Hamilton Discount Pharmacy

04/20/2026

If you have depression, your healthcare provider may recommend antidepressants, a group of medications that can help treat symptoms. There can be stigma and confusion surrounding their impact and their use, so here are a few common myths debunked.

04/17/2026

Spring cleaning? Start with your medicine cabinet! In honor of Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day today, take a moment to clear out expired or unused medications and dispose of them safely to help protect your household.

04/16/2026

It’s Get to Know Your Customer Day! We love serving this community. Stop by and say hi!

04/15/2026

Shop our selection of over-the-counter allergy products and find relief from your most bothersome seasonal allergy symptoms. Speak with our pharmacist to learn more about the products we recommend for your specific needs.

04/13/2026

Not sure what to believe about environmental allergies? Here are a few common myths clarified.

04/10/2026

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders that adults in the U.S. face. If you’ve been feeling down, empty, or unlike yourself for two weeks or more, it’s a good time to reach out for professional support. A healthcare provider can help you find a treatment plan that fits you, whether that’s talk therapy, medication, or both.

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

Everyone knows about Big Pharma, but they aren’t the biggest problem anymore. Pharmacy Benefit Managers have been operating in the shadows and have far outpaced Pharma. From John Winnett

The Quiet Monopoly Over American Prescriptions — And Why It Should Matter to YOU

New data from Drug Channels Institute (March 2026) confirms it: in 2025, just three companies — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx — processed 80% of every prescription filled in the United States. But market share alone doesn't tell the full story.

🏢 THE VERTICAL INTEGRATION PROBLEM
Each of these PBMs is owned by a parent company that also controls major health insurers, retail and mail-order pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, and physician practices. CVS owns Aetna and Caremark. Cigna owns Express Scripts. UnitedHealth owns Optum Rx and has acquired physician groups nationwide. The AMA reports 77% of commercial and Part D enrollees are in plans where the insurer and PBM are vertically integrated. The entity managing your drug benefits is the same one profiting at every link in the chain.

💰 THE COST TO PATIENTS IS STAGGERING
The FTC found these three PBMs marked up specialty generics — including cancer and HIV drugs — by hundreds and thousands of percent at their own pharmacies, generating over $7.3B in excess revenue from 2017-2022. They reimbursed their own pharmacies at higher rates than independents on nearly every drug examined and earned another $1.4B through spread pricing alone. Those costs flow to patients and employers through higher copays, premiums, and deductibles.

A 2026 Tennessee audit found that CVS Caremark consistently reimbursed its affiliated pharmacies (i.e., CVS Pharmacy) at a drastically higher rate (up to 16,500%) than it did independent pharmacies (e.g., NPS Pharmacy). This is called "spread pricing."

⏳ THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION CRISIS
PBMs use prior authorizations and restrictive formularies to override physician clinical judgment daily. A Johns Hopkins review found PA delays cause measurable harm across oncology, cardiology, behavioral health, and pediatrics — with even 1-3 week cancer treatment delays correlating with worse survival outcomes. The AMA reports 94% of physicians say PA delays necessary care, and 29% have witnessed it lead to hospitalization, disability, or death.

💊 THE INDEPENDENT PHARMACY SQUEEZE
Independent pharmacies — often the only accessible option in rural and underserved communities — are being systematically driven out through below-cost reimbursement and prescription steering. The FTC found PBM-affiliated pharmacies controlled 44% of the commercial specialty generic market, with 72% of those drugs marked up over $1,000 per fill. Even in states with "any willing pharmacy" laws, narrow networks and differential reimbursement eliminate patient choice.

The companies deciding which drugs you take, what you pay, where you fill, and how long you wait are the same ones profiting at every single step. This isn't a functioning market — it's a tollbooth!

DEMAND elected officials support : HB1959/SB2040 (TN)

DEMAND transparency and accountability! Your health (and life) depends on it!!

04/07/2026

Today, we join the world in promoting access to care and a healthier future for all.