Why are Tennesseans—and people across the country—getting alarming messages about pharmacy legislation? Let’s break it down.
Right now, Tennessee is considering legislation to break up pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) monopolies—large corporations that control prescription drug pricing, pharmacy reimbursements, and often own the pharmacies themselves.
If you live in Tennessee, you may have seen dramatic commercials, signs posted at CVS locations, or received text messages urging you to oppose this bill. Many Tennesseans have contacted our office after being flooded with corporate messaging warning that pharmacies will close if this reform passes.
But this issue isn’t just happening in Tennessee.
Across the country—in states like Arkansas, Utah, and Missouri—independent and rural pharmacies have been closing at alarming rates. Many pharmacists say the reason is simple: massive corporate PBMs set the prices, control reimbursement rates, and compete directly with the very pharmacies they regulate.
In this conversation, I sit down with pharmacist and national policy expert Benjamin Jolley to explain:
What pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) actually do
How companies like CVS gained enormous market power through vertical integration
Why independent pharmacies—especially in rural communities—are disappearing
How corporate lobbying campaigns use fear-based messaging to influence public opinion
Why breaking up monopolies is about protecting patients, competition, and community healthcare
This conversation matters whether you live in Tennessee or anywhere else in the country—because prescription drug access, fair pricing, and local pharmacies are national issues.
Why are Tennesseans—and people across the country—getting alarming messages about pharmacy legislation? Let’s break it down.
Right now, Tennessee is considering legislation to break up pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) monopolies—large corporations that control prescription drug pricing, pharmacy reimbursements, and often own the pharmacies themselves.
If you live in Tennessee, you may have seen dramatic commercials, signs posted at CVS locations, or received text messages urging you to oppose this bill. Many Tennesseans have contacted our office after being flooded with corporate messaging warning that pharmacies will close if this reform passes.
But this issue isn’t just happening in Tennessee.
Across the country—in states like Arkansas, Utah, and Missouri—independent and rural pharmacies have been closing at alarming rates. Many pharmacists say the reason is simple: massive corporate PBMs set the prices, control reimbursement rates, and compete directly with the very pharmacies they regulate.
In this conversation, I sit down with pharmacist and national policy expert Benjamin Jolley with American Economic Liberties Project to explain:
What pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) actually do
How companies like CVS gained enormous market power through vertical integration
Why independent pharmacies—especially in rural communities—are disappearing
How corporate lobbying campaigns use fear-based messaging to influence public opinion
Why breaking up monopolies is about protecting patients, competition, and community healthcare
This conversation matters whether you live in Tennessee or anywhere else in the country—because prescription drug access, fair pricing, and local pharmacies are national issues.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about shutting down pharmacies.
It’s about making sure no corporation is powerful enough to set the rules, control the market, and eliminate its competitors all at once.
And if you’ve received a message urging you to oppose this bill, it’s worth asking one simple question:
Who benefits if nothing changes?
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