lawsuit against CVS Health, alleging that millions of dollars in 340B drug savings were improperly diverted through reimbursement practices involving specialty medications. CVS has not been found liable, and the allegations remain to be decided in court. Whether you're a hospital, health system, or independent pharmacy, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: When reimbursement lacks transparency, everyone in the healthcare supply chain is affe

Ram Manda

Jul 291 min read

FDA Approves OTC Nasal Spray

The FDA's approval of a third over-the-counter opioid overdose nasal spray marks another important step in expanding access to life-saving medications. By stocking OTC naloxone products and educating patients, caregivers, schools, businesses, and community organizations on their use, independent pharmacies can further their role as a community healthcare provider by: ✔ Increasing community access to overdose reversal medications ✔ Strengthening public health outreach efforts

Ram Manda

Jul 221 min read

When an Independent Pharmacy Closes, a Community Loses More Than a Business

When an independent pharmacy closes, a community doesn’t just lose a business—it loses healthcare access. Across the country, independent pharmacies are facing unprecedented challenges, and rural communities are feeling the impact. Vermont is a clear example of the growing pharmacy access crisis. A national study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that significant portions of Vermont lack convenient access to a pharmacy, creating barriers for p

Ram Manda

Jul 172 min read