Michigan Business Beat | Miguel Rodriguez, American Pharmacies - Rapidly Closing Indep. Pharmacies

Jeffrey Mosher welcomed Miguel Rodriguez of American Pharmacies, a national organization testifying in Lansing this month about the rapid closure of local, independent pharmacies that serve Michigan patients in the healthcare system. Miguel Rodriquez, Executive Vice President & General Counsel with American Pharmacies Re: Michigan legislative hearings on rapidly closing local independent pharmacies Q1: Miguel Rodriguez, Executive Vice President & General Counsel with American Pharmacies, is here to talk about the loss of local independent pharmacies taking place across Michigan and how state lawmakers are now looking at the reasons why this is happening. Miguel, thanks for joining us today. Tell us about the American Pharmacies organization? Q2: Families in rural and urban communities rely on their neighborhood pharmacists for prescriptions, medical advice, and personal support. Unfortunately, we’re seeing more pharmacies closing their doors, especially local independent pharmacies. What is the situation here for independent pharmacies? Is this a Michigan or a national problem? Q3: We’re seeing many communities being called “pharmacy deserts” due to closings. What does that mean? Q4: Why are independent pharmacies struggling? Q5. We are hearing a lot about PBM’s these days. Can you briefly explain what PBMs do? Q6: At the Capitol Building, the closure of independent pharmacies is being reviewed by the Michigan House Oversight Committee’s Public Health and Food Security Subcommittee. The first of several hearings was held earlier this week. What is being looked at, to better understand the cause of closings of community independent pharmacies? Q7: What do independent pharmacists need from this legislative review? Q8: What is next in this process?