Governor JB Pritzker announced last Friday that 434 Illinois pharmacies will receive nearly $25 million in the first round of funding from a new state program aimed at supporting pharmacies at risk of closure, particularly those serving rural and low-income communities.
The funding, established through bipartisan legislation signed into law last July, is part of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act. Each eligible pharmacy will receive $56,892, with the funds distributed equally to help sustain their operations, expand business hours, and introduce new services such as telepharmacy, remote consultations, and medication delivery.
“Local pharmacies are often one of the most accessible and affordable points of care for working families, seniors, and Medicaid patients — providing medications, vaccinations, and trusted health care services,” Pritzker said in a news release.
The legislation also introduced new regulations on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), companies responsible for negotiating drug prices between health insurance plans and pharmaceutical manufacturers. PBMs have come under scrutiny for practices that critics say prioritize profits over patient savings, including steering patients to their own affiliated pharmacies. The new law prohibits PBMs from directing customers toward pharmacies in which they have a financial stake and requires them to pay a fee based on the number of Illinoisans enrolled in their plans.
The first $25 million in fees collected under the law were placed in a special fund for independent pharmacies, who can use the money as they see fit.
The program, administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in partnership with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, prioritized small independent pharmacies with fewer than 10 locations and those in underserved areas. Pharmacies in 252 cities across 94 of Illinois’ 102 counties are benefitting from this first round of support.
A full list of pharmacies receiving funding is available at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website: https://dceo.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dceo/downloads/illinois-pharmacy-support-program.xlsx