Letter to the Editor: Needs for LTC pharmacies must continue to be met

DATE: January 9, 2026

By Chris Rosile | Published January 8, 2026 in Morning Journal & Salem News

As a nurse anesthesiologist and owner of a nursing practice, I’ve come to really appreciate the collaborative ecosystem that is healthcare. Even something as simple as a prescription shows how interconnected our system is — you’ve got scientists developing treatments, providers making clinical decisions, and pharmacists making sure everything’s used properly, each bringing essential expertise to the table.

Unfortunately, when we overlook the working parts that make our healthcare system function, we risk serious disruption. In under two weeks, that is exactly what will happen to long-term care if President Trump or Congress fails to act.

Long-term care (LTC) refers to the care given to people who are no longer able to perform daily functions by themselves. These patients often live in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. An essential part of this care is managing these patients’ prescription regimens, which can be more than a dozen medications a day.

The backbone of this care are LTC pharmacies, specialized pharmacies that primarily serve assisted living facilities and nursing homes. These pharmacies’ roles range from delivering medications to managing complex prescriptions to being on call throughout the day and night in case of emergency.

These pharmacies will be at risk of closure in 2026 because of the new Medicare pricing structure. The previous administration’s policy negotiated lower prices with drug manufacturers, which makes a lot of sense. However, the policy disrupted how payments flow through our healthcare ecosystem, overlooking a critical link in the chain: LTC pharmacies.

The policy undermined the financial model that allows LTC pharmacies to operate, threatening up to 60% with closure. When one essential piece of our interconnected healthcare system fails, the effects cascade. If an LTC pharmacy closes, especially in rural areas, the facilities that depend on it may also be forced to close.

I am urging President Trump and the Ohio congressional delegation to act before it is too late. The Trump Administration, through the CMS, can institute an emergency waiver. Congress can pass the Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act (S.3159) to establish a modest fee on each newly-priced drug. These actions would ensure that LTC pharmacies in Ohio have the ability to continue serving the nearly 200,000 seniors on Medicare in our state who have LTC needs.

Just one policy can unravel an entire system of care. We have just a few weeks to stop this from happening.

Read the full article on the Morning Journal here and the Salem News here