A Letter to Our Colleagues at CVS Health: From Independent Pharmacies Across Tennessee

To the pharmacists and technicians working behind the counters at CVS,

We want to start with something that matters more than anything else in this conversation—you.

With the recent passage of the Tennessee FAIR Act, there’s been a lot of discussion, noise, and in some cases, misunderstanding about what this means and who it’s about. So let us be very clear:

This is not about you.

This is not directed at you, your coworkers, or the profession you represent so well every single day.

From independent pharmacies across Tennessee, we want you to know—we see you, we respect you, and we stand with you.

You are incredible professionals who continue to show up for your communities. You serve patients with compassion, accuracy, and care in an environment that many people outside the pharmacy world simply do not understand.

You work under intense pressure.

You face unrealistic metrics.

You navigate staffing challenges, long hours, and constant demands.

And yet—every day—you still take care of patients.

You still answer questions.

You still catch errors.

You still put people first.

And somehow, you still manage to do it with a smile.

That matters. And we recognize it.

What This

Is

About

The FAIR Act is about addressing systemic issues—specifically, the role of PBMs and the structures that impact how pharmacies are reimbursed, how patients access medications, and how care is delivered across the state.

It is about accountability.

It is about transparency.

It is about sustainability—for all pharmacies.

Independent pharmacies are advocating for the ability to continue serving their communities without being reimbursed below cost or being subjected to opaque pricing practices.

But none of that changes this truth:

We are all pharmacists. We are all technicians. We are all in this profession for the same reason—to take care of patients.

To You, Directly

We know many of you are operating within systems you didn’t design and policies you didn’t create.

We know you don’t control the PBM.

We know you don’t set the reimbursement.

We know you don’t create the pressure you’re under.

But you carry it anyway.

And you continue to show up.

That deserves respect.

Moving Forward—Together

This moment in Tennessee is not about division between pharmacy settings.

It’s about recognizing that the challenges facing independent pharmacies and chain pharmacies are more connected than they are different.

We all feel the strain.

We all see the impact on patients.

We all want better.

So as conversations continue around the FAIR Act and what comes next, we want you to hear this clearly:

We are not against you. We are with you.

We respect your work.

We respect your resilience.

And we respect the care you provide to your patients every single day.

Final Thought

At the end of the day, no matter where we practice—independent, chain, hospital, or otherwise—we share the same calling.

And that’s something no legislation, no business model, and no corporate structure can take away.

We are all on the same team.

With respect,

Independent Pharmacies Across Tennessee