"The busier you are, the more money you lose," points out MNIndys Vice President and owner of St. Paul Corner Drug, John Hoeschen, RPh, during a recent interview with Twin Cities Business Magazine alongside his daughter and MNIndys Executive Director, Hildie Hoeschen, RN.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finally approve Minnesota’s State Plan Amendment (SPA) for a Directed Pharmacy Payment Program (DPPP), which MNIndys helped passed in the Minnesota Legislature during the 2025 session. The program was intended to be implemented on July 1st, 2025, but has faced delays.

In a 59-18 vote largely along party lines, the Assembly passed the Democratic-sponsored bill to rein in pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, a measure supporters say would level the playing field for community pharmacies and give patients more choice in where they get their drugs.

MNIndys Founder & President Deborah Keaveny, RPh—ongoing owner of the Keaveny Drug location in Winsted, MN—has made the impactful decision with her husband Kelly (also a pharmacist) to re-purchase their Cokato location after its majority owner declared insolvency last month.

Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill that would block certain companies from owning a pharmacy while also owning a pharmacy benefit manager and health insurance issuer.

It’s a start… but not even close to the kind of comprehensive legislative reform we need.