(Washington, D.C.) — Today, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) released new data that provides a snapshot of the health of independent pharmacies in the United States. The findings reveal that the overall number of independent pharmacies in the U.S. grew from 2025 to 2026, according to new data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP), analyzed by Quest Analytics. The NCPDP is a national accreditation organization for pharmacies.

This year, there are 67 more independent pharmacies operating in the United States than in 2025.

David Marin, President and CEO, PCMA, made the following statement on the independent pharmacy market: 

“PBMs could not do their job without independent pharmacies, and it’s welcome news that their numbers grew in the last year. PBMs have changed business practices in recent years to support independent pharmacies, including implementing programs that reimburse using ‘cost-plus’ formulas, paying pharmacists for the clinical services they deliver, and expanding reimbursement for rural independent pharmacy locations. Today, PBMs are reimbursing independent pharmacies at higher rates than chain pharmacies.

“PBMs continue to play a positive role in the drug supply chain, helping patients safely access and afford the medicines they need. As policymakers continue to look for ways to make prescription drugs more affordable, they should focus on the ways that drugmakers game the system to keep prices high and the role of large wholesalers in setting the prices pharmacies pay for the medicines they dispense.”

Additional background showing a healthy independent pharmacy market and PBM support:

• From 2015 to 2025, the number of independent retail pharmacies nationwide increased by 321 stores or 1.4%. In contrast, the number of retail chain pharmacies decreased by 5,742 stores or 14.1%.
• A recent academic study shows that for all prescription drugs, PBMs are paying independent pharmacies on average higher rates than pharmacies that are affiliated with PBMs.
• Pharmacy benefit companies are working with rural independent pharmacies to increase reimbursement to help them provide high quality care to patients.
• There are more independent pharmacies today than there were 10 years ago.

View full infographic on 2026 pharmacy market data HERE.