Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I am a pharmacist in your district. I am writing to share what pharmacies across Missouri are experiencing due to current Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices, and why PBM reform is urgently needed to protect patient access and the future of pharmacy care in our state.</p> <p>Across Missouri, pharmacists are facing escalating challenges that threaten both the sustainability of our pharmacies and the quality of care we provide. Many pharmacies are being reimbursed below the cost of the medications we dispense, forcing us to operate at a loss on essential prescriptions. These practices make it increasingly difficult for pharmacies—especially independent and rural ones—to remain viable.</p> <p>Patients are also feeling the effects. PBM-imposed restrictions, steering, and delays in approvals create barriers to care, limit their choice of pharmacy, and distort the patient-pharmacist relationship. These obstacles lead to treatment interruptions, confusion, and increased frustration for the very individuals we strive to care for every day.</p> <p>Pharmacists want to continue serving their communities, but the current system is unsustainable. Without meaningful PBM reform, more pharmacies will be forced to close, leaving patients with fewer options and reduced access to trusted, local healthcare providers.</p> <p>Missouri pharmacies are asking for a level playing field—one where reimbursement is fair, patient choice is protected, and pharmacies can focus on what matters most: caring for the people of our communities.</p> <p>Thank you for your attention to this issue and for your service to the people of Missouri.</p>