On Thursday, Oct. 22, South Carolina Pharmacy Association CEO Brian Clark joined legislators, patients, and pharmacy leaders at Sadler Hughes Apothecary in Clinton, S.C. for a roundtable focused on pharmacy closures and PBM reform.
The discussion emphasized the need for state and federal action, including stronger enforcement of PBM protections. The period from January 2023 and May 2026 saw 155 pharmacies close in the state. Patients at the roundtable described delayed access to medications, restrictions on pharmacy choice, and the importance of personalized care from local pharmacists.
Participants included State Sen. Danny Verdin (R) and State Rep. Heath Sessions (R); Lynn Connelly, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the South Carolina Pharmacy Foundation; Walter Hughes and Walter Hughes, III, president and vice president of Sadler Hughes Apothecary respectively; and American Pharmacies staff members Miguel Rodriguez, Brandi Chane, and David Harrison.
