Minnesota's independent drug store owners are asking for help from the state legislature.
The St. Paul Corner Drug store first opened its doors in 1922. The owner, John Hoeshen, says without help from the state they could go under after over 100 years in business.
"If we're taking a 50, 60, 70, 100 dollar loss on one prescription, there's no way we're going to be there," says Hoeshen. "That model doesn't work in any business."
Hoeshen is in support of a package of bills designed to address several issues including the end of a federal program that paid for vaccinations during the pandemic. He says they also have to deal with what are called 'pharmacy benefit managers' who control much of the process, including where a person can get their prescription filled.
Hoeshen also warns they are constantly losing money because the federal government does not reimburse them enough for those on medicaid.
DFL State Representative Kristin Bahner (Maple Grove) says without action, many pharmacy services, including vaccination and point of care testing, will be lost when the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act expires at the end of the year.
"It ensures that fully credentialed, trained pharmacists, supersized pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy interns who are an essential part of the care continuum, they continue to perform basic immunization and testing services in the pharmacy setting," explains Bahner. "As they have throughout the pandemic and are currently providing for Minnesota patients and families."
Bahner says in Minnesota, about 35% of all independently owned pharmacies have closed their doors since 2018. She says the bill can provide better care both in rural and urban settings in Minnesota along with keeping costs to consumers down.