08/17/2026
Monday Morning Brain Firings From An Independent Pharmacist With A Sore Knee And 2 Cups Of Homemade Coffee In The Bloodstream:
WHY DO WE KEEP PUSHING FORWARD?
Is it the money?
Absolutely not.
Independent pharmacy has never been an easy business, but in 2026 the financial pressure continues to be relentless. PBM reimbursement, shrinking margins, rising costs and contracts that can sometimes reimburse pharmacies at or below their cost have pushed community pharmacies across the country to the breaking point. In a recent national survey, more than 30% of independent pharmacists said they were considering closing their pharmacy.
So no, money isn't what keeps us going.
Over the years, we've had plenty of opportunities to take the easy way out. The Big Boys have sent their emails and made their offers to purchase our prescription files, eliminate another independent competitor and move our patients somewhere else.
It would be easy to give in and walk away, wouldn't it?
Well...
They can keep their 30 pieces of silver.
I won't be changing my name to Judas Iscariot anytime soon.
So why do we keep pushing forward?
The answer is actually pretty simple.
WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.
That's why Valley Pharmacy exists.
Our team genuinely cares about helping people to the absolute best of our professional and legal ability. We LIVE for it.
We love DeMotte. We love Wheatfield.
We love these communities.
We love the local businesses around us.
And most importantly, we love the people who trust us with their health and their families.
We want to make the kind of difference that matters.
Sometimes that's solving an insurance problem. Sometimes it's finding a medication someone can actually afford. Sometimes it's answering a question when someone is scared. Sometimes it's simply taking the extra few minutes to listen.
And there's something else I've learned:
Helping other people is good medicine for us, too.
There is an incredible feeling that comes from knowing you made someone's day a little easier or their life a little better.
My parents raised me to be a fighter. They taught me to work hard, stand up for what I believe is right, and do the right thing even when the easier option is sitting right in front of you.
That's what we're going to keep doing.
As long as this community continues to support us, we're going to keep fighting for independent pharmacy, fighting for our patients and fighting to keep healthcare local.
Thank you for choosing Valley Pharmacy.
Thank you for trusting us.
And thank you for giving us a reason to keep pushing forward.
Much love,
Mike, Trina & the entire Valley Pharmacy crew 💚
VALLEY PHARMACY
Independent. Local. Here for you.
