Community Pharmacy

Independent pharmacies aren’t usually the headline story. They are there quietly running in the background, keeping their communities going. They're the pharmacist who stays late to fill a script, the tech who knows the backstory of everyone in town, the delivery driver who remembers the dog’s favorite treat.

For many pharmacies, prescription dispensing hasn’t been profitable for years. Amid constant PBM pressures, dwindling reimbursements, and slow-going legislative changes, many pharmacies continue to see slim — and often even negative — margins.

If COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that pharmacists are frontline providers. The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, first passed in March 2020, enabled pharmacists to test, treat, and later vaccinate patients during the emerging public health emergency.

Patients across the country are becoming more concerned about how they are going to afford their prescriptions. Even with insurance, out-of-pocket costs can be unpredictable and sometimes higher than expected.

Connect 2026 is right around the corner, and we’re counting down the days until we meet you there. Connect—our annual user conference bringing together the entire RedSail network: PioneerRx, BestRx, NRx, PrimeCare, and Axys LTC—is the best place to be for all things education, collaboration, and inspiration. This year, we’re heading to Nashville, TN to the historic Gaylord Opryland for three action-packed days.

In February 2024, a single cyberattack brought a massive portion of the U.S. healthcare system to a standstill—and left millions of pharmacists wondering not only how they’d adapt to the fallout but how they’d handle future incidents.

When a patient picks up a script and swipes their card at the counter, it should be a routine transaction that puts payment in your pocket. But as independent pharmacists know all too well, it’s never that simple.In the dizzying world of PBM oversight, unpredictable reimbursements, ever-shifting fees, and the skyrocketing cost of credit card transactions, you’re often the last to know what you’ll actually earn on a prescription—and sometimes, you don’t earn anything at all.

Pharmacists' to-do lists aren’t getting shorter. Especially in community pharmacies where pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professional—providing patient care and education every day requires time, energy, and resources, often with minimal to no reimbursement.

The new year is full of new opportunities—and refining your marketing strategy should be at the top of the list in 2026.It’s no secret that pharma marketing is strategic: from doctor detailing and direct-to-consumer advertising to digital engagement, you have to use a variety of channels to reach the right patients with the right message.